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Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee

ARCHIVED

This committee has been archived July 1, 2026.  Please reach out to your NWCG Coordinator if any content needs to be moved to the new committee structure.


 

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Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee (WFISC) provides national leadership in wildland fire investigation. This includes developing and promulgating wildland fire investigation standards, qualifications, training, certification, and practices that are sufficient to support fire prevention as well as criminal, civil, and administrative actions.

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Primary Objectives

Burned cars on a road.
  • Establish and maintain a nationally recognized and accepted wildland fire investigation certification program for wildland fire investigators that is both reasonably attainable and meaningful.
  • Promote practices that ensure wildland fire investigations are conducted with a systematic and science based methodology.
  • Develop and maintain training courses, handbooks and guides.
  • Develop and maintain an inventory of wildland fire investigation resources and tools.
  • Coordinate with pertinent stakeholders to provide information, assistance, and subject matter expertise in wildland fire investigation.

Investigation Courses

Our primary focus is maintaining the following NWCG Wildland Fire Investigation courses

  • FI-110, Wildland Fire Observations and Origin Scene Protection for First Responders
  • FI-210, Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination - required for the PMS310-1 Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF) position.
  • FI-310, Wildland Fire Investigation: Case Development - required training for the PMS 310-1 Wildland fire Investigation Team Member (INTM) position.
  • X-900, Investigating Power Line Caused Wildfires
  • X-902, Investigating Railroad Caused Wildfires

Chair: Zimmermaker, Shawn

NWCG Coordinator: Gaskill, Steven

Parent Committee: Communication Education and Prevention Committee

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species – Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

Date:  July 30, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics and Equipment Management Committee (LMC) issued Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels, reminding the wildland fire community that aquatic mussels continue to be a problem. Mussels rapidly colonize hard and soft surfaces, including aquatic plants and fire equipment, clogging pipes, fouling motors, disrupting water systems, and impacting native species.

To help prevent their spread, fire personnel must follow the decontamination procedures outlined in the NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444. Additionally, report any sightings immediately to your Lead Resource Advisor and include clear, close-up photos (with a pen or your hand for size reference) and location details.”

Read the complete LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001, to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Task Book Update

Date:  July 24, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG Operations Management Committee (OMC) has issued an update to the NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91. To ensure clarity for both trainees and evaluators, the updated FAL2 Position Task Book (PTB) explicitly states who is authorized to sign off on your tasks:

“Evaluators must be qualified as a FAL2, or an Advanced Faller (FAL1).”

If you are currently working out of a previously published version of the FAL2 PTB, you do not need to restart. However, OMC highly encourages you to take the following step to prevent any confusion in the field:

  • Print and replace the updated evaluator information page (page 2) in your current physical PTB.

References:

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

RMC Memo 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementing Updates to Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Qualifications

NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91

Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups

Date:  July 10, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics/Equipment Management Committee (LMC) has released Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups. This advisory highlights multiple U.S. Forest Service regions reporting front driveline joint failure incidents.

This advisory recommends firefighters and fire managers to: 

  • Follow all Ram-issued inspection, maintenance, and service guidance for front driveline joints. 
  • Consider installing a driveline loop. 
  • Coordinate with fleet managers and service providers to determine the most appropriate driveline loop kit for each pickup.

For further details, please refer to the complete advisory.

References:

Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups

Technical Service Bulletin: 03-002-21

NEW! NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900

Date:  July 9, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG Staff

NWCG is excited to announce the publication of the NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900.

The new publication establishes general, consistent, and uniform standards for conducting business with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

References:

NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900