Skip to main content

S-354, Facilities Unit Leader (ILT)

Course Title
Facilities Unit Leader (ILT)
Version Date

2009

Previous Certification Dates

1999-11

Course Number
S-354
Other Training Which Supports
FACL Facilities Unit Leader
Course Description

This course prepares students to perform the job of Facilities Unit Leader (FACL)as outlined in the NIMS: Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide, PMS 310-1, and the position task book developed for the position. The instructional methods of the course include lecture with PowerPoint presentations, classroom exercises, and discussions. The lessons provide an introduction to operational leadership, mobilization, arrival at an incident, risk management, safety and tactics, demobilization, and post-incident responsibilities.

Course Objective

At the successful completion of this course, students will describe roles and responsibilities, and demonstrate proficiency in the skills/knowledge required to perform the tasks of a Facilities Unit Leader.

Prerequisite Qualifications Notes

Qualified as Base/Camp Manager (BCMG).

Lead Instructor Minimum Qualifications
Lead and unit instructors must be qualified as Facilities Unit Leader (FACL)
Format
Instructor Led
Special Delivery Considerations

Course Updates
Both the Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, and the Wildland Fire Incident Management Field Guide, PMS 210, are now discontinued. Existing references to these documents will need to be removed from course materials and exams. Any existing paper copies of exams are now outdated. Course Coordinators, Lead Instructors, or Unit Training Officers may request access to the final exam and answer key by emailing blm_fa_nwcg_training@blm.gov. All emailed requests must come from an official NWCG partner email address.

The following update is suggested for the S-354 final exam:

Question #5: List four duties of a Facilities Unit Leader: (4 pts)
Answer: unchanged
Due to changes to the National Mobile Facilities contract, the following updates need to be made to Unit 4 of the course:

