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Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

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Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee (HTTFS) provides and promotes the application of an effective risk management process when working in hazard tree environments and conducting chain saw operations.

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Primary Objectives

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  • Provide products to assist in the identification and mitigation of risk factors and decision-making ability in the hazard tree environment.
  • Provide analysis and guidance to the interagency wildland fire community concerning tree hazard identification and mitigation, chain saw and cross-cut saw operations, and tree felling operations in wildland fire.
  • Produce various hazard tree training products and reference materials designed to reduce hazard tree related accidents and maintain consistency and standardization among the NWCG partners.

Assessment Toolbox

Individual Tree Risk Assessment Tools

Tree Felling Toolbox

Historical Documents

*This document is historical and is not currently accessible; please contact NWCG if you need assistance having the documents read.

Lessons Learned

OSHA Logging Toolbox

Fuel Geyser Awareness

Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations, Chapter 13 Firefighter Training and Qualifications

Region 1: Northern Region

  • No resources

Region 2: Rocky Mountain Region

Region 3: Southwestern Region

  • No resources

Region 4: Intermountain Region

  • No resources

Region 5: Pacific Southwest Region

Region 6: Pacific Northwest Region

Region 8: Southern Region

  • No resources

Region 9: Eastern Region

  • No resources

Region 10: Alaska Region

Canada, British Columbia

West Wide

Miscellaneous

Contacts

6 Minutes For Safety Topics Related to HTTFS 

Chair: Guarino, Michael

NWCG Coordinator: Gaskill, Steven

Parent Committee: Risk Management Committee

Meeting Schedule:

Monthly on the Second Tuesday

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

2026 Professional Reading List

Date: March 4, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: WFLDP Curriculum Management

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP) is announcing the 2026 Professional Reading List.  The goal of the annual reading list is to promote the reading and discussion of the selected books throughout the year. 

The six books chosen for this year are: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie; Leadership Strategy and Tactics by Jocko Willink; Meditations by Marcus Aurelious; Quiet by Susan Cain; The Little Book of Stoic Quotes by Phil Van Treuren; and The Confident Mind by Nate Zinsser.

References:

Professional Reading Program

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

2025/2026 Leadership Campaign Quarter 2 Now Available!

Date: February 13, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

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

This quarter focuses on Leadership Level 2: New Leader (Conveying Intent). Conveying intent is a crucial leadership competency in the high-risk, dynamic environment of wildland firefighting. Months 4 - 6 will concentrate on how successfully conveying intent enhances situational awareness, promotes shared understanding, and empowers firefighters to exercise initiative and adapt to changing conditions.

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Leadership Committee

Opportunity to Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date: February 10, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

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. The intent of IPTM is to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model through updated position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and updates to training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the following positions:

  • Aircraft Timekeeper (ATIM)
  • Compensation/Claims Unit Leader (COMP)
  • Cost Unit Leader (COST)
  • Crew Representative (CREP)
  • Deck Coordinator (DECK)
  • Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO)
  • Field Observer (FOBS)
  • Geographic Information System Specialist (GISS)
  • Ordering Manager (ORDM)
  • Receiving/Distribution Manager (RCDM)
  • Staging Area Manager (STAM)

Projects begin April/May 2026 and require 15–20 hours per month for 6–8 months, including a five-day workshop in Boise, Idaho this May. Apply by February 27, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for details.

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

NEW! M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led) Course Available Now

Date: January 29, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Resource Advisor Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led) course is now available. This training supports individuals working towards Resource Advisor, Fireline (REAF) incident qualifications.

M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led) training prepares students to serve as a Resource Advisor, Fireline (REAF) as defined in NWCG Incident Position Standards for Resource Advisor, Fireline, PMS 350-112. This course presents scenarios that reflect the diverse challenges a REAF may encounter during an incident. Through these scenarios, participants gain hands-on experience and an understanding of REAF responsibilities in a controlled learning environment.

References:

Resource Advisor, Fireline Position Page

NWCG Position Standards for Resource Advisor, Fireline, PMS 350-112

M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal