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S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations (ILT)

Course Title
Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations (ILT)
Training Required For
FBAN 310-1 Training Path 01, RXB1 310-1 Training Path 01, LTAN 310-1 Training Path 01
Version Date

2010

Previous Certification Dates

2008-09

Course Number
S-490
Course Description

This is the fourth course in a series designed to develop fire behavior and prediction knowledge and skills. This course prepares students for Advanced Fire Behavior Interpretation, S-590, which addresses the skills for Fire Behavior Analyst and Long Term Fire Analyst positions. It also prepares students desiring to become qualified as a Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1). The course material is presented in an instructor-led approach to learning. Examples and exercises are divided between wildfire and prescribed fire applications. Students learn to project fire perimeter growth based on weather predictions, and knowledge of fuels and topography, using a variety of scenarios.

Course Objective

Use fire behavior models to predict fire growth in varied terrain.

Lead Instructor Minimum Qualifications
Lead and unit instructors must be qualified as Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN), Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN), or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1).
Format
Instructor Led
Special Delivery Considerations

Updates

The links in the pre-course review materials Part 4–Manual Methods of Fire Behavior Prediction and Part 5–Use of BehavePlus have been updated. The materials can now be found at https://www.frames.gov/partner-sites/behaveplus/home/. The documents found on the S-490 Student CD in the Pre-Course Study Materials folder have not been updated. Students will need to be informed of the changes if they are using the CD.

Optional materials have been developed to enhance the students understanding of the Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) relative to the Advanced Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations course. Instructors who choose to use the optional materials to enhance the course should be familiar with the lesson and its contents and determine how it will be used in the course. The materials are available here: https://wfdss.usgs.gov/wfdss/WFDSS_NWCG_WFDSS.shtml.

Applies to 2010 Version.

Business Steward
S490CSC S490 Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations Steering Committee
Prerequisite Training Notes

Successful completion of Introduction to S-390, Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations.

Unit Instructor Minimum Qualifications
Lead and unit instructors must be qualified as Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN), Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN), or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1).
Alternate Delivery Mode
Not Applicable

NWCG Latest Announcements

Leadership Committee IAP Flyer Now Available

Date:  May 8, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee promotes and enables leadership development across the wildland fire service. The committee provides education, training opportunities, and support for leadership innovation and best practices throughout the community.

A new IAP flyer is now available on the committee website, offering an overview of the products, curriculum, and learning opportunities the Leadership Committee develops. This resource is ideal for posting in your office, sharing with new employees, or distributing through your incident management teams to engage new voices in the leadership journey and reinforce a culture of self‑reflection, development, and growth.

References:

Leadership Committee 2026 IAP Flyer

Incident Operations Subcommittee Updates the Next Generation Position Task Book for FFT1

Date:  May 7, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

The NWCG Incident Operations Subcommittee (IOSC) has updated the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14. The FFT1 Position Task Book transitioned to the Next Generation (Next Gen PTB) format in June 2025 through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. Since then, IOSC has received feedback from the wildland fire community regarding coding for one of the tasks. Task #13 has been updated to include the option of evaluation in a simulation.

See IOSC Memorandum 26‑01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14 for more information.

References:

IOSC Memorandum 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Postion Task Book for Firefighter Type 1

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page 

NEW! S-212, Intermediate Faller (Online) Course Available Now 

Date:  April 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S‑212, Intermediate Faller (Online), course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). This second course in the series provides students with the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of an Intermediate Faller (FAL2), as described in the FAL2 Incident Position Description. This course is intended for individuals seeking to advance from Basic Faller (FAL3) to FAL2.

S‑212, Intermediate Faller is a fully online, self‑paced training program consisting of 13 units. Learners will engage with interactive, scenario‑based content designed to progressively build foundational skills and knowledge essential for the FAL2 role.

Students must be qualified as a Basic Faller (FAL3) prior to enrolling in S‑212, Intermediate Faller course.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2027.

References:

S-212 Intermediate Faller (Online)

RMC Memo 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementing Updates to Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Qualifications

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

New Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

Date:  April 17, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: National Coordination System Committee

A new publication from the National Coordination System Committee (NCSC) is now available. The NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249, will be used for aviation crews and dispatch to share flight information that is needed for resource tracking, and if needed, for emergency procedures.

For further details, please contact your NCSC representative. 

References:

NCSC Memo 26-01: Implementation of NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249