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Incident Commander Type 3*

ICT3 decorative banner: photos depicting ICT3 position. ICT3 Position Description: The Incident Commander (ICT3) is responsible for all incident activities.

The Type 3 Incident Commander (ICT3) manages all aspects of an initial attack or extended attack Type 3 incident. The ICT3 is responsible for developing incident objectives, assigning operational personnel based on complexity and span of control, and maintaining accountability of all assigned personnel. The ICT3 is accountable for the overall Incident Action Plan (IAP), establishing communication with internal and external stakeholders, and coordinating with other agencies participating in the incident. The ICT3 reports to an Agency Administrator (AA), Duty Officer, Fire Management Officer, or other designated manager and works in the Command functional area.

​The ICT3 performs position duties commensurate with Type 3 incident complexity and characteristics stated in the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book).

USWDS Paragraphs

Incident Commander (ICT5) Safety Officer (SOFC) Safety Officer (SOF3) Liaison Officer (LOFR) Incident Commander (ICT4) Incident Commander (ICT3) Public Information Officer (PIO3) Agency Representative (AREP) Public Information Officer, Technician (PIOT) Incident Commander (ICCI) Public Information Officer (PIOC) Safety Officer (SOFF) Resource Advisor, Fireline (REAF)

 

The Forest Service and Department of Interior are enabled by Administratively Determined Pay Plans (AD Pay Plans) to hire persons for temporary duration for the following reasons:

  1. To cope with a sudden and unexpected emergency caused by a fire, or extreme fire potential, flood, storm, or any other all-hazard emergency that threatens damage to federally protected property, has the potential to cause loss of life, serious injury, public health risk, or damage to natural or cultural resources unless brought under immediate control.
  2. To provide emergency assistance to states under formalized agreements.
  3. To meet mission assignments issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Incident Business Committee (IBC) reviews positions annually and establishes pay rate classifications for each position.

For more information on the AD Pay Plans, visit Incident Business Committee.

Date: Jan 2026

Added:

Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills

  • S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams

Removed:

  • Incident Commander Type 2 (ICT2), Operations Section Chief Type 1 (OSC1) and Operations Section Chief Type 2 (OSC2) removed from “Maintains Currency for ICT3”
  • ICT2 and OSC2 removed from “ICT3 Maintains Currency for the Positions”
Date: Jan 2023

Added: 

  • Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) and Operation Section Chief Complex (OSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For ICT3."
  • Incident Commander Complex (ICCI) and Operation Section Chief Complex (OSCC) to "ICT3 Maintains Currency For These Positions."
Date: Nov 2020

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Date: Oct 2019

Added: to Qualification Requirements:  Note: Once qualified as a ICT3, the OPS3, PSC3, LSC3 and FSC3 qualifications may be granted by the certifying official. Certification must be documented on a “verification/certification” page of the applicable Position Task Book.

Date: Oct 2018

Added: Type 3 All-Hazard Incident Management Team (O-305) to "Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills".

Date: Oct 2016

Removed: Incident Commander Type 1 (ICT1) from "These Positions Maintain Currency for ICT3".

Date: Oct 2015

Added: Advanced ICS (ICS-400) to Required Training to align position with FEMA Type 3 standards.

Transition Plan:

  • All qualified individuals will remain qualified. Individuals will be granted ICS-400 in responder’s records.
  • All ICT3 trainees will be required to complete ICS-400 prior to position qualification.
Date: Oct 1984

Position created. 

Incident Commander (Multi-Branch), Incident Commander (Multi-Division) and Incident Commander (Multi-Leader) in 1984 PMS 310-1.

USWDS Paragraph Bundles

Primary Committee: Incident and Position Standards Committee
Steward: Incident Command Subcommittee


Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

2026 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

Date: January 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

The Incident and Position Standards Committee has updated the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

These updates address changes to incident position names and requirements for qualification, training, and experience. Updates related to the implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) and Incident Performance Training Modernization (IPTM) are also included.

The NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308 has also been updated to reflect the recent changes.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308

IPSC Memo 26-01: January 2026 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Positions Qualifications, PMS 310-1

Incident Business Committee Memo 26-01: Updated Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297

Date: January 22, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident Business Committee

The Incident Business Committee (IBC) has released Memorandum 26-01: OF 297 and 2026 Fire Use. This memo informs the wildland fire community that the updated Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297 is available for download and can be ordered through the Great Basin Cache.

Beginning January 15, 2026 the previous version of the OF 297 form has been discontinued.

For further details, please contact your IBC representative.

References:

Incident Business Committee Memorandum 26-01

Great Basin Cache

NEW! S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended) Available Now

Date: December 22, 2025
Questions about RT-130? 
Please contact: Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the new S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended) training is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal.

This third course in the series combines online and instructor-led training components aimed at individuals who are involved in planning, managing, and executing wildland fire and prescribed burn operations; who require a thorough understanding of fire behavior calculations to enhance effectiveness and safety. This includes students who require the knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of a Type 3 Incident Commander (ICT3), Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS), or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2).

Students are required to be qualified as any Single Resource Boss position and complete the prerequisite S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire behavior (Blended) course, before enrolling in S-390.

References:

S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

NEW! S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams (Blended) Available Now

Date: December 18, 2025
Questions about RT-130? 
Please contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams (Blended) is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal!

This blended course combines online learning with instructor-led training, designed for individuals seeking to build leadership skills and gain experience in incident management.

Students are required to complete the prerequisite trainings ICS-100, Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS), ICS-200, Basic ICS for Initial Response, and ICS-700, An Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) prior to attending S-320.

References:

S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams (Blended)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal