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Strategic Fire Management Analyst

Position Description

Duties

  • Very high skill level in applying a wide range of concepts, principles, and practices to analyze complex fire situations and develop written explanations for use by agency leadership, partners, media and the public in explaining management of wildfires and their outcomes.
  • Analyzes fire behavior models and explains them to agency leadership, partners, media and the public.
  • Develops a chronology of preparedness and suppression actions, and predicted and actual weather, resource needs, resource availability, and fire activity.
  • Researches fire suppression strategies, tactics, and safety practices during all phases of fire operations.  Considers alternatives and evaluates effectiveness of chosen strategies and tactics.
  • Researches decision documents (WFDSS) for the response to large fires.
  • Interviews Incident Commanders and Line Officers to determine decision making on fires.
  • Briefs Line Officers and Fire Management personnel and provides critical evaluations of decisions requiring line authority.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

Expert knowledge of the following is required:

  • Wildfire objectives, values at risk, and effective strategies and tactics which might be used to protect those values.
  • Interagency prioritization processes for assigning and reassigning scarce firefighting resources and their relative effectiveness if assigned to one fire versus another.
  • Local, regional, and national fire dispatch and logistics systems.
  • Wildfire risk management and firefighter and public safety policies, practices and mitigation measures.
  • Skill in acquiring and addressing public and media issues, concerns and criticism (local, regional and national) concerning agency response and management of wildfires.
  • Ability/skill in acquiring, analyzing and synthesizing data and other information associated with initial and extended attack of wildfires.  Skill in explaining the context within the region and nation of local responses and long term management of wildfires.  Fire behavior and decision support technology.
  • Fire management policies, practices, and standards.
  • Tools to aid in Agency Administrator decision making.
  • Fire models and their application.
  • Incident Command System (ICS).

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Emergency Medical Committee

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2025 Wildland Fire Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Awards. EMC annually recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated outstanding actions or accomplishments that are above and beyond the expectation of one’s normal mission or job duties.

Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Emergency Medical Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for RAMP

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Airtanker Base Operations Unit

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Ramp Manager (RAMP).

The Performance Support Package for this position was 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 release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Ramp Manager Position Page

National Interagency Aviation Committee

Make an Impact: Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date:  June 11, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

Note: Positions with an * will last approximately 6 months.
Positions with ** will last 12 - 18 months.

NWCG is seeking experienced wildland firefighters and support personnel to serve as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) initiative. IPTM aims to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model by updating position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the Fall 2026 positions listed below:

  • Equipment Manager (EQPM)*
  • Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT)**
  • Mixmaster (MXMS)*
  • Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC)*
  • Retardant Crewmember (RTCM)*
  • Strike Team Leader Crew (STCR)*
  • Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN)*
  • Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ)*
  • Task Force Leader (TFLD)**
  • Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF)** 

Projects begin October 2026. Sign up by July 10, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for additional details. 

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

Date:  May 28, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has issued Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters. Research from 2016 to 2025 shows that 88 cases of rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) were reported. Analysis of reports from eSafety, the Safety Management Information System (SMIS), and the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) indicates that rhabdo is common during this time of year due to Work Capacity Tests and contributing factors such as weather, hydration, nutrition, and medication or supplement use.

RMC issued this safety bulletin to raise awareness in the Wildland Fire Community, and to provide research findings and educational resources that support reducing future cases of rhabdo.

References:

NWCG Alerts

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters