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Uninformed on Strategy, Tactics, or Hazards

 

 

5. Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards. A fire is burning on a hillside. A white airtanker drops red retardant in the foreground, where no flames are visible.

Wildland firefighters rely on coordinated strategies and tactics to efficiently suppress fires and avoid hazards. This Watch Out demonstrates an airtanker dropping retardant away from the intended area, potentially indicating unclear communication. Read about all 18 Watch Out Situations.

Firefighters who are uninformed on strategy, tactics, or hazards are in conflict with Watch Out Situation #5. Before going to the fireline, it is imperative that firefighters obtain information about strategies, tactics, or hazards by asking themselves the following questions:

  • Can communications be established to find out strategy, tactics, or hazards?
    • Discuss ways you might establish communications.
    • For example: Contact someone who is already on the fire and ask them what tactics and strategies are working or not working, what hazards have they witnessed, etc.
  • Can scouting safely identify potential hazards?
    • Talk about different methods of scouting a fire (e.g., using a lookout from your crew or sending a line scout ahead, utilizing air attack or the spotter on a smokejumper airplane).
    • Discuss what types of hazards you might come across and ways you would mitigate them.
    • For example: If you arrive at a fire after dark and are instructed to dig line downhill with the fire below, how could you make this a safe situation?
  • Have strategies, tactics, or hazards changed since last informed?
    • Discuss situations that might alter the way you are fighting a fire (e.g., wind shifts, resources you expected don’t arrive, etc.).
    • Also, think about what new hazards can develop while you are on the fireline (e.g., roots burning out and trees coming down, winds shifting direction and speed, etc.).
  • Can you get a briefing from your supervisor?
    • Talk about the importance of constant communications and ensuring firefighters are on the same page with strategies and tactics.
    • For example, if one crew decides to do a burnout but doesn’t let the crew at the other end of the line know what they are doing, what can happen?
  • To reduce the risks:
    • Post lookouts.
    • Determine escape routes and establish safety zones.
    • Consider retreating until you are better informed.
    • Don't leave a staging area or operational briefing until you have all the pertinent information.
      • Emphasize ways to inform firefighters about strategies, tactics, and hazards. Tell a story about when you were uninformed and what you did to correct the situation so that you were safe.
    • Use the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461 (back inside cover) Briefing Checklist.

 

Category
Operational Engagement
References
10 Standard Firefighting Orders, PMS 110
10 and 18 Poster, PMS 110-18
18 Watch Out Situations, PMS 118
Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461

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NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) Now Available

Date: Aug 14, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

The S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) is now available. Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) incident qualifications. 

S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) training combines online training and instructor-led training components. This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties of the HECM position, as described in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended)

NWCG Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for FBAN and LTAN

Date: Aug 13, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) and Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Fire Behavior Analyst Position Page

NWCG Long Term Fire Analyst Page

ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 New Guidance on Laundering Wildland Fire Clothing to Reduce Contamination

Date: Aug 8, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 Risk Management Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) and the Risk Management Committee (RMC) have issued Safety Bulletin 25-001: Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing. Recent research revealed that wildland fire flame-resistant pants and shirts can be contaminated with chemicals from combustion byproducts, including carcinogens, and that common laundering practices can effectively remove these harmful contaminants from wildland firefighter clothing more effectively than previously understood. It is recommended to decontaminate wildland fire clothing as frequently as possible. 

Frequently Asked Questions about this new information and how to implement recommendations can be found on the NWCG Alerts page. Read the complete ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Safety Bulletin: 25-001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing

Equipment Technology Committee

Risk Management Committee

FAQ Now Available for Archiving Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Positions

Date: Aug 6, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Incident and Position Standards Committee

To support the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), NWCG will archive all Type 1 and Type 2 Command and General Staff (C&G) position qualifications in January 2026, as outlined in NWCG Executive Board Memo 25-002. To assist with this transition, a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is now available.

This resource answers common questions about the status of Type 1 and Type 2 qualifications, impacts to incident qualification management, training requirements, and resource ordering considerations. Review the full FAQ to learn more.

For additional information on CIM and the transition of C&G positions, see NWCG Executive Board Memos 23-005, 24-005, and 25-002, as well as the Incident Workforce and Development Group webpage.

References:

NWCG Type 1 & Type 2 Position Archiving FAQ

NWCG Executive Board Correspondence

Incident Workforce Development Group

Incident and Position Standards Committee