NWCG Data Standards, PMS 910

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 login to EDG Explorer.

NWCG Data Standards

EDG Explorer is a database platform used for managing NWCG Data Standards. The following Data Standards and Geospatial Data Layer tables offer a quick view of the standards.

More detailed information such as rules, documentation, and term relationships may be viewed in EDG Explorer. Expand Data Standards or Geospatial Data Layer Standards below to see data standards term descriptions and status.

Note: If the NWCG Data Standards View is not displaying below please report it to NWCG Webmaster.

Title	Status	Description
Incident Dispatch Center ID Data Standard	Approved	A unique identifier for the dispatch center with responsibility at the incident point of origin.
Point of Origin Latitude Data Standard	Approved	This data standard adopts the NWCG Latitude data standard for identifying the latitude location of the point of origin of a fire. [validated: 7/21/2008]
Initial Response Resource Quantity Data Standard	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definition for reporting the total number of fire resources (by kind, category, and type) used during initial response. [validated: 6/16/2008]
Landowner Kind & Category Data Standard	Approved	This data standard provides a two-tier classification (kind and category) of landownership. [validated: 8/25/2016]
Point of Origin Accuracy Descriptor Data Standard	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definition for describing the methods used to determine the certainty and precision of the fire location at the point of origin. [validated: 8/15/2008]
Employment Category Data Standard	Approved	The type of employment appointment or agreement under which a person is hired. [validated: 5/6/2004]
Unique Fire Report Identifier Data Standard	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and rules for a code that uniquely identifies a particular fire report. [validated: 6/16/2008; next validation: 12/31/2013]
Middle Name Data Standard	Approved	The middle name of the resource as it appears on a government issued ID. Applies only to overhead resources.
Residences Threatened Quantity Data Standard	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definition for reporting the total number of residences threatened by the fire. [validated: 7/21/2008]
ICS 209 Report Status Data Standard	Approved	Create a data standard that describes the version of the 209 report (initial, update, or final). There should never be more than one initial report, but there can be numerous updates, and even multiple finals (as determined by business rules).
Fire Containment Date & Time Data Standard	Approved	This standard provides a standard format and definition for the date and time a wildfire was declared contained.
Primary Email Data Standard	Approved	Individual’s primary email.
Date Data Standard	Approved	This data standard specifies a standard format for calendar date. [validated: 7/30/2002]
Last Name Data Standard	Approved	The last name of the resource as it appears on a government issued ID. Applies only to overhead resources.
Operational Name Data Standard	Approved	The CURRENT common operational reference to a Resource, the name of the resource and/or call sign. This value will be updated for equipment, crews, modules and teams based on how the resource is currently being utilized through a filled request.
Local Incident Identifier Data Standard	Approved	This data standard specifies the standard format and rules for a number or code that uniquely identifies an incident for a particular local fire management organization within a particular calendar year. [validated: 6/16/2008]
Fire Control Date & Time Data Standard	Approved	This standard provides a standard format and definition for the date and time a wildfire was declared under control. [validated: 6/16/2008]
Is National Resource Data Standard	Approved	A status flag indicating whether a resource is a National Resource for use in Initial Response. National Resources are those which have national utilization, high demand, limited availability, and unique status reporting requirements identified by NICC. See the National Mobilization Guide, Chapter 10 for specific details on what constitutes a National Resource.
ADS Permission State Data Standard	Grandfathered	Indicates the permission hierarchy that is currently being applied when a system utilizes the UpdateIncident operation.
test standard
Owner Vendor Data Standard	Approved	The name of the vendor that is providing a contract resource for an incident.
Multi-Jurisdictional Indicator Data Standard	Approved	Indicates if the incident covers multiple jurisdictions.
VIN Data Standard	Approved	The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) assigned to a piece of equipment.
Date-Time Data Standard	Approved	The combination of date and time elements.
Incident Short Description Data Standard	Approved	Create a data standard that describes the general descriptive location of the incident such as the number of miles from an identifiable town. (ICS Block 25)
Apparatus Number Data Standard	Grandfathered	The external alphanumeric value painted on the side of the equipment.
Forest Service Job Code Data Standard	Approved	A code used to indicate the Forest Service job accounting code for the incident. This is specific to the Forest Service, and is usually displayed as two-character prefix on the FireCode.
Weather Concerns Data Standard	Approved	A field collected in the ICS 209 containing a brief summary of how the current weather is affecting the incident and how the anticipated weather will affect the incident.
Evaluation Timestamp Data Standard	Approved	The date/time the trainee experience was evaluated.
Fire Report Approver Name Data Standard	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definition for the name of the person that approved the fire report. [validated: 4/10/2008]
Fire Reporting Agency Unit Identifier Data Standard	Approved	This data standard adopts the NWCG Unit Identifier data standard to identify the agency preparing a fire report. [validated: 4/10/2008]
Point of Origin State Code Data Standard	Approved	This data standard adopts the NWCG State Code data standard to identify the state or equivalent entity at the point of origin of a fire. [validated: 6/16/2008]
Manager Contact Info Data Standard	Approved	Contact information for the manager of the resource. For use in duplicate resolution and also transferring resources from one SOR (system of record) to another. Based on the Resource SOR, this information would be the person who is responsible for certifying that this resource meets the requirements for the Type, Kind and Category.
GUID Data Standard	Grandfathered	A standard describing a globally unique identifier for unique identification.
Point of Origin Land Owner Kind & Category Data Standard	Approved	This data standard adopts the NWCG Land Owner Kind & Category data standard for identifying the owner at the point of origin at the time of an incident. [validated: 8/15/2008]
Point of Origin Responsible Agency Unit Identifier Data Standard	Approved	This data standard adopts the NWCG Unit Identifier data standard to identify the agency with primary fire protection responsibility at the point of origin of a fire. [validated: 6/16/2008]
County Code Data Standard	Approved	This standard adopts the Federal Information Process Standards (FIPS) publication 6-4 for representation of counties and equivalent entities as a three-digit code. [validated: 4/20/2009]
Is Location Tracking Enabled Data Standard	Approved	A status flag indicating whether a resource's location (geometry object/shape) is being updated by a real-time GPS tracking such as AVL (Automated Vehicle Locator).
Longitude Data Standard	Approved	This data standard specifies a standard format for longitude. [validated: 12/15/2006]
State Code Data Standard	Superceded	This data standard has been superseded by the Country Subdivision Code standard.
Country Code Data Standard	Approved	This standard adopts the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for two-letter country codes.
Latitude Data Standard	Approved	This data standard specifies a standard format for latitude. [validated: 12/15/2006]
Experience To Date Data Standard	Approved	The date and time when the Experience ended.
Is Valid Data Standard	Approved	A status flag indicating whether a resource is valid for use in Initial Response. Invalid resources should be removed from the data stream.
Point of Origin Datum Data Standard	Approved	This data standard adopts the proposed NWCG Horizontal Datum data standard for identifying the datum associated with the coordinates of the point of origin of a fire. [validated: 6/16/2008]
Point of Origin State Data Standard	Approved	The State alpha code identifying the state or equivalent entity at point of origin.
Unit Identifier Data Standard	Approved	This data standard specifies the standard format and rules for Unit Identifier, a code used within the wildland fire community to uniquely identify a particular government organizational unit. [validated: 12/18/2012]
Event Kind & Category Data Standard	Approved	This data standard specifies general, high-level codes and descriptions to be used in categorizing the types of incidents and planned events to which the interagency wildland fire community responds
FireCode Data Standard	Approved	This data standard specifies the standard format and rules for FireCode, a code used within the interagency wildland fire community to track and compile cost information for emergency fire suppression expenditures. [validated: 5/18/2005]
Initial Fire Strategy Designator Data Standard	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definition of the fire strategy initially used on a wildland fire. [validated: 8/15/2008]

