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	Steward Sort ascending	Status	Description
Frequency Use Designator Data Standard	RSUSC Wildland Fire Radio Standards and Use Committee	Approved	This data standard provides a standard list of designators for the kind of communications that will occur on an assigned radio frequency. [validated: 3/8/2004]
Radio Frequency	RSUSC Wildland Fire Radio Standards and Use Committee		A standard describing radio frequencies used in wildland fire.
Incident Personnel Injury & Illness Quantity Data Standard	RMC Risk Management Committee	Approved	This data standard provides a standard definition and format for the total number of reportable occupational injuries and illnesses that occurred in conjunction with an incident. [validated: 12/17/2012]
Incident Personnel Fatality Quantity Data Standard	RMC Risk Management Committee	Approved	This data standard provides a standard definition and format for the total number of deaths of personnel assigned to an incident. [validated: 12/17/2012]
Estimated Containment Date Data Standard	PSOG Predictive Services Oversight Group	Approved	Create a data standard to describe the data element for estimated date a wildfire will be contained.
ICS 209 Report For Time Period To Data Standard	PSOG Predictive Services Oversight Group	Approved	Create a data standard that describes the date and time of the end of the time period for the current ICS209 submission. (ICS Block 11)
ICS 209 Remarks Data Standard	PSOG Predictive Services Oversight Group	Approved	Create a data standard that describes additional information pertinent to the incident management. (ICS Block 47)
Residences Threatened Quantity Data Standard	PSOG Predictive Services Oversight Group	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]
Residences Destroyed Quantity Data Standard	PSOG Predictive Services Oversight Group	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definition for reporting the total number of residences destroyed, or damaged to an extent requiring rebuilding, as a result of a fire. [validated: 6/16/2008]
Significant Events Data Standard	PSOG Predictive Services Oversight Group	Approved	Create a data standard that describes the observed fire behavior or significant incident events for the current reporting period. (ICS Block 28)
ICS 209 Report For Time Period From Data Standard	PSOG Predictive Services Oversight Group	Approved	Create a data standard that describes the date and time of the beginning of the time period for the current ICS209 submission. (ICS Block 11)
ICS 209 Report Status Data Standard	PSOG Predictive Services Oversight Group	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).
ICS 209 Report Date Time Data Standard	PSOG Predictive Services Oversight Group	Approved	Create a data standard that describes the date and time of the latest approved ICS-209 report.
Incident Short Description Data Standard	NICADS National Interagency Computer Aided Dispatch, PSOG Predictive Services Oversight Group	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)
Is Primary Capability Data Standard	NIAC National Interagency Aviation Committee, ETC Equipment Technology Committee	Approved	Indicates that the capability is the primary capability for the equipment or aircraft.
Selection Area Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	Indicates the dispatch center inside/outside the current dispatch center for which resources are being requested.
Apparatus Number Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Grandfathered	The external alphanumeric value painted on the side of the equipment.
Serial Number Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	A set of numbers that is put on equipment by the manufacturer so that each has a different number and can be recognized.
Resource System of Record Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The IRWIN username of the system that currently is the System of Record for the resource and the capabilities for that resource.
Is Location Tracking Enabled Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	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).
Is Quarantined Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	Indicates whether a resource is potentially in conflict with another resource of the same kind, based on the overhead conflict detection rules.
Is Valid Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	A status flag indicating whether a resource is valid for use in Initial Response. Invalid resources should be removed from the data stream.
Manager Contact Info Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	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.
Unit Identifier Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	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]
Is National Resource Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	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.
Event Kind & Category Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	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
Geographic Area (GA) Code & Name Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	This data standard provides a code and name for each of the wildland fire geographic areas. [validated: 2/16/2006]
Incident Commander Name Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The first (optional) and last name of the Incident Commander(s) currently assigned to the incident.
Resource Quantity Current as of Date Time Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The date and time that reflects the period for which the resource counts are current.
Location Timestamp Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The date/time for the resource’s last known position
VIN Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) assigned to a piece of equipment.
Incident Management Organization Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The Incident Management Organization for the incident.
Geographic Coordinating Area (GCA) Code & Name Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	This data standard provides a code and name for each of the wildland fire geographic coordinating areas. [validated: 5/21/2015]
Incident Dispatch Center ID Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	A unique identifier for the dispatch center with responsibility at the incident point of origin.
Fire Resource Status Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	Indicates if the resource record being submitted or updated is an initial response resource or daily resource record.
Operational Name Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	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.
Tail Number Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The numerical identification of an aircraft, also known as the registration number for an aircraft, as displayed on the aircraft's tail section.
Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) Code & Name Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	This data standard provides a code and name for each of the wildland fire geographic area coordination centers. [validated: 5/21/2015]
Fire Resource Kind, Category & Type Data Standard	IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee, NIAC National Interagency Aviation Committee, NCSC National Coordination System Committee, ETC Equipment Technology Committee	Approved	This data standard provides standard formats and definitions for a three-tier classification (kind and type) of operational resources available to respond to a fire. [validated: 8/15/2008]
Capacity Data Standard	IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee	Approved	The capacity in which the overhead resource is qualified to perform a position. May also be used to define how the resource performed on a specific incident. In both cases the capacity is defined as “trainee” or “qualified”.
General Status Data Standard	IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee	Approved	Indicates whether the resource is available or unavailable to fill a capability request.
Fitness Level Data Standard	IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee	Approved	A code that indicates the fitness level of a human resource.
Incident Size Data Standard	IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee	Approved	How large the incident is, measured in acres. This number can change over the life of the incident.
Incident Type Endorsement Data Standard	IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee	Approved	Indicates the types of incidents for which this resource is qualified to perform in this position. Wildland Fire, Prescribed Fire, All "other" Hazards (WF, AH, RX).
Operational Status Data Standard	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee, NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	Describes the status of the resource as they are utilized by an incident.
Evaluation Comments Data Standard	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	Text description of the evaluator’s comments.
Employment Category Data Standard	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	The type of employment appointment or agreement under which a person is hired. [validated: 5/6/2004]
Fulfillment Status Data Standard	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	Indicates the state of the request.
Evaluation Data Standard	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	A description of how the resource performed on an incident. The evaluation is focused on the specific capacity the resource was required to perform.
Position Code & Position Title Data Standard	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard provides a code (mnemonic) and title for each position used in incident management response. [validated: 2/15/2005; updated: 12/17/2018]

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