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NWCG Alerts

Definitions

You may search for the definition of these safety terms in the NWCG Glossary Quick View: Safety Advisory, Safety Alert, Safety Bulletin, and  Safety Warning.

Templates

Templates are available on the NWCG Correspondence Templates page.

Additional Alert Programs

Alerts are issued by the NWCG committee with responsibility for the topic to be addressed. To request an alert, contact your agency representative on the appropriate NWCG Committee.

Date of Issue Alert Title Attachments Alert Type Alert Category Additional Information
2015-07-22 Hardhat Cracking and Delamination Safety Advisory Equipment
2014-08-01 Stihl Chainsaw Fuel/Oil Caps and attachment Safety Warning Equipment
2001-04-13 Fire Shelter Packaging Defect Safety Advisory Equipment
2001-04-20 Fire Shelter Recall Information Safety Advisory Equipment
2002-03-07 Fireshelter Alert Safety Advisory Equipment
2002-07-11 P2V and C130A Operational Suspensions Safety Advisory Equipment
2002-07-12 Fire Danger PocketCards Safety Advisory Equipment
2002-07-16 Forest Service Policy – Fire Resistant Clothing (Kevlar BDU) Safety Advisory Equipment
2002-08-27 PVC Fusee Holders Safety Advisory Equipment
2002-08-27 Securing Large Tent Shelters Safety Advisory Equipment
2002-10-22 Defective Wiring, Single Cell Headlamp Safety Advisory Equipment
2002-12-12 Fire Shelter Re-bagging Project – Continued Safety Advisory Equipment
2003-02-19 Aviation Resources Shortfall Safety Advisory Equipment
2004-03-31 Int'l Harvester Corp. Mod. 4300 and 4400 Vehicles Safety Advisory Equipment
2003-08-14 King Radio Clam Shell Issues Safety Advisory Equipment
2004-07-02 Frequency Incompatibility – Narrowband / Wideband Issues Safety Advisory Equipment
2004-07-22 RACALT25 Power Consumption Safety Advisory Equipment
2004-08-10 Utility Box Mounting Brackets – Chevrolet 2500 HD Crew Cab Pickups Safety Advisory Equipment
2005-08-24 Narrowband Radio Operations Safety Advisory Equipment
2005-11-29 Racal Radio Recall Safety Advisory Equipment
2007-10-30 Seat Belt Use Saves Lives!!! Safety Advisory Equipment
2008-04-28 Firefighters Concerned About Fire Shelter Length Safety Advisory Equipment
2008-10-06 Fire Shelter System Website Safety Advisory Equipment
2010-07-22 Cache Memorandum No.10-3 - Non Compliant Fuel Bottles Safety Advisory Equipment
2002-08-22 Failure of Sigg Type Bottles Safety Warning Equipment
2002-09-02 Fire Shelter Bag Modifications Safety Warning Equipment
2003-07-29 Primus and Other Fuel Bottles Safety Warning Equipment
2004-04-09 New Fire Shelter Recall Safety Warning Equipment
2005-07-11 Failure of Sigg Type Bottles Safety Warning Equipment
2009-08-03 Pump Refueling Safety Warning Safety Warning Equipment
2019-08-20 ETC-EB-2019-04: Medical Kit Changes – Urgent Recall of Altaire Pharmaceuticals Eye Wash Solution
Link to Altaire Pharmaceuticals Urgent Drug Recall Press Release
Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2019-05-30 ETC-EB-2019-03: NWCG Dozer Typing Standard - Request for Comment Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2019-05-09 ETC-EB-2019-02: Firefighter Pants Questionnaire Survey Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2019-02-12 ETC-EB-2019-01: Medical Kit Changes for 2019 Field Season Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2018-09-27 ETC-EB-2018-01: Further information on removal of NFES 001175 Five Gallon Fuel Can from NISCs Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2017-02-03 ETC-EB-2017-01: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Issues STIHL Chainsaw Recall Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2016-10-07 ETC-EB-2016-03: Engine and Water Tender Foot Valve Leakage - Field Test Protocol Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2016-02-25 ETC-EB-2016-01: Phase-Out of Drip Torches That Do Not Comply with US DOT and US OSHA Specifications Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2021-03-04 ETC-EB-21-01: Fire Shelter Training Update/Reminders Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2021-03-04 ETC-EA-21-01: Fire Shelter PVC Bag Retrofit 2021 Equipment Advisory Equipment
2021-04-22 ETC-SA-21-01: Drip Torch Lock Rings Detaching Safety Advisory Equipment
2022-01-03 ETC-EA-22-01: Inspection of 3,000 lb. Cargo Nets Equipment Advisory Equipment
2022-01-05 ETC-EA-22-02: Fuel Container Geysering Equipment Advisory Equipment
2022-03-16 ETC-EA-2022-03: Performance Differences Between Pre-and Post-2006 Fire Shelters Equipment Advisory Equipment
2022-05-18 ETC-EB-22-01: 50:1 Fuel/Oil Mix Ratio Recommendation for 2-Stroke Wildland Fire Portable Pumps Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2022-05-19 ETC-EA-22-04: BK Radio Not Powering Up When Switched to the On Position Equipment Advisory Equipment
2022-06-21 ETC-EA-22-05: BKR5000 Series Radio Firmware Update Equipment Advisory Equipment
2023-03-01 ETC-EB-2023-01: Discontinuation of Shelf Stable Food Boxes (NFES 7478) in NISC Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2023-03-08 ETC-SW-2023-001: Non-specification Fire Shelters Safety Warning Equipment
2023-05-11 ETC-EB-2023-02: Fire shelter training material moved to a website and publication renamed Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2024-07-15 ETC-EB-24-002: NWCG Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Typing Standard – Request for Comment Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2024-08-29 ETC-EB-24-004: Two-compartment fuel and oil container (Dolmar) unavailable in the United States (US) and reminders for upkeeping current inventories Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2024-08-29 ETC-EB-24-005: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Inspection, Care, and Maintenance Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2024-10-01 Advertencia de equipos 24-001: Prevención de derrames de la tapa de combustible sin herramientas de la motosierra Stihl Safety Warning Equipment
