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Creating a Local Copy

The National Incident Feature Services (NIFS) are designed to be used on fires and incidents of any size. This will help with streamlining data sharing, quick deployment of ArcGIS Online and Collector, and transitioning between teams. This service is hosted by the Fire Enterprise Geospatial Portal (EGP). As hosted data, it can easily be shared near-real time with fire personnel at any time or location.

Editing the National Incident Feature Services is essential to the role of a GISS. This is accomplished primarily through the use of Local Copies. A Local copy is a downloaded subset of data from the NIFS which can be edited like a regular geodatabase and then synced back to the service to apply the changes.

Even though it allows for multiple simultaneous editors, a Feature Service and Local Copy edits have none of the conflict protection or resolution capabilities of a truly versioned environment. Great care must be taken not to overwrite other user data.

Best practices for editing the NIFS include:

  • Only ever download and/or edit an incident you are assigned to.
  • Keep Local Copies only as long as necessary to make edits.
  • If there are multiple editors, establish clear geographic boundaries and communicate frequently.
  • Educate field collectors on editing conflicts and coordinate their assignments to avoid them.

For examples of conflicts and GISS Watch-Out situations, see the document Offline-Editing Conflict Resolution in the National Incident Feature Services and Hosted Feature Services.

Pro

Because Pro has two-way sync capability, remember to always sync before starting an edit session to pull in the most recent data. Otherwise the data in the map is as old as your last sync.

  • Create a Local Copy with ArcGIS Pro [Draft] - Basic workflow to connect to the EGP ArcGISIMT server and download a Local Copy.
  • Utilizing Local Copies with the Pro Project Template [Draft] - Instructions on efficiently implementing a Local Copy workflow with the Pro Project Template, including editing multiple areas at once.

Add the NIFS and Configure Feature Templates in ArcGIS Pro

 

ArcMap

Connecting to the NIFS Services in ArcMap

Update: The National Incident Feature Service name has been changed from Event_GISSEdit_Open to Event_GISSEdit. It is still on the same server in the same folder.

Create a Local Copy in ArcMap

 

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for UASD, UASM, UASL and UASP

Date: July 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all four Unmanned Aircraft Systems positions:

  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist (UASD)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager (UASM)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader (UASL)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UASP)

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

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 2026.

References:

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot Position Page

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for RADO and INCM

Date: July 30, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Logistics Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Radio Operator (RADO) and Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

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 2026.

References:

NWCG Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Communications Center Manager Position Page

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004 NEW Aquatic Invasive Species – Golden Mussels

Date: July 29, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) issued Equipment Bulletin: 25-004, notifying the wildland fire community about a newly discovered invasive species and actions to take if found. Golden mussels, a highly invasive species recently identified in California, pose a significant risk to native ecosystems, infrastructure, and fire equipment. These 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 and location details.

Read the complete ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004

NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for ICT5 and FFT1

Date: July 29, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Command Subcommittee
Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5) and Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss (FFT1).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

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 2026.

References:

NWCG Incident Commander Type 5 Position Page

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page