10 Standard Firefighting Orders

The 10 Standard Firefighting Orders and the 18 Watch Out Situations, as referenced in the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, provide wildland firefighters with a set of consistent best practices and a series of scenarios to be mindful of when responding to a wildland fire.

A poster with individual line art drawings of the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders and 18 Watch Out Situations used to educate wildland firefighters of the dangers and situations to be aware of.

View the 10 and 18 Poster, PMS 110-18.

The orders are arranged according to their importance and grouped in a logical sequence: fire behavior, fireline safety, and organizational control.

Review and consider Standard Firefighting Orders as a part of every shift.

Did you receive or request an adequate briefing, including weather, current and predicted fire behavior, wind direction, predicted humidity, fuel moisture, and/or local factors?
Do you have a map of the fire? Are topography, fuel types, and spread direction defined?

The Fire Behavior group addresses conditions the firefighter will encounter – weather, fire status, and fire behavior.

Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts.
Know what your fire is doing at all times.
Base all actions on the current and expected behavior of the fire.

Are you familiar with direction, distance, location, and size of escape routes and safety zones?
Discuss the need for a lookout, such as extreme fire behavior or a fire located out of your line-of-sight.
Discuss the importance of situational awareness.

The Fireline Safety group emphasizes personal safety.

Identify escape routes and safety zones, and make them known.
Post lookouts when there is possible danger.
Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisively.

Review the importance and means of sharing tactical decisions and resource movement.
Review other factors influencing potential changes in tactics, which could affect control of your forces.

The Organizational Control group is centered around tactical decisions.

Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor, and adjoining forces.
Give clear instructions and be sure they are understood.
Maintain control of your forces at all times.

After you have considered, discussed, and acted on the previous nine orders:

Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first.

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WFSTAR 2023 Year in Review and 2024 Core Component Module Packages Available

Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: Joe Schindel

The 2023 Fire Year in Review module and 2024 Core Component Module Packages for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) are now available on the NWCG website. The 2024 Core Component Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

References:

WFSTAR 2023 Fire Year in Review module

WFSTAR 2024 Core Component Module Packages

2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter

Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: NWCG

The NWCG Executive Board is privileged to share with you the 2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter. As we look into the future and navigate an incredibly complex and dynamic environment, we must remain focused on our mission while actively engaging in national conversations regarding numerous wildland fire initiatives. In 2024, we prioritize building upon our successes and committing to continuous improvement. Key priorities and considerations for this year include:

Determining Core Workload
Ensuring Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) Success
Improving Efficiencies
Firefighter Health and Wellness
Engagement in National Conversations

Together we will continue to make significant strides in the challenging and vital work that lies ahead.

References:

2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter

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Date: February 22, 2024
Contact: NWCG

NWCG welcomes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as an associate member.

“As wildfires become larger and more frequent, NASA is working to apply our scientific and technological knowledge toward this national challenge, and integral to our approach is forging collaborative partnerships,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy.

References:

NASA News Release

NWCG

6MFS

10 Standard Firefighting Orders

Review and consider Standard Firefighting Orders as a part of every shift.

The Fire Behavior group addresses conditions the firefighter will encounter – weather, fire status, and fire behavior.

The Fireline Safety group emphasizes personal safety.

The Organizational Control group is centered around tactical decisions.

Additional Resources

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NWCG National Wildfire Coordinating Group

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National Wildfire Coordinating Group