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October 19

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NWCG Executive Board

Meeting Minutes – 19 October 2016

 

Participants

Participants name followed by agency

 

 

NWCG
Participants

 

Executive Board: Scott Bradshaw for Bob Roberts, vice-Chair (BIA), Dan Smith (NASF), John Glenn, Chair (BLM), Shane McDonald (FWS), Will May (IAFC), Aitor Bidaburu (USFA), Frank Guzman (USFS), Tim Sexton (RD&A).  Not Present: Jim Erickson (ITC), Mark Koontz (NPS), Rod Bloms (DOI OWF Liaison)

 

NWCG Staff: Krysta Shultz (Executive Secretary), Sean Cross (NWCG Program Manager), Tim Blake (Branch Coordinator), Paul Schlobohm (NWCG FMB Liaison), Deb Fleming (Branch Coord/Training Dev Program Manager)

 

 

Other
Participants

Data Management Committee Representation:  Andrew Bailey, Dianna Sampson, Andy Kirsch, & Cole Belongie

 

Meeting handouts are available upon request via email at blm_fa_nwcg_executive_secretary@blm.gov

 

Item

Topic

Presenter

Action Taken

1

Welcome, Agenda Review

Paul Schlobohm

N/A

2

Wildfire Radio Standards and Use Committee Update

Tim Blake

Board was briefed on changes made to the Wildfire Radio Standards and Use mission statement.  Dan Smith (NASF) and Will May (IAFC) to provide names for state & local representatives.

3

FY18 Budget Guidance Approval

Deb Fleming

Approved

4

NWCG Leadership Curriculum: Follow-up from September Executive Board Meeting

Sean Cross

Executive Board supports the intent of tasking the Operations Training Committee (OTC) to assess the Leadership Curriculum.  Deb Fleming has the lead.  Due:  November 16.

5

Data Management Committee Update:

  1. Vision for an enterprise perspective of wildland fire data.
  2. Plan for an interagency data cache to achieve the vision and draft request to FMB.

Paul Schlobohm

Andrew Bailey

Board was briefed on the concept of an Interagency Data Cache with key capabilities including:  Single trusted/authoritative location for interagency data, discrete datasets, and extensive storage capabilities.  Executive Board supports the intent of the proposed cache concept.

  1. Revise draft memo to FMB and send.  Paul Schlobohm has lead.  Executive Board to provide edits.  Due November 2.
  2. Request time on FMB Nov. 16th agenda to present cache concept and possible tasking.  Andrew Bailey has lead.  Due November 2.

6

NWCG Data Management Standards for Incident Complexes and Merged Wildfires Update

  1. Draft Release Memo
  2. New NWCG Standards for Incident Complexes and Merged Wildfires
  3. Draft Memo to FMB for Implementation

Paul Schlobohm

Approved

7

Lightning Round

All

N/A

 

Date
Participants

<p>
<strong>Executive Board: </strong>Scott Bradshaw for Bob Roberts, vice-Chair (BIA), Dan Smith (NASF), John Glenn, Chair (BLM), Shane McDonald (FWS), Will May (IAFC), Aitor Bidaburu (USFA), Frank Guzman (USFS), Tim Sexton (RD&amp;A).&nbsp; Not Present: Jim Erickson (ITC), Mark Koontz (NPS), Rod Bloms (DOI OWF Liaison)</p>

<p>
<strong>NWCG Staff: </strong>Krysta Shultz (Executive Secretary), Sean Cross (NWCG Program Manager), Tim Blake (Branch Coordinator), Paul Schlobohm (NWCG FMB Liaison), Deb Fleming (Branch Coord/Training Dev Program Manager)</p>

Other Participants

<p>
Data Management Committee Representation:&nbsp; Andrew Bailey, Dianna Sampson, Andy Kirsch, &amp; Cole Belongie</p>

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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
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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:

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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. 
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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