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Mission Statement

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) provides national leadership in wildland fire equipment, supplies, and chemicals. The ETC enables coordinated interagency management of wildland fire equipment, supplies, and chemicals, including planning, development, acquisition, and utilization. The ETC provides oversight of the National Interagency Support Caches and National Fire Equipment System.

Firefighter with chainsaw cutting down a tree
  • Establish, maintain and communicate consistent interagency standards and guidelines for equipment, supplies and chemicals for wildland fire suppression.
  • Establish processes and procedures for the introduction, utilization, refurbishment, replacement, or disposal of any piece of equipment, supply item, or wildland fire chemical that has an established standard or specification.
  • Develop and implement standard operating procedures for ETC business practices which establish consistent, well defined methods of operations and decision making.

Firefighter walking with drip torch. Large fire in the background.

Equipment Bulletins:

Helmet Information

Wildland Firefighter's Helmet Serviceability Guide Flowchart

Wildland Firefighter;s Helmet Serviceability GuideThis link will take you to the etc-determine-dom.pdf This link will take you to the etc-helmet-notice.pdf

Determine Date of Manufacturing (DOM)

Inspect the Helmet: Helmet Notice: Summer 2012 by the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC) regarding reports of cracking, delamination, and broken suspension keys in helmets.

Alternate Head Protection Available (March 2011)

Innovative Ideas

If you have an idea that you feel will improve wildland fire fighter safety, operating efficiency, and reduce costs, review the Guide for the Submission of Innovative Ideas for Product or Process Improvement and submission form. We'd like to hear from you!

After filling out the forms, send your ideas to:  rhgonzales@fs.fed.us
 

 

 

 

 

Chair: Dave Haston

NWCG Coordinator: Tim Blake

Parent Committee: Executive Board

NWCG Latest Announcements

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

Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups

Date:  July 10, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics/Equipment Management Committee (LMC) has released Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups. This advisory highlights multiple U.S. Forest Service regions reporting front driveline joint failure incidents.

This advisory recommends firefighters and fire managers to: 

  • Follow all Ram-issued inspection, maintenance, and service guidance for front driveline joints. 
  • Consider installing a driveline loop. 
  • Coordinate with fleet managers and service providers to determine the most appropriate driveline loop kit for each pickup.

For further details, please refer to the complete advisory.

References:

Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups

Technical Service Bulletin: 03-002-21