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July 15

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on

Item

Topic

Presenter

Action Taken

1

Welcome and Agenda Review

Paul Schlobohm

N/A

2

Status Report:  National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) Update

Clint Cross

The Fire Danger Subcommittee has developed a comprehensive plan to manage the change to NFDRS 2016 focusing on the following five key areas: NFDRS Model, training, communication, pocket cards, and red book.  The plan includes evaluation in WIMS starting Fall 2015 and implementation starting Fall 2016.

3

Approval:  Third Quarter Budget Review and Excess Funds Distribution

Elaine Waterbury

Board approved the following project requests for additional FY 2015 funding:  Mechanized Fire Equipment Tactics Guide and AD Pay Plan Classification Long Term Strategy.

 

Board supports the proposal for the NWCG conference room enhancements pending review with campus maintenance regarding ADA concerns.

4

Approval:  Closeout of NWCG Refresher Program tasking (TM-14-03) and request to incorporate effort into current NWCG Training System Assessment Tasking (TM-15-003) to develop an overall program strategy.

Sean Cross

Approved.

5

Status Report:  Finalize approval of the Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management and Stafford Act Response Agreement national template.

Dan Smith

Agencies support the Master Co-Op agreement pending solicitor approval.

6

Status Report:  Lightning Round

All

Date change of the September 2015 meeting from Wed Sept. 16 to Wed Sept 23.

 

The new NWCG website will be live starting Mon. July 20, 2015
Date
Participants

<p>
<strong>Executive Board:&nbsp; </strong>Aitor Bidaburu (USFA), Dan Smith (Chair, NWCG), John Glenn, Vice-Chair (BLM), Chris Wilcox (FWS), Frank Guzman (USFS), Jeff Scott for Mark Koontz (NPS), Rod Bloms (DOI OWF Liaison), Tim Sexton (RD&amp;A), Will May (IAFC).&nbsp; Not present:&nbsp; Aaron Baldwin (BIA), Jim Erickson (ITC).</p>

<p>
<strong>NWCG Staff:&nbsp; </strong>Elaine Waterbury (Planning Branch Coordinator), Krysta Shultz (Executive Secretary), Sean Cross (NWCG Staff Manager) Tim Blake (Operations Branch Coordinator), Paul Schlobohm (NWCG FMB Liaison).&nbsp; Not present:&nbsp; Deb Fleming (Training Development Program Manager)</p>

Other Participants

<p>
Clint Cross (Chair, Advanced NFDRS Steering Committee), Lisa McDevitt (Chair, Budget Advisory Unit - BLM)</p>

Attachment
eb-mt-2015-07-15
EB Item

NULL

Show in Catalog
Yes

NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Paul Gleason Award Winners Announced

Date:  August 13, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Development Subcommittee

The NWCG Qualifications Management Committee (QMC) and Leadership Development Subcommittee (LDSC) are proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Paul Gleason "Lead By Example" awards. Award categories include Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Hunter Bell, U.S. Forest Service — Initiative and Innovation
  • Shannon Deane, U.S. Wildland Fire Service— Initiative and Innovation
  • Chris Delaney, U.S. Wildland Fire Service — Motivation and Vision
  • Sean Peterson, U.S. Forest Service — Mentoring and Teamwork

References:

Paul Gleason Lead By Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

Leadership Development Subcommittee

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