Instructor Guide

pg. 4.6, 4 – optional equipment is not in the new National Mobile Facilities contract; the instructor can talk about other avenues, such as BPA.
pg. 4.7, 5, 2nd bullet – delete the word “vehicle” and insert “unit”.
pg. 4.8, b – delete Alaska; Alaska is no longer listed in the contract.
pg. 4.8, c – emphasize that optional equipment can only be ordered with BPA or EERA and not under contract.
pg. 4.9, 3a, 4th bullet – delete dust control.
pg. 4.13, c, 1st bullet – refer to C.1.5.12, should be C.1.5.11.
pg. 4.15, 1, 2nd bullet – release and/or reassignment, C.2.1.2, should be C.2.3.
pg. 4.15, 1, 3rd bullet – required information when placing orders, C.2.1.4 should be C.2.1.
pg. 4.15 – under Required information, when placing orders, add large capacity or small capacity shower needed.
pg. 4.16, 1st bullet – required lead time after ordering, no longer in contract, delete; as well as next statement, Two hour pg. 4.16, 2.
pg. 4.16 – procedure for canceling…, C.2.2, should be C.2.3 and C.2.5.
pg. 4.16 – highlighted ANSWER says C.2.2.2, should be C.2.5.2.
pg. 4.16 – relocation, C.2.3, should be C.2.6.
pg. 4.16, 4 – delete all 4 bullets; they refer to optional contract equipment.
pg. 4.18, 5 – ordering intermittent use of contractor’s water vehicle, C.2.5, should be C.2.8.
pg. 4.19, C – need to add large capacity and small capacity definitions.
pg. 4.19, 4th bullet – C.3.1.4, should be C.3.1.4.1, C.3.1.4.2, and C.3.2.1.
pg. 4.19 – 101 degrees, should be 110 degrees.
pg. 4.21, 3 – remove “Be level with the shower stalls”; also 3rd bullet should say“Capable of accommodating as many people as there are shower heads.”
pg. 4.21, 4, 2nd bullet – C.3.4.1, should be C.3.4.2.
pg. 4.22, 1st bullet – optional water vehicle…, can be deleted as well as 5, handwashing (optional); they are no longer listed in the contract.
pg. 4.22, D – section D.1.4, should be D.1.1 and D.1.3.
pg. 4.26, 5 & 6 – delete; they refer to optional vehicles.
g. 4.26, 7 – misc. charges and credits, G.7, should be G.5.
pg. 4.27, 7 – last paragraph under Government will reimburse…, G.7.5, should be G.5.4.
pg. 4.27, 8 – payment procedures, G.8, should be Section G.6.
pg. 4.29 – hot Cap Exercise, update vendor; Bishops should be Northside Mobile Services. Updating invoices would help also.
pg. 4.30, I. – delegation of Authority is no longer listed in the contract; remove the 3 bullet items that reference Section J.
pg. 4.31 – explorer Fire Exercise is no longer valid; it pertains to optional vehicles that the contractor brings. Deleted or amended to make it feasible.
pg. 4.33, J – common invoice mistakes, 1st bullet, Missing proper signatures G.8, 8.2, should be G.6.2.
pg. 4.33, 5th bullet – delete; refers to supplemental items in the food contract.
pg. 4.33, 7th bullet – delete; refers to supplemental items in the food contract.
Final Exam
Final test question #12. Needs to say ‘What are the minimum specifications for a large capacity shower unit for the following:', so the answer will still match.
Student Workbook
Students Workbook will have the same corrections as the Instructors Guide.
PowerPoint
Slides 04-13-S354-PPT and 04-14-S354-PPT refer to optional equipment offered under the National Mobile Facilities contract; this contract no longer has Optional Equipment offered. If optional equipment is needed, go through the ordering procedure using BPA and not the contract.
Slide 04-15-S354-PPT, 2nd bullet shows “vehicle” identification number, it now should say “unit” identification number.
Slide 04-17-S354-PPT statement is made to “use local hires first”, this now should just state “use local hires” as it currently is not an option to use contractor equipment under this contract.
Slide 04-20-S354-PPT delete “dust control” under Government Furnished Supplies; dust control is a contractor responsibility.
Slide 04-28-S354-PPT refer to section C.1.5.12, should be C.1.5.11.
Slide 04-32-S354-PPT refer to section C.2.1.1, should be C.2.3.
Slide 04-33-S354-PPT refer to C.2.1.4, should be C.2.1.
Slide 04-34-S354-PPT talks about 2 hour mobilization time, which is no longer in the contract, Job Code should be the only thing left on that page.
Slide 04-35-S354-PPT refer to section C.2.2, should be C.2.3 and C.2.5.
Slide 04-36-S354-PPT refer to section C.2.3, should be C.2.6.
Slide 04-37-S354-PPT refers to optional equipment; delete slide.
Slide 04-38-S354-PPT refers to optional equipment; delete slide or make a statement to the group if you get EERA/BPA equipment, it will need to be inspected.
Slide 04-39-S354-PPT refer to section C.2.5, should be C.2.8.
Slide 04-43-S354-PPT should say “Large capacity units shall have a minimum 12 shower heads with 20 psi pressure and 2 gallons per minute flow. Small capacity units shall have a minimum of 4 and maximum of 11 shower heads with 20 psi pressure and 2 gallons per minute flow. Eight wash basins and mirrors outside the shower unit for large capacity units, and four wash basins and mirrors outside the shower unit for small capacity units.
Slide 04-43-S354-PPT refer to section C.3.1.4, should be C.3.1.4.1, C.3.1.4.2 and C.3.2.1.
Slide 04-44-S354-PPT 101 degrees, should be 110 degrees.
Slide 04-48-S354-PPT remove “Be level with the shower stalls”, the 3rd bullet should say “Capable of accommodating as many people as there are shower heads.”
Slide 04-51-S354-PPT refers to optional equipment; delete slide.
Slide 04-52-S354-PPT refers to optional equipment; delete slide.
Slide 04-53-S354-PPT refer to section D.1.4, should be D.1.1 and D.1.3.
Slide 04-60-S354-PPT refers to payments for optional equipment; delete slide.
Slide 04-61-S354-PPT refers to payments for optional equipment; delete slide.
Slide 04-65-S354-PPT refer to section G.8, should be G.6.
Slide 04-69-S354-PPT Delegation of Authority is no longer in the contract; delete slide.
Applies to 2009 Version.

Business Steward
ILSC Incident Logistics Subcommittee
Unit Instructor Minimum Qualifications
Lead and unit instructors must be qualified as Facilities Unit Leader (FACL)
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