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2018 WOR: Conclusion

Ribbon symbol for survivor next to the Wildland Fire Leadership logoWeek of Remembrance June 30-July 6

This Week of Remembrance is dedicated to all those who have fallen in the line of duty and is intended to serve as an opportunity to renew our commitment to the health, wellness and safety of wildland firefighters.
 

On July 6, 1994 the South Canyon fire claimed the lives of 14 wildland firefighters.  Our tribute to those lives lost that day on Storm King Mountain closes out a week of collectively remembering and honoring all the lives lost during wildland fires. It is an opportunity to learn from the past and implement changes that will hopefully result in safer outcomes for our workforce.  Over time the lessons we learn and share from accidents and fatalities have led to significant improvements in our training, leadership, risk assessment and operational practices.

This week has focused on medevacs and the changes implemented since the death of Andy Palmer. Significant changes in medical operations and resources have resulted from this incident. However, we must not rely on these changes as the only answer. Our duty is to build margin into our planning that helps us to remain flexible in our actions and reduces the chances of needing a medevac.

What is margin? Think of margin as the room we have to operate safely.  We have tools such as our IRPG, the Red Book, LCES and risk management that help us assess and influence our degree of margin.  Margin is not intended to be just another tool, but, an overarching framework in which these tools are applied.

Firefighter safety bubble

Margin includes the role of the firefighter in the creation of safety.  For example, doing our daily PM checks on our vehicles and addressing any issues immediately allows for safer conditions when driving.  Training gives us knowledge to do our jobs.  Having a radio on the line means you have communication, both the ability to communicate and to hear the operations and actions that are occurring around you.  These types of factors increase our margin, create a stronger environment of safety and reduce the chance of unintended outcomes.

When it comes to operations we need to be diligent in planning for and continuously reassessing the potential of the worst possible outcomes such as a medevac.  Imagine worst case scenarios and ways to build margin into the plan to reduce the possibilities of such an incident.  We are unable to control our environment; the weather changes, the slope is steep, the fuels are heavy, but we can control our actions and planning.

The idea of continuous reassessment of the amount of margin should be a conversation among multiple people and is key to assessing and managing the level of margin as the environment (and our understanding of our environment) changes through time.  In the end, margin is a way to easily talk about all the complex stuff in a simple way.  i.e. "I feel we have more/less margin" right now with this plan. 

 

Action: Watch this short video on Margin then discuss the following as a crew

  1. How can you build margin to reduce the need for a medical evacuation on the fireline?
  2. How much margin is enough margin?
  3. How can you utilize the information on page 19 of the IRPG, How to Properly Refuse Risk, to increase Margin when on the fireline?
  4. How does risk tolerance effect Margin?

 

The topics, review, and resources for the NWCG “Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance” have been contributed by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center, the Wildland Fire Leadership Subcommittee, the Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee, interagency dispatchers, and many other field SMEs.

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NWCG Latest Announcements

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for UASD, UASM, UASL and UASP

Date: July 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all four Unmanned Aircraft Systems positions:

  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist (UASD)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager (UASM)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader (UASL)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UASP)

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization 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 Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot Position Page

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for RADO and INCM

Date: July 30, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Logistics Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Radio Operator (RADO) and Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization 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 Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Communications Center Manager Position Page

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004 NEW Aquatic Invasive Species – Golden Mussels

Date: July 29, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) issued Equipment Bulletin: 25-004, notifying the wildland fire community about a newly discovered invasive species and actions to take if found. Golden mussels, a highly invasive species recently identified in California, pose a significant risk to native ecosystems, infrastructure, and fire equipment. These mussels rapidly colonize hard and soft surfaces, including aquatic plants and fire equipment, clogging pipes, fouling motors, disrupting water systems, and impacting native species.

To help prevent their spread, fire personnel must follow the decontamination procedures outlined in the NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444. Additionally, report any sightings immediately to your Lead Resource Advisor and include clear, close-up photos and location details.

Read the complete ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004

NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for ICT5 and FFT1

Date: July 29, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Command Subcommittee
Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5) and Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss (FFT1).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization 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 Incident Commander Type 5 Position Page

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page