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
- 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.
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.
2023 National Fire Prevention Education Team Schedule
This schedule represents the 2023 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 2023 schedule.
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 at https://www.nwcg.gov/fpetdl/
Guidance Documents
- Fire Prevention Education Team Guidance/Helpful Links/Documents and Protocol
- All About Fire Prevention Education Teams
- Fire Prevention Education Team Interactions - Host Unit Guide Summary
- Oversight and Virtual Teams Concepts
- Virtual National Fire Prevention Education Team Concept
- Working with a Graphics Designer
- FPET Logo: jpg | png | tif
- Example of a FireNet File Structure for Fire Prevention Education Teams
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).
Free 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