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NWCG Project Priorities

The project list provides a transparent snapshot of the NWCG program of work, past, current, and future. The project list is not intended to be all-encompassing for daily staff work assignments, and it should be not assumed that projects will not move up or down in priority. The NWCG staff spreads daily work assignments across multiple priorities as the entire program of work moves forward.

  • Has multiple steps (tasks) and/or people involved.
  • Not day-to-day job-related work or ongoing maintenance, occurs outside daily work.
  • Has an end date, or requires significant work on a cyclical basis.
  • Requires more than a couple of days to complete.
  • Considered a significant revision or is a new publication or training course.
  • May include agency-specific request that comes to NWCG due to staff skillset.
  • Some NWCG projects have annual or biannual components and will be listed that way in the NWCG priorities list.  For example, WFSTAR modules are broken into two categories: Spring (Jan-June) and Fall (July-Dec). All modules being developed during the year will be included in one of these two categories.

  • Time Sensitive:
    • High - Immediate need; timing is critical.
    • Moderate – Some urgency, but not critical.
    • Low – No urgency.
  • Committee priority:
    • High – Steward has established this as a high priority.
    • Moderate – Steward has established this as a moderate priority.
    • Low – Steward has established this as a low priority.
  • Level of effort remaining:
    • High – Considerable level of work involved to finish project.
    • Moderate – Moderate level of work involved to finish project.
    • Low – Low level of work involved to finish project.
  • Size of audience:
    • High – 5001-10000.
    • Medium – 1001-5000.
    • Low – 1-1000.
  • Standards tied to a position? Y/N – Is this project tied to existing standards and/or is an existing standard.
  • Required training? Y/N – only applies to training courses; required in the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.
  • Systems Improvement Effort? Y/N – Is this project tied to the development of a position performance package related to the Systems Improvement Effort?
  • Existing projects that need to be finished? Y/N – May not be the highest priority based on new criteria, but needs to get finished.
  • Current material significantly outdated or nonexistent? Y/N – essentially providing no or outdated information related to the training or standard.
  • Political sensitivity? Y/N – Deemed politically sensitive by NWCG Executive Board or multiple agencies.

  • NWCG Primary Staff (Program Manager, Coordinators, Training Program Manager, Publications Manager, Web Manager).
    • Convene monthly to update and reassess project priorities (additions, deletions, priority reassessment) (with Incident and Position Standards Committee (IPSC) and Training Delivery Committee (TDC) assigned representatives).
    • Present to Executive Board monthly for concurrence and maintain current priority list on website.
  • NWCG Committees
    • Submit new project requests to NWCG.
    • Provide input on priorities for the projects under their stewardship.
  • TDC
    • Collaborate with NWCG Training Program Manager on course revision priorities.
  • IPSC
    • Assist in setting priorities based on agency needs.
  • Executive Board
    • Review priorities monthly and provide input/readjustment as necessary.

Current Priorities List

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Completed Priorities List

[view:nwcg_project_priorities=block_completed]

 

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

WFSTAR 2026 Core Components Module Package and 2025 Fire Year in Review Now Available

Date:  March 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Joe Schindel

The 2026 Core Components Module Package for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) and the 2025 Fire Year in Review are now available on the NWCG website. The 2026 Core Components Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

References:

2026 Core Components Module Package

2025 Fire Year in Review Module

NEW! S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended) Available Now

Date:  March 17, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended), 2026 course is now available.

This training includes performance-based activities that allow students to apply the knowledge and concepts required for the Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN), Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN), and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1) positions. It supports individuals working towards these incident qualifications.

This blended course begins with a self-paced online training (OLT) in the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP), followed by an in-person instructor-led training (ILT).

References:

S-490, Advanced Fire Calculations (Blended)

NWCG Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) Position Page

NWCG Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN) Position Page

NWCG Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1) Position Page

2024 Paul Gleason Award Winners Announced

Date:  March 13, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Paul Gleason "Lead By Example" awards. Award categories include Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Justin Baxter, National Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Operations Specialist, with the U.S. Forest Service — Initiative and Innovation
  • Kelly Woods, Director of the Wildland Firefighting Lessons Learned Center — Mentoring and Teamwork
  • Doug Booster, Instructor, ProHealth Net, Inc. — Motivation and Vision
  • Pam McDonald, Writer-Editor for the National Interagency Fire Center — Lifetime Achievement Award

References:

Paul Gleason Lead By Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

Leadership Committee

NEW! S-231, Engine Boss Course Available Now

Date:  March 6, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new S-231, Engine Boss (Single Resource) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB) incident qualifications. 

This is a performance-based instructor-led training (ILT) that focuses on the application of ENGB responsibilities during wildland fire operations, emphasizing readiness, information gathering, risk management, engine tactics, and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) operations. Trainees apply these skills through scenario-based group work and an optional field day that reinforces hands-on engine operation tasks. 

References:

S-231, Engine Boss (Single Resource) (Instructor-led)

NWCG Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB) Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal