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Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee

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IFUASS header graphic. Photo of a drone flying through dense smoke. Inset photos of female firefighter standing at a UAS helipad, and the other of a UAS specialist sitting in front of a bank of computer screens reading data. Decorative.
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Mission Statement

The Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee (IFUASS) provides national leadership to develop and disseminate guidance on the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in wildland fire management operations.

Primary Objectives

UAS specialist monitoring data on handheld device.

  • Enable safe, effective and efficient UAS operations in the wildland fire management environment by developing and disseminating comprehensive wildland fire related UAS guidance. Include standards for UAS utilization, performance, risk management, qualifications, training, and equipment.
  • Provide coordinated and unified UAS subject matter expertise to NIAC and the NWCG member agencies.
  • Serve as a focal point for interagency wildland fire UAS operational initiatives, proposals, and issues.
  • Identify and evaluate UAS related problems; develop and propose solutions.
  • Solicit input from operations and management personnel on UAS related issues.

Guidance Documents

NWCG

DOI

FAA

Other

Incident Toolbox

Coordinator

The Interagency UAS coordinator is available to answer questions, provide guidance, and assist with UAS ordering.  For inquiries about day-to-day operations and training, please call 208-387-5335.  More information is available at the NIFC UAS website.

Operations

Operations information is available at the NIFC UAS website including

Aerial Ignition

UAS aerial ignition is approved for interagency use in support of wildland fire (wildfire and prescribed fire).

  • UAS aerial Ignition is conducted by authorized agency personnel in accordance with DOI, USFS, OAS, and NWCG policy/standards.
  • UAS agency aerial ignition personnel possess the UASP or UASP (T) qualification in IQCS/IROC.  They are also carded to operate the aerial ignition payload by OAS.
  • UAS aerial ignition personnel work for the FIRB or designee.
  • UAS utilized for aerial ignition are carded by OAS.
  • UAS aerial ignition payloads are developed through the IFUAS Subcommittee and Aerial Ignition Unit.
  • UAS aerial ignition is ordered through established dispatch process.  A typical order is two UASP.  Special Needs:  Aerial Ignition qualified personnel equipped with M600/Ignis 2 and kit.

CONTACT - the UAS Coordinator (fire) to discuss UAS Aerial Ignition or the ordering process. 208-387-5335.

References

Job Aids

Program Updates

Current UAS Fire Mission/Data Examples are available on the NIFC UAS website.

Systems and Availability

Current systems information is available on the NIFC UAS website.

Training

The UAS Training Unit exists to serve the training and workforce development needs of the wildland fire UAS community.  When available, information on training courses will located on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal.

References

UAS Guide Terms and Abbreviations 

UAS Incursion Protocol

 

Chair: Justin Jager

NWCG Coordinator: Dave Schultz

Parent Committee: National Interagency Aviation 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