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Fire Prevention Education Team Subcommittee

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Mission Statement

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

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.

2024 National Fire Prevention Education Team Schedule

This schedule represents the 2024 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 2024 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: Mark Thibideau

NWCG Coordinator: Katy O'Hara

Parent Committee: Communication Education and Prevention Committee

Meeting Schedule: TBD

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Training Catalog now on Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Date: April 25, 2023
Contact: NWCG Training  

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has migrated the training catalog from the NWCG website to the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline processes and improve efficiency. To facilitate this transition, the training catalog remains available on www.nwcg.gov through April 2024.

Starting May 2024, the training catalog will no longer be accessible on www.nwcg.gov. However, you can still access the complete training catalog by logging in as a guest to the WFLP.

References:

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

 

NWCG Website Migration

Date: April 01, 2024
Contact: NWCG Webmaster

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group is thrilled to announce a significant upgrade to https://www.nwcg.gov, involving a comprehensive redesign of over 7,000 web pages. This enhancement is focused on improving user experience. The migration to the new NWCG website will commence on April 2, 2024, starting at noon EST and is expected to take a few hours. 

During the migration period, as the www.nwcg.gov domain-name-location updates across the Internet, you might encounter either the current or the new site depending on your location. We request your patience during this transition. If you are not redirected to the new site by April 3, 2024, we recommend clearing your browser’s cache and refreshing the page.

Please note that while navigating the revamped website, there may be instances of broken links or errors. Our dedicated web migration team has made significant efforts to minimize such issues prior to launch and will promptly address any that arise via use of analytic reports. We value your patience and understanding as we work towards enhancing your overall website experience.

WFSTAR 2023 Year in Review and 2024 Core Component Module Packages Available

Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: Joe Schindel 

The 2023 Fire Year in Review module and 2024 Core Component Module Packages for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) are now available on the NWCG website. The 2024 Core Component Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

 

References:

WFSTAR 2023 Fire Year in Review module

WFSTAR 2024 Core Component Module Packages

2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter

Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: NWCG

The NWCG Executive Board is privileged to share with you the 2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter. As we look into the future and navigate an incredibly complex and dynamic environment, we must remain focused on our mission while actively engaging in national conversations regarding numerous wildland fire initiatives. In 2024, we prioritize building upon our successes and committing to continuous improvement. Key priorities and considerations for this year include: 

  • Determining Core Workload
  • Ensuring Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) Success
  • Improving Efficiencies
  • Firefighter Health and Wellness
  • Engagement in National Conversations

Together we will continue to make significant strides in the challenging and vital work that lies ahead. 

 

References:

2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter