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Safety Officer Type 3

SOF3 decorative banner: photos depicting SOF3 position.


The Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3) is responsible for monitoring the overall operation of an incident from a risk management perspective to provide for the welfare of assigned resources. SOF3s can be assigned to incidents of any complexity level. On Type 3, 4, or 5 incidents, they may be the lead safety officer, reporting to the Incident Commander (IC) and on Type 2 or 1 incidents, they may report to the lead safety officer – Safety Officer, Type 1 (SOF1) or Safety Officer, Type 2 (SOF2). SOF3s may supervise a Medical Unit Leader (MEDL) or other members in the safety organization. SOF3s work in the Command functional area.

Note:

  • SOF3 is not a prerequisite to SOF2.
  • Position title changed from Safety Officer, Line (SOFR) to Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3) Jan 2025.
USWDS Paragraphs

Incident Commander (ICT5) Safety Officer (SOFC) Safety Officer (SOF3) Liaison Officer (LOFR) Incident Commander (ICT4) Incident Commander (ICT3) Public Information Officer (PIO3) Agency Representative (AREP) Public Information Officer, Technician (PIOT) Incident Commander (ICCI) Public Information Officer (PIOC) Safety Officer (SOFF) Resource Advisor, Fireline (REAF)

 

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 2026

Added:

Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills

  • S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams 

Removed:

  • Safety Officer Type 2 (SOF2) removed from “These Positions Maintain Currency for SOF3”
  • SOF2 removed from “SOF3 Maintains Currency for These Positions”
  • “SOF3 is not a prerequisite to the SOF2 position”
Date: Jan 2025

Position title changed to Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3) from Safety Officer, Line (SOFR).

Date: Jan 2023

Added: 

  • Safety Officer Complex (SOFC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For SOFR."
  • Safety Officer Complex (SOFC) to "SOFR Maintains Currency For These Positions."
Date: Jul 2022

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Date: Sep 2015

Added: Advanced ICS (ICS-400) required training to align position with FEMA Type 3 standards.
Added: Transition Plan:

  • All qualified SOFR individuals will remain qualified. Individuals will be granted ICS-400 in responder’s records.
  • All SOFR trainees will be required to complete ICS-400 prior to position qualification.
Date: Oct 2014

Updated: Position Task Book language to reflect the following: Once qualified as a SOF2, the SOFR qualification may be granted by the certifying official. Certification must be documented on a “verification/certification” page of the SOFR Position Task Book (311-82).

Date: Apr 2006

Position created.

The title of the Safety Officer Type 3 position has been changed to Safety Officer, Line (SOFR). This position is entry level, is not a prerequisite for higher qualifications, and is not tied to the complexity of an incident.
 

USWDS Paragraph Bundles

Primary Committee: Risk Management Committee
Steward: Risk Management Committee
Key Stakeholder(s): Incident Command Subcommittee


Last Modified / Reviewed:

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Date:  March 17, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended), 2026 course is now available.

This training includes performance-based activities that allow students to apply the knowledge and concepts required for the Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN), Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN), and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1) positions. It supports individuals working towards these incident qualifications.

This blended course begins with a self-paced online training (OLT) in the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP), followed by an in-person instructor-led training (ILT).

References:

S-490, Advanced Fire Calculations (Blended)

NWCG Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) Position Page

NWCG Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN) Position Page

NWCG Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1) Position Page

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

The NWCG Leadership Committee is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Paul Gleason "Lead By Example" awards. Award categories include Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

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References:

Paul Gleason Lead By Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

Leadership Committee

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Date:  March 6, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new S-231, Engine Boss (Single Resource) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB) incident qualifications. 

This is a performance-based instructor-led training (ILT) that focuses on the application of ENGB responsibilities during wildland fire operations, emphasizing readiness, information gathering, risk management, engine tactics, and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) operations. Trainees apply these skills through scenario-based group work and an optional field day that reinforces hands-on engine operation tasks. 

References:

S-231, Engine Boss (Single Resource) (Instructor-led)

NWCG Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB) Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

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Date:  March 6, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG Executive Secretary

NWCG is proud to celebrate 50 years of service to the wildland fire community. Beginning in 1976 with an interagency agreement between the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture, NWCG has grown to include additional member agencies and is recognized as the standard-setting leader in wildland fire operations.

To honor where we’ve been and highlight where we are going, the NWCG team has created a video showcasing our history and accomplishments. The video is now available on the NWCG website.

References:

NWCG 50 Year Anniversary Video