Skip to main content

 

NFDRS

Home

Goals & Objectives

Document Templates

Library

Curriculum

Incident Action Plans

Data Introduction

Fire Occurrence

Weather

GIS & NIFC AGOL

Calendar Events

FireFamilyPlus

WIMS

Links

Fuel Models

Nelson Model

Models Introduction

Growing Season Index

WFAS

Policy Docs & Agency Guidelines

Policy Documents And Agency Guidelines

NFDRS header graphic. Decorative.

 

The National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) and the Weather Information Management System (WIMS) are the principle applications used by the federal land management agencies to assess fire danger. At every scale, fire danger rating is a key consideration for staffing and prepositioning preparedness resources, regulating industrial activity, or placing restrictions on public lands. Because these assessments are used by and affect a wide variety of stakeholders including federal and state agencies, local governments, industrial and other private entities, as well as the general public, participation in a recognized fire danger system, and careful management of weather and fire data is vital to ensure accurate assessments and the consistent application of fire danger rating, especially for broader scale assessments. 

Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book)  Chapter 10

Understanding risk is central to the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. Living with and managing wildland fire inherently involves facing uncertainty, success may well hinge on how risk is properly quantified and assessed. Evaluation of risk is made possible with modern evaluation tools at the planning level. Since wildland fire crosses and affects all lands and resources regardless of jurisdictional ownership, it becomes necessary for all jurisdictions to assess the level of risk and participate in establishing roles and responsibilities for mitigating threat.

These truths identified in the Cohesive Strategy clarify the need for interagency involvement; vertically from local to federal governments and horizontally across the entire nation.  Completing a zone level Fire Danger analysis cooperatively among all jurisdictions, implemented when planning for and responding to wildland fire activities align with National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy objectives.

Two Guiding Principles and Core Values are: 

  1. Fire Management decisions are based on the best available science, knowledge and experience, and used to evaluate risk versus gain.
  2. Federal agencies, local, state, Tribal governments support one another with wildfire response, including engagement in collaborative planning and the decision-making processes that take into account all lands and recognize the interdependence and statutory responsibilities among jurisdictions. 

A Direct Goal of the Cohesive Strategy Wildfire Response is:

All jurisdictions participate in making and implementing safe, effective, efficient risk-based wildfire management decisions. 

Although agency missions differ, an effective cohesive strategy must guide all organizations to recognize and accept each other’s management differences and promote a more cohesive response to the wildfire management challenges across all jurisdictions. 

Excerpts from A National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy aka 'The Cohesive Strategy':

NWCG Documents

No 19-002 National Fire Danger Rating System 2016 Release.

No 18-001 National Fire Danger Rating System 2016 Release

 

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! S-212, Intermediate Faller (Online) Course Available Now 

Date:  April 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S‑212, Intermediate Faller (Online), course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). This second course in the series provides students with the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of an Intermediate Faller (FAL2), as described in the FAL2 Incident Position Description. This course is intended for individuals seeking to advance from Basic Faller (FAL3) to FAL2.

S‑212, Intermediate Faller is a fully online, self‑paced training program consisting of 13 units. Learners will engage with interactive, scenario‑based content designed to progressively build foundational skills and knowledge essential for the FAL2 role.

Students must be qualified as a Basic Faller (FAL3) prior to enrolling in S‑212, Intermediate Faller course.

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 2027.

References:

S-212 Intermediate Faller (Online)

RMC Memo 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementing Updates to Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Qualifications

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

New Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

Date:  April 17, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: National Coordination System Committee

A new publication from the National Coordination System Committee (NCSC) is now available. The NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249, will be used for aviation crews and dispatch to share flight information that is needed for resource tracking, and if needed, for emergency procedures.

For further details, please contact your NCSC representative. 

References:

NCSC Memo 26-01: Implementation of NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

New Glossary Term for Review

Date:  April 15, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Data Standards and Terminology Board (DSTB)

The Data Standards and Terminology Board is requesting feedback on a new glossary term: Resource Protection Measure (RPM).

The proposed definition is: Practical guidance provided for incident personnel in a manner in which incident objectives can be achieved while reducing impacts to identified resources across the landscape. RPMs are informed by, but not restricted to, Minimum Impact Strategies and Tactics (MIST).

Please review, share with your subgroups, and provide feedback as appropriate through the following form: Request Feedback The comment period will close May 10, 2026.

Thank you for your engagement in the NWCG glossary process – your participation is key to our success.

References:

Glossary Request Feedback

Quarter Three Materials for the 2025-2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign Now Available

Date:  April 1, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Quarter Three materials for the 2025/2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign are now available. This annual initiative offers all students of leadership and wildland fire management an opportunity to engage with essential leadership skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

Quarter Three materials focus on Leadership Level 3: Leader of People (Develop Intent). Leadership Level 3 is where your values, your team, and your influence come together. Leaders of People put their teams first, build trust, and lead with authenticity. They mentor future leaders and shape decisions up and down the chain.

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Leadership Committee