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Planning Section Chief Type 1*

PSC1 decorative banner: photos depicting PSC1 position. PSC1 Position Description: The Planning Section Chief (PSC1), a member of the General Staff, is responsible for collecting, evaluating, disseminating, and using information about the development of the incident, status of resources, and demobilization of the incident. Information is needed to understand the current situation, predict probable course of incident events, prepare alternative strategies and control operations for the incident, and provide for an orderly and economical demobilization of the incident.

The Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1) manages all aspects of incident planning, situation and resource status, and demobilization of an incident. The PSC1 supervises members of the Planning Section. The PSC1 is part of the Command and General (C&G) Staff and reports to the Incident Commander (IC) under typical incident organizations. The PSC1 works in the Planning functional area.

The PSC1 performs position duties commensurate with Type 1 incident complexity and characteristics stated in the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book). (Type 1, 2 and 3 PSC duties are identical but performed at different complexity levels.)

USWDS Paragraphs

Planning Section Chief (PSC3) Resources Unit Leader (RESL) Status/Check-in Recorder (SCKN) Situation Unit Leader (SITL) Field Observer (FOBS) Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO) Infrared Interpreter (IRIN) Display Processor (DPRO) Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) Strategic Operational Planner (SOPL) Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN) Geographic Information System Specialist (GISS) Document Unit Leader (DOCL) Demobilization Leader (DMOB) Interagency Resource Representative (IARR) Human Resource Specialist (HRSP) Incident Training Specialist (TNSP) Planning Section Chief (PSC2) Planning Section Chief (PSC1) Planning Section Chief (PSCC)

 

The Forest Service and Department of Interior are enabled by Administratively Determined Pay Plans (AD Pay Plans) to hire persons for temporary duration for the following reasons:

  1. To cope with a sudden and unexpected emergency caused by a fire, or extreme fire potential, flood, storm, or any other all-hazard emergency that threatens damage to federally protected property, has the potential to cause loss of life, serious injury, public health risk, or damage to natural or cultural resources unless brought under immediate control.
  2. To provide emergency assistance to States under formalized agreements.
  3. To meet mission assignments issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Incident Business Committee (IBC) reviews positions annually and establishes pay rate classifications for each position.

For more information on the AD Pay Plans, visit Incident Business Committee.

Date: Jan 2025

Removed:

Required Training

  • S-520, Advanced Incident Management OR Complex Incident Management Course (CIMC)

Required Experience

  • Satisfactory performance as a Planning Section Chief Type 2 (PSC2)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-23

​OR

  • Satisfactory performance as an Operations Section Chief Type 1 (OSC1)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-23*

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Logistics Section Chief Type 1 (LSC1)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-23*

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Safety Officer Type 1 (SOF1)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-23*

* Individuals utilizing this pathway must complete the Planning Section Chief Course (S-440) prior to position qualification.

 

Added:

The qualification pathway for this position is discontinued per NWCG direction on January, 2025. Responders with an active PTB will transition to the corresponding complex position PTB.

Date: May 2022

Added: Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For PSC1" and "PSC1 Maintains Currency For These Positions."

Date: Dec 2020

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Date: Oct 2018

Added: “Individuals utilizing this pathway must complete the Planning Section Chief Course (S-440) prior to position qualification.”

Date: Oct 2015

Updated: Prerequisite Experience modified as follows:

Satisfactory performance as a Planning Section Chief Type 2 (PSC2).
     +
Completion and Certification of Position Task Book (PMS 311-23) as a Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1) on a wildfire incident.
     OR
Satisfactory performance as an Operations Section Chief Type 1 (OSC1).
     +
Completion and Certification of Position Task Book (PMS 311-23) as a Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1) on a wildfire incident.
     OR
Satisfactory performance as a Logistics Section Chief Type 1 (LSC1).
     +
Completion and Certification of Position Task Book (PMS 311-23) as a Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1) on a wildfire incident.
     OR
Satisfactory performance as a Safety Officer Type 1 (SOF1).
     +
Completion and Certification of Position Task Book (PMS 311-23) as a Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1) on a wildfire incident.

Removed: Planning Section Chief Type 3 (PSC3) from These Positions Maintain Currency for PSC1 positions and PSC1 Maintains Currency for These Positions.

Date: Oct 1993

Position created. 

Planning Section Chief (Multi-Branch), Planning Section Chief (Multi-Division) and Planning Section Chief (Multi-Leader) in 1984 PMS 310-1.

USWDS Paragraph Bundles

Primary Committee: Incident and Position Standards Committee
Steward: Incident Planning Subcommittee


Last Modified / Reviewed:

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NWCG Latest Announcements

ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 New Guidance on Laundering Wildland Fire Clothing to Reduce Contamination

Date: Aug 8, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 Risk Management Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) and the Risk Management Committee (RMC) have issued Safety Bulletin 25-001: Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing. Recent research revealed that wildland fire flame-resistant pants and shirts can be contaminated with chemicals from combustion byproducts, including carcinogens, and that common laundering practices can effectively remove these harmful contaminants from wildland firefighter clothing more effectively than previously understood. It is recommended to decontaminate wildland fire clothing as frequently as possible. 

Frequently Asked Questions about this new information and how to implement recommendations can be found on the NWCG Alerts page. Read the complete ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Safety Bulletin: 25-001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing

Equipment Technology Committee

Risk Management Committee

FAQ Now Available for Archiving Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Positions

Date: Aug 6, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Incident and Position Standards Committee

To support the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), NWCG will archive all Type 1 and Type 2 Command and General Staff (C&G) position qualifications in January 2026, as outlined in NWCG Executive Board Memo 25-002. To assist with this transition, a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is now available.

This resource answers common questions about the status of Type 1 and Type 2 qualifications, impacts to incident qualification management, training requirements, and resource ordering considerations. Review the full FAQ to learn more.

For additional information on CIM and the transition of C&G positions, see NWCG Executive Board Memos 23-005, 24-005, and 25-002, as well as the Incident Workforce and Development Group webpage.

References:

NWCG Type 1 & Type 2 Position Archiving FAQ

NWCG Executive Board Correspondence

Incident Workforce Development Group

Incident and Position Standards Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for UASD, UASM, UASL and UASP

Date: July 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all four Unmanned Aircraft Systems positions:

  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist (UASD)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager (UASM)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader (UASL)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UASP)

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were 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 January 2026.

References:

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot Position Page

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for RADO and INCM

Date: July 30, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Logistics Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Radio Operator (RADO) and Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were 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 January 2026.

References:

NWCG Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Communications Center Manager Position Page