National Wildfire Coordinating Group

Data Standards, Approved

NWCG data standards (data element and geospatial data layer) provide specifications that enable the common usage of data across wildland fire information systems.  For more information click on one of the following lists:

Approved Data Standards

The NWCG Data Standards and Terminology Subcommittee has approved the following data standards. Detailed information regarding each standard is available by clicking on the data standard name.

View:  All Approved Data Standards  |  Only Approved Data Element Standards  |  Only Approved Geospatial Data Layer Standards

 

Data Standard Description Approved Date Version Data Standard Type
Aviation Hazards (Point, Line, Polygon)

These 5 geospatial data layers capture physical features that may present a hazard to pilots during aviation operations.

04/12/2017 2 Geospatial Data Layer
Fuels Treatments (polygon)

The Fuels Treatments (polygon) data layer represents the area(s) of unique fuels treatments during a single timeframe. Each treatment may be made up of multiple polygons. [Validated 9/9/2014]

09/09/2014 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Wildland Fire Locations (point)

Wildland Fire Location Points represent the final spatial locations of the fire occurrences. Fire occurrences represent the ignition points (preferred), the polygon centroids, or more generalized locations (least desirable) when the ignition points are not known or not available. [Validated 9/9/2014]

09/09/2014 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Wildland Fire Perimeters (polygon)

Wildland Fire Perimeter Polygons geospatial data layer standard provides the standard template for exchange/transfer of wildland fire perimeter polygons, representing the daily and final perimeters for wildfires and prescribed fires. Replaces the Fire History (polygons) geospatial data layer standard (archived) and incorporates the Daily Fire Perimeter geospatial data layer standard (archived). [Validated 9/9/2014]

09/09/2014 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Geographic Area Coordination Center Boundaries (polygon)

Geographic boundary polygons depicting the administrative area of the Geographic Area Coordination Centers

02/21/2017 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Helispots

The helispot data standard deals with the spatial location and minimum critical attribute information for planning and operational use. The purpose is to store information about established helispots for land management agencies. The standard is not meant to store temporary helispot locations created during incident response, but the data will be available for reference during incident response. Data will persist in the National Incident Feature Service.

03-30-2022 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Wildland Fire Event Line

The Wildland Fire Event Line data standard will define the minimum attributes necessary for collection, storage and dissemination of incident based data on wildland fires (wildfires and prescribed fires). The standard is not intended for long term data storage, rather a standard to assist in the creation of incident based data management tools, minimum standards for data exchange, and to assist users in meeting NWCG Standards for Geospatial Operations, PMS 936, guidance on incidents.

02/21/2017 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Predictive Services Area Boundaries (polygon)

Geographic boundary polygons depicting the extent of the Predictive Services Area Boundary

02/21/2017 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Wildland Fire Dispatch Area Boundaries (polygon)

Geographic boundary polygons depicting the administrative area of the Wildland fire Dispatch Areas

02/21/2017 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Wildland Fire Dispatch Office Location (point)

Geographic location point depicting the administrative location of the Dispatch Centers

02/21/2017 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Wildland Urban Interface (polygon)

The wildland urban interface (WUI) geospatial data standard defines minimum attribution for interagency collaboration and data sharing.

02/21/2017 1.1 Geospatial Data Layer
Wildland Fire Event Point

The Wildland Fire Event Point data standard will define the minimum attributes necessary for collection, storage and dissemination of incident based data on wildland fires (wildfires and prescribed fires). The standard is not intended for long term data storage, rather a standard to assist in the creation of incident based data management tools, minimum standards for data exchange, and to assist users in meeting NWCG Standards for Geospatial Operations, PMS 936, guidance on incidents.

 

02/21/2017 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Wildland Fire Event Polygon

The Wildland Fire Event Polygon data standard will define the minimum attributes necessary for collection, storage and dissemination of incident based data on wildland fires (wildfires and prescribed fires). The standard is not intended for long term data storage, rather a standard to assist in the creation of incident based data management tools, minimum standards for data exchange, and to assist users in meeting NWCG Standards for Geospatial Operations, PMS 936, guidance on incidents.

02/21/2017 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Water Source

The Engine Water Sources data standard includes definition of a point feature class for storing information in support of fire-related operations. This layer provides information about the locations, capacity, type, etc. of water sources that may be used for firefighting purposes.

08/13/2020 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Initial Attack Frequency Zone (Polygon)

Polygons depicting areas in which FAA/DOI/USDA annually assign initial attack frequencies for incident needs.

08/13/2020 1 Geospatial Data Layer
National Geographic Area Coordination Center Boundary (polygon)

Geographic boundary polygons depicting administrative areas of Geographic Area Coordination Centers (GACCs). GACCs are the largest subdivision within the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) tiered dispatch system. GACCs provide logistical coordination of emergency management resources within their boundaries and with other GACCs. GACC Boundaries are further subdivided into Local Dispatch Areas.

03-30-2022 2 Geospatial Data Layer
National Dispatch Center Office (point)

Geographic points depicting the locations of Dispatch Centers within Tier 1, 2, and 3 Dispatch Areas across the nation. Tier 1 refers to the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) which administers the entire country. Tier 2 are the Geographic Area Coordination Centers (GACCs). Tier 3 are the Local Dispatch Centers. Depending on availability of addresses, points may represent actual Dispatch Center offices or only the general city in which the center exists. If no address is listed in the DispAddress field, the location is specific to the city only and not to an address.

03-30-2022 2 Geospatial Data Layer
Pre-Incident Structure Evaluation

This layer includes information on the structure access, structure construction and defensible space with related attributes for documenting the property's characteristics.

03-30-2022 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Resource Base Location

Points depicting locations at which a given resource base exists, originates, or is dispatched from (home location) as defined in the specific layer description. Standard may be adapted for use with many types of resource base locations.

03-30-2022 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Jurisdictional Unit Polygon

This geospatial layer depicts areas of wildland fire jurisdiction to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Unit level. Jurisdictional Unit is defined by NWCG as "The governmental entity having overall land and resource management responsibility for a specific geographical area as provided by law."

07/29/2021 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Potential Operational Delineations (Line, Polygon)

PODs Polygon: This geospatial layer depicts areas of wildland fire potential operational delineations defined by potential control features. PODs Line: This geospatial layer depicts linear potential control features that may form wildland fire potential operational delineation polygon boundaries

12-2-2022 1 Geospatial Data Layer
Fire Restrictions Polygon

This geospatial layer depicts areas where measures have been taken by jurisdictional agencies to impose bans and standards of use on certain human activities that could lead to the cause of wildland fire. These rules are called fire restrictions.

04-25-2023 Geospatial Data Layer
Resource Tracking (Point)

This geospatial layer displays the real-time location of wildland fire resources.

12/20/2023 1 Geospatial Data Layer

Page Last Modified / Reviewed: 
2019-11-20