Note: If the NWCG Geospatial Data Layer View is not displaying below please report it to NWCG Webmaster.

Data Standard Title	Status	Description
Fire Restrictions Polygon	Approved	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.
Initial Attack Frequency Zone Polygon	Approved	Polygons depicting areas in which FAA/DOI/USDA annually assign initial attack frequencies for incident needs.
Potential Operational Delineations Line	Approved	This geospatial layer depicts linear potential control features that may form wildland fire potential operational delineation polygon boundaries.
Wildland Fire Perimeters Polygon	Approved	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
Wildland Fire Locations Point	Approved	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.
Wildland Fire Dispatch Area Boundaries Polygon	Approved	Geographic boundary polygons depicting the administrative area of the Wildland fire Dispatch Areas
Geographic Area Coordination Center Boundaries Polygon	Approved	Geographic boundary polygons depicting the administrative area of the Geographic Area Coordination Centers
Wildland Fire Dispatch Office Location Point	Approved
Predictive Services Area Boundaries Polygon	Approved	Geographic boundary polygons depicting the extent of the Predictive Services Area Boundary
Wildland Fire Event Line	Approved	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.
Wildland Fire Event Polygon	Approved	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.
Resource Tracking Points	Approved	This geospatial layer displays the real-time location of wildland fire resources.
Jurisdictional Unit Polygon	Approved	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."
Wildland Urban Interface Polygon	Approved	The wildland urban interface (WUI) geospatial data standard defines minimum attribution for interagency collaboration and data sharing.
Wildland Fire Event Line (Dev)	In Development	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.
Aviation Obstruction Polygon	Approved	This layer captures physical features that may present a hazard to pilots during aviation operations. Generally speaking these are permanent features.
Aviation Activity Polygon	Approved	This layer captures activities that may present a hazard to pilots during aviation operations.
Aviation Activity Point	Approved	This layer captures activities that may present a hazard to pilots during aviation operations.
Aviation Obstruction Line	Approved	This layer captures physical features that may present a hazard to pilots during aviation operations. Generally speaking these are permanent features.
Aviation Obstruction Point	Approved	This layer captures physical features that may present a hazard to pilots during aviation operations. Generally speaking these are permanent features.
Wildland Fire Event Point	Approved	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.
Water Source	Approved	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.
Wildland Fire Event Polygon	In Development	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.
Wildland Fire Event Point	In Development	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.
Fuels Treatments Polygon	Approved	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 polgons.

Comment on a proposed data standard

When a new or revised data standard is ready for review and comment, it will have a status of Proposed. Submit your feedback to the Data Standards and Terminology Board.

Request for a new or revised standard

Requests for the development of a new data standard, or for changes to a current standard, may be submitted on a Request form.

Download the User Guide and other reference materials

The User Guide for Development and Maintenance of NWCG Data Standards, PMS 938, explains the processes for developing and maintaining both NWCG data element and geospatial data layer standards.

National Wildfire Coordinating Group

PMS 910

PMS 910

NWCG Data Standards, PMS 910