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Fire Prevention Education Team Subcommittee

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Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Fire Prevention Education Team Subcommittee (FPETSC) provides national leadership in all areas of wildland Fire Prevention Education Team (FPET) management.

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Primary Objectives

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  • Establish and regularly update wildland fire incident position standards for FPET positions. This includes incident position description and position requirements for training, experience, physical fitness, and position currency.
  • Establish and regularly update training and performance support materials such as job aids, training courses, and position task books for FPET positions.
  • Develop FPET best practices that ensure timely, accurate and reliable information.
  • Coordinate with pertinent stakeholders and cooperators to provide all-inclusive messaging, information, assistance and subject matter expertise in fire prevention education team management.
  • Develop and maintain an inventory of FPET resources and tools.

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Fire Prevention Education Team Digital Library

This digital library is a database of wildland fire prevention and education materials that have been developed by Fire Prevention Education Teams (FPET) and wildland fire prevention professionals. Each item has been reviewed for appropriate content and is approved for use. The files that are in a searchable database are available for use by anyone. The database includes different types of file formats depending on the use and presentation of the final product, e.g. slide show; printable item or sign; other handout; etc. Go the  FPET Digital Library.

Guidance Documents

Fire Prevention Education Team Brochure

Email your shipping address and requested order in quantities of 100 to sm.fs.symbols@usda.gov (note that they cannot be shipped to P.O. Boxes).

Wildland Fire Prevention and Education Teams: How They Can Help in Extreme Situations

When severe wildland fire situations occur as a result of extreme fire weather, wildland fires can cause extensive loss of life, property, and resources. As extreme conditions approach or worsen, wildland fire prevention/education is often overlooked as a possible source of help. Because fire weather conditions are predictable, wildland fire prevention/education teams can be mobilized in advance of fires, when fire danger becomes extreme. Prevention/education teams are available to support any geographic area preceding and during periods of high fire danger or fire activity. The requesting unit may use severity dollars in support of a prevention/education team.

Purpose of Wildland Fire Prevention/Education Teams

Teams assist the local unit in the prevention of unwanted human-caused wildfires. This involves working together to:

  • Complete fire risk assessments
  • Determine the severity of the situation
  • Facilitate community awareness and education in fire prevention including prescribed burning
  • Coordinate announcement of interagency restrictions and closures
  • Coordinate fire prevention efforts with the public, special target groups, state and local agencies, and elected officials
  • Promote public and personal responsibility regarding fire prevention in the wildland/urban interface
  • Assist Incident Management Teams in accomplishing their objectives in working with the public develop fire protection plans

Mobilization of a team may occur when an unusual event or circumstance warrants or is predicted

Examples:

  • Severe burning conditions
  • Unusually high fire occurrence
  • Majority of firefighting resources committed
  • Preparedness levels above normal

Benefits of Wildland Fire Prevention Education Teams

  • Reduce the loss of human life and property
  • Reduce resource losses
  • Reduce the cost of suppression
  • Improve interagency relations

Organization and Ordering

A team consists of a Team Leader, a Public Affairs Officer, Prevention Specialist(s), and an optional trainee or other team members as the situation dictates (Finance Officer, Logistics Specialist, etc.). Trained interagency personnel can be mobilized through normal dispatch channels to assist in fire prevention/education at any level of an organization. The individuals ordered for prevention/education teams must have the skills required to fill the position for which they have been ordered.

Refer to the National Mobilization Guide, Chapter 20, 22.9.10, Cooperative Fire Prevention/Education Teams, for ordering information.

For More Information See: National Wildland Fire Prevention and Education Teams.

National Fire Prevention Education Teams Oversight and Virtual Teams Concepts, April 2020.

2025 National Fire Prevention Education Team Schedule

This schedule represents the 2025 National Fire Prevention Education Team Rotation. We are working with all agencies and states to ensure that opportunities for interagency participation are provided. Please feel free to contact the Team Leader for more information. View the 2025 schedule.

FPET BrochureFree brochures are available for sharing information about FPETs with Fire Management Officers, fire directors, potential host agencies, and others.

National Wildfire Prevention Strategy March 2021 (USDA Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management)

 

2022 Fire Prevention Education Team Annual Webinar

Time 1:30:34

Chair: Grimes, Stacey

NWCG Coordinator: Lee, Sarah

Parent Committee: Communication Education and Prevention Committee

Meeting Schedule:

Monthly on the third Thursday

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003 Flame-Resistant Shirt Survey

Date: June 12, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The U.S. Forest Service National Technology and Development Program (NTDP) is seeking input on the Forest Service-designed flame-resistant (FR) shirt, currently available through the National Interagency Support Cache system and FedMall.

NTDP is conducting a product review to improve future FR shirt designs. As part of this effort, a short survey is now open for federal employees who have worn any of three recent FR shirt models. Feedback will guide design improvements to better meet the needs of wildland firefighters.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act, responses are limited to federal employees. The survey is open through September 12, 2025. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003

NEW! S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended) Now Available

Date: June 10, 2025
If you have questions, please visit our FAQ page. 
If your question is not answered there, you can 
submit your question using our Contact Us form. 
 

The S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended), equips new wildland firefighters with essential skills through a mix of online learning and hands-on training. The course features a required online component and an instructor-led exercise, reinforcing online concepts with practical performance-based training.

The course builds competencies in wildland fire operations, safety, and equipment use, applicable across various operational environments. Both the online component and instructor-led field exercise must be completed to receive a certificate of completion. Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended).

References:

S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

EMC Memo 25-001: Interim Rapid Extraction Module (REMS) Training and Qualification Requirements

Date: June 3, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Emergency Medical Committee

The Emergency Medical Committee has issued interim guidance for Rapid Extraction Module Support (REMS) teams. Until further notice, Type I and II REMS teams must designate a team leader qualified at Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss (FFT1) or higher. This temporary change replaces the Single Resource Boss (SRB) requirement, which is currently not feasible due to administrative barriers.

This memorandum does not include any other changes to the NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552. This interim change takes effect immediately and will remain in place until further notice.

References:

EMC Memo 25-001: Interim Rapid Extraction Module (REMS) Training and Qualification Requirements

NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552

Equipment Bulletin 25-002: Chaps, Chain Saw, M-2020, Nonconformities Affecting Use, Appearance, and Serviceability

Date: June 2, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee issued Equipment Bulletin: 25-002 to address a manufacturing nonconformity affecting Forest Service specification, 6170-4K Chain Saw Chaps. The issue applies to chaps manufactured in 2024 and 2025 and distributed through FedMall. These chaps may have incorrectly bound edges that expose inner protective layers.

Independent purchasers should inspect all chain saw chaps received from FedMall beginning in 2024, prior to use. Review the full Equipment Bulletin: 25-002 for inspection criteria and recommended actions.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-002