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Unit Identifier Board

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Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Unit Identifier Board (UIB) provides national leadership in the approval and use of Unit Identifiers in support of effective fire management decision-making. Primary objectives include

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Primary Objectives

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  • Manage NWCG data standards, business rules, and processes related to Unit Identifiers and associated information.
  • Publish current Unit Identifiers in the document NWCG Unit Identifiers, PMS 931.
  • Ensure standards and processes are implemented consistently by Geographic Area Coordination Centers, agencies, and applications.

From the markings on a wildland fire engine to every incident listed on the daily Incident Management Situation Report (IMSR), the Unit Identifier (UI) is an integral piece of information.

Unit Identifiers may be the most fundamental and essential informational elements for the interagency incident management community because they uniquely identify organizational units within that community. Unit Identifiers are created by the interagency incident management community. They are the standard way organizational units communicate who they are, the incidents they are hosting, and the resources they provide, in a way that is common among agencies and applications.

In the past, misunderstandings, assumptions, lack of standards, and inconsistent utilization of Unit Identifiers has led to mistakes and inefficiencies, such as lost time and increased costs. Users were often forced to conduct uncoordinated and divergent workarounds to achieve desired outcomes.

Geographic Area Unit Identifier Data Custodians

Alaska Interagency Coordinator Center (USAKACC)

Name Email Phone
Peter Butteri Peter_Butteri@fws.gov (907) 356-5874
Jennifer Humphrey jhumphre@blm.gov (907) 356-5690

Northern California Area Coordination Center (USCAONCC)

Name Email Phone
Chris Bunker laura.bunker@usda.gov (530) 226-2800
Laurie Forni laurie.forni@usda.gov (530) 226-2800

Southern California Area Coordination Center (USCAOSCC)

Name Email Phone
Manuel Salas manuel.salas@usda.gov (951) 276-6725

Eastern Area Coordination Center (USWIEACC)

Name Email Phone
Jennifer Parrish jennifer.parrish@usda.gov (414) 391-6090

Great Basin Coordination Center (USUTGBC)

Name Email Phone
Gina Dingman gdingman@blm.gov (801) 531-5320

Northern Rockies Coordination Center (USMTNRC)

Name Email Phone
Jay McCallister jmcallis@blm.gov (406) 329-4880

Northwest Area Coordination Center (USORNWC)

Name Email Phone
Gina Papke gina.papke@usda.gov (503) 277-3391

Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center (USCORMC)

Name Email Phone
Rob Juhola robert.juhola@bia.gov (303) 445-4304
Travis Hartsburg travis.hartsburg@usda.gov (303) 320-3000

Southern Area Coordination Center (USGASAC)

Name Email Phone
Nancy Ellsworth Dana.Ellsworth@usda.gov (678) 320-3000

Southwest Area Coordination Center (USNMSWC)

Name Email Phone
Kenan Jaycox kenan.jaycox@usda.gov (505) 842-3473
Juan Ortiz juan.ortiz@usda.gov (505) 842-3472

Unit Identifier Presentation

Chair: Gina Papke, Chair; Kara Stringer, Co-Chair

NWCG Coordinator: Schultz, Dave

Parent Committee: Data Management Committee

Meeting Schedule: TBD

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NWCG Latest Announcements

ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 New Guidance on Laundering Wildland Fire Clothing to Reduce Contamination

Date: Aug 8, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 Risk Management Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) and the Risk Management Committee (RMC) have issued Safety Bulletin 25-001: Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing. Recent research revealed that wildland fire flame-resistant pants and shirts can be contaminated with chemicals from combustion byproducts, including carcinogens, and that common laundering practices can effectively remove these harmful contaminants from wildland firefighter clothing more effectively than previously understood. It is recommended to decontaminate wildland fire clothing as frequently as possible. 

Frequently Asked Questions about this new information and how to implement recommendations can be found on the NWCG Alerts page. Read the complete ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Safety Bulletin: 25-001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing

Equipment Technology Committee

Risk Management Committee

FAQ Now Available for Archiving Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Positions

Date: Aug 6, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Incident and Position Standards Committee

To support the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), NWCG will archive all Type 1 and Type 2 Command and General Staff (C&G) position qualifications in January 2026, as outlined in NWCG Executive Board Memo 25-002. To assist with this transition, a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is now available.

This resource answers common questions about the status of Type 1 and Type 2 qualifications, impacts to incident qualification management, training requirements, and resource ordering considerations. Review the full FAQ to learn more.

For additional information on CIM and the transition of C&G positions, see NWCG Executive Board Memos 23-005, 24-005, and 25-002, as well as the Incident Workforce and Development Group webpage.

References:

NWCG Type 1 & Type 2 Position Archiving FAQ

NWCG Executive Board Correspondence

Incident Workforce Development Group

Incident and Position Standards Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for UASD, UASM, UASL and UASP

Date: July 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all four Unmanned Aircraft Systems positions:

  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist (UASD)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager (UASM)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader (UASL)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UASP)

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot Position Page

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for RADO and INCM

Date: July 30, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Logistics Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Radio Operator (RADO) and Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Communications Center Manager Position Page