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Incident Medical Unit Subcommittee

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Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Incident Medical Unit Subcommittee provides leadership in all areas of medical response and services of wildland fire incident Medical Units, with the focus of modernizing and standardizing medical unit processes and capacity to rapidly assess, treat and/or transport sick and injured firefighters and incident support personnel.

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Primary Objectives

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  • Modernize the incident medical organization to match Agency Administrator, incident responder expectations and operational needs. 
  • Develop and maintain wildland fire scope of practice for medical practitioners operating as a part of an incident Medical Unit.  
  • Address issuance of narcotics and providers across state lines, garnering support of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  
  • Establish and regularly update wildland fire incident position standards related MEDL. This includes an 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 MEDL.
  • Develop telemedicine standards and practices for incident Medical Units.  

Hot Topics

Featured Links

Medical Unit Toolbox

Medical Incident Report Guidance

Resources for Medical Units

Limited Request for Recognition

Hospitals, Burn Centers, Air Ambulance

This section is for the EMS individuals with the primary responsibility to organize and manage an effective and efficient medical unit for a wildland fire or all-risk incident. Whether you're a medical unit leader (MEDL), incident medical specialist manager (IMSM), or involved with the fire medic program, this site will help you develop the medical unit quickly and also serve as a resource for you.

The forms and templates provided here will help you get started quickly and accurately. It is your responsibility to verify the information on these forms and websites provided. The procedures, information, and forms may change periodically before it can be posted.

Note Many states require certified/licensed EMS personnel to carry on their person their current EMS credentials at all times. It is recommended that all wildland/all-risk EMS resources do so as well.

Hospital Resources

Burn Center

Air Ambulance

 

 

 

Chair: Alan Sinclair

NWCG Coordinator:

Parent Committee: Emergency Medical Committee

Meeting Schedule: TBD

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book Available for Helicopter Crewmember

Date: April 28, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22, and the NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22, are now available.

These resources, part of the Performance Support Package developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22

Updated NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

Date: April 23, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee

The NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515 standardizes processes and procedures for the interagency use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including pilot inspections and approvals. This updated publication provides the aviation community with standards to ensure UAS are used safely, effectively, and efficiently in support of fire management goals and objectives.

References:

NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

NWCG National Interagency Aviation Committee

ETC Bulletin 25-001: Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits - 2025 Field Season

Date: April 16, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

Due to spout failures and the associated risk of burn injuries, manufacturers have retrofitted the Hot/Cold Beverage Kits using a heat-shrinking band to secure the black spout at the insertion site. The updated kits feature a fluorescent label on each full kit assembly for easy identification. Catering units are encouraged to confirm the clear heat-shrinking bands are intact around each spout before filling.

ETC Bulletin 24-001 regarding Hot/Cold Beverage Kits has been archived and replaced by ETC Bulletin 25-001 for the 2025 season.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC-EB-25-001 Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and Next Generation Position Task Book for Basic Faller Are Now Available

Date: April 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

The updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-19 are now available.

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212 includes position standards designed to be used in conjunction with the Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB). The Next Gen PTB for Basic Faller (FAL3) includes an evaluation guide with suggested rating elements to consider when assessing trainees.

References:

NWCG Standards For Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-119

NWCG Basic Faller (FAL3)