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Crews Typing Standard

Steward: Operations and Training Committee

Intro paragraph

Minimum Crew Standards for National Mobilization

Minimum Standards Type 1* Type 2 with Initial Attack Capability Type 2
Fireline Capability Initial Attack – Can be broken up into squads, fireline construction, complex firing operations (backfire). Initial Attack – Can be broken up into squads, fireline construction, firing to include burnout. Initial Attack – Fireline construction, firing as directed
Crew Size 18 - 20
Leadership Qualifications Permanent supervision: Supt.: TFLD, ICT4, FIRB Asst. Supt.: STCR, ICT4 3 Squad Bosses: ICT5 2 Senior Firefighters: FFT1 Crew Boss: CRWB 3 Squad Bosses: ICT5 Crew Boss: CRWB 3 Squad Bosses: FFT1
Language Requirement All senior leadership, including Squad Bosses and higher, must be able to read and interpret the language of the crew as well as English.
Experience 80% 1 season 60% 1 season 20% 1 season
Full-Time Organized Crew Yes (work and train as a unit 40 hours per week. No No
Communications 5 programmable radios 4 programmable radios
Sawyers 3 agency-qualified 3 agency-qualified None
Training As required by the Interagency Hotshot Crew Guide or agency policy before assignment Basic firefighter training and/or Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training before assignment Basic firefighter training and/or Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training before assignment
Logistics Crew level agency purchasing authority No purchasing authority No purchasing authority
Maximum Weight 5,300 lb
Dispatch Availability Available nationally Available nationally Variable
Production Factor 1.0 .8 .8
Transportation Own transportation Transporation needed Transportatio
Tools & Equipment Fully equipped Not equipped Not equipped
Personal Gear Arrives with: Crew first aid kit, personal first aid kit, headlamp, 1-qt canteen, web gear, sleeping bag
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) All standard designated fireline PPE
Certification Must be annually certified by the local host Unit Agency Administrator or designee before being made available for assignment. N/A N/A

*An Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) is a Type I crew that exceeds the Type I standards as required by the Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations Guide (2011) in the following categories:

  • Permanent supervision with 7 career appointments (Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, 3 Squad Bosses).
  • IHCs work and train as a unit 40 hours per week.
  • IHCs are a national resource.

N/A = Not applicable

Sustained Line Production Rates of 20-Person Crews in Feet per Hour*

Fire Behavior Fuel Model Type 1 Direct Type 1 Indirect Type 2 and 2 IA Direct Type 2 and 2 IA Indirect
1. Short Grass
2. Open Timber Grass		 1,122
(792 - 1,386)**		 627
(508–746)		 627
(174–660)		 285
(174–380)
4. Chaparral 436
(330–528)		 330
(178–482)		 449
(80–640)		 272
(178–376)
5. Brush 1,089
(924–1,254)		 323
(244–403)		 471
(304–682)		 277
(178–376)
6. Dormant Brush/Hardwood Slash 1,089
(924–1,254)		 323
(244–403)		 471
(304–682)		 277
(178–376)
8. Closed Timber Litter
9. Hardwood Litter
10. Timber (Litter & Understory)		 693
(594–792)		 455
(396–515)		 447
(370–448)		 378
(255–452)

*Based on San Dimas Technology & Development Center, Tech Tip – 1151-1805P, Fireline Production Rates, 2011. No data was collected in fuel models 3, 7, and 11 – 13.

**Numbers in parentheses are expected ranges of line production.

IA = Initial Attack

Sustained Line Production Rates of 20-Person Crews in Feet per Hour*

Fire Behavior Fuel Model Crew Type 1 Crew Type 2
7. Southern Rough 264 132
11. Logging Slash, Light 990 594
12. Logging Slash, Medium 462 264
13. Logging Slash, Heavy 330 198

**Based on various sources from pre-1980.

 

and so on...

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

Date:  May 28, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has issued Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters. Research from 2016 to 2025 shows that 88 cases of rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) were reported. Analysis of reports from eSafety, the Safety Management Information System (SMIS), and the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) indicates that rhabdo is common during this time of year due to Work Capacity Tests and contributing factors such as weather, hydration, nutrition, and medication or supplement use.

RMC issued this safety bulletin to raise awareness in the Wildland Fire Community, and to provide research findings and educational resources that support reducing future cases of rhabdo.

References:

NWCG Alerts

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

NEW! D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder Course Available Now

Date:  May 15, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Dispatch Position and Curriculum Management Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder (Instructor-led) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Developed through the National Coordination System Committee, this course introduces the structure and function of expanded dispatch, the qualities of an effective dispatcher, and provides hands-on experience with the Interagency Resource Ordering Capability (IROC) system. 

The D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder course aligns with the competencies and duties outlined in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Expanded Dispatch Recorder, PMS 350-59, and is designed for individuals with no prior experience who may be called upon to support dispatch operations.

References:

D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder (Instructor-Led)

Expanded Dispatch Recorder (EDRC), Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Expanded Dispatch Recorder, PMS 350-59

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

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 Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page