2024-10-01 ETC-SW-24-001: Stihl Toolless Fuel Caps Spill Prevention Safety Warning Equipment
2024-08-29 ETC-EB-24-003: Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in fuel containers Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2025-01-10 ETC-SW-25-001: Non-specification fire shelters Safety Warning Equipment
2024-05-29 ETC-EB-24-001: Discontinued Use of Hot/Cold Beverage Kits - 2024 Field Season Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2025-04-10 ETC-EB-25-001 Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits Available (NFES #0244) - 2025 Field Season Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2025-05-05 ETC-EB-25-002: Chaps, Chain Saw, M-2020, Nonconformities affecting use, appearance, and serviceability Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2025-06-09 ETB-EB-25-003: Flame-Resistant Shirt Survey Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2025-07-24 ETC-EB-25-004: New Aquatic Invasive Species - Golden Mussels Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2025-09-23 ETC-EA-25-01: Pre-2006 Fire Shelter Degradation and Discontinuation of Use Equipment Advisory Equipment
2026-07-07 ETC-EA-26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups Equipment Advisory Equipment
2026-07-20 LMC-EB-26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species — Seasonal Reminder for Mussels Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2004-06-10 Fire Behavior Alert for Southwest Safety Advisory Fire Behavior
2005-06-17 Fine Fuels Safety Advisory Fire Behavior
2006-07-20 Extreme Fire Behavior Safety Advisory Fire Behavior
2007-07-17 Dry Fuels and Extreme Fire Behavior Safety Advisory Fire Behavior
2008-07-03 Thunderstorm Safety Safety Advisory Fire Behavior
2001-05-24 Firefighter Personal Hygiene Safety Advisory Health
2003-09-04 Group A Streptococcus Safety Advisory Health
2004-05-10 Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Report No. 8 Safety Advisory Health
2008-06-23 Incident Emergency Medical Task Group (IEMTG) Safety Advisory Health
2008-08-14 MRSA Exposure Potential (Staph Infection) Safety Advisory Health
2009-07-02 Heat Illness Safety Safety Advisory Health
2009-07-15 NWCG#020-2009 Memorandum – Interim Influenza Guidelines for Wildland Fire Responses Safety Advisory Health
2009-07-25 Final Safety Advisory Norovirus Safety Advisory Health
2010-06-17 International Association of Fire Chiefs Safety Week Safety Advisory Health
2010-07-04 Wildland Fire Smoke - Employee Exposure and Health Safety Advisory Health
2010-12-21 Rhabdomyolysis Epidemiological Study Safety Advisory Health
2011-05-12 Rhabdomyolysis Epidemiological Study Results and Recommendations Safety Advisory Health
2011-09-13 Hyperthermia Safety Advisory Health
2013-04-05 Heat Illness Prevention Pocket Guide Safety Advisory Health
2013-06-25 NWCG Heat Related Illness (HRI) Reporting Form Safety Advisory Health
2001-08-13 Heat Intolerance from Performance Pills Safety Warning Health
2009-07-10 DO NOT CONSUME MRE Dairy Shake Powder Safety Warning Health
2024-09-16 RMC-SB-24-001: Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires Safety Bulletin Health
2025-07-30 ETC/RMC-SB-25-001: Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing Safety Bulletin Health
2026-05-27 RMC-SB-26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters Safety Bulletin Health
2001-04-12 Safety Alert System Safety Advisory Miscellaneous
2002-12-18 T & D Publications Available Safety Advisory Miscellaneous
2004-09-17 IRPG Correction Safety Advisory Miscellaneous
2008-02-08 Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Website Safety Advisory Miscellaneous
2008-07-25 NWCG Standards and Agency Administrator's Guide to Critical Incident Management Safety Advisory Miscellaneous
2009-08-17 Updates to the SAFENET Website Safety Advisory Miscellaneous
2009-10-01 6 Minutes for Safety New Features Safety Advisory Miscellaneous
2013-05-28 Creation of Arduous Duty Line Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Positions Safety Advisory Personnel
2001-04-30 Six Minutes for Safety Safety Advisory Personnel
2001-08-16 Message from the Federal Fire Directors Safety Advisory Personnel
Showing 1 - 100 of 144 entries

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Committees Observe Suicide Prevention Awareness Week: September 7-13, 2026

Date:  September 8, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Health and Wellness Subcommittee

The NWCG Health and Wellness Subcommittee (HWSC) and Safety/Risk Management Committee (SRC) recognize the unique challenges and demands faced by the wildland fire community. The HWSC and SRC know that we are all stronger together and believe in fostering a culture of support, understanding, and resilience.

Suicide Prevention Awareness encourages us to actively connect with and support each other. For more information that could make a difference for yourself or someone else please review the materials and resources provided for the 2026 Suicide Prevention Awareness Week.

References:

2026 Letter from Leadership

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Health and Wellness Subcommittee

Safety and Risk Management Committee

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