National Wildfire Coordinating Group

Basic Faller

FAL3 decorative banner: photos depicting FAL3 position.

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The Basic Faller (FAL3) is an entry-level chainsaw operator that serves as a member of a firefighting crew or module. The FAL3 engages in low complexity fireline saw operations, including tree felling, bucking, brushing, and limbing, and should be closely supervised during operations. A FAL3 may perform FAL2 tasks under the direct supervisor of a FAL2. The FAL3 reports to an Intermediate (FAL2) or Advanced (FAL1) Faller, a Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1), or one of the Single Resource Bosses (FELB, Crew Boss, Single Resource [CRWB], Engine Boss, Single Resource [ENGB], Firing Boss, Single Resource [FIRB], Helicopter Manager, Single Resource [HMGB]). The FAL3 works in the operations functional area.

Operations Section Chief (OSC3) Operations Branch Director (OPBD) Structure Protection Specialist (STPS) Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS) Task Force Leader (TFLD) Crew Boss, Single Resource (CRWB) Heavy Equipment Boss, Single Resource (HEQB) Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB) Felling Boss, Single Resource (FELB) Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB) Helicopter Manager, Single Resource (HMGB) Operations Section Chief (OSC2) Staging Area Manager (STAM) Air Operations Branch Director (AOBD) Air Support Group Supervisor (ASGS) Helibase Manager (HEBM) Deck Coordinator (DECK) Aircraft Base Radio Operator (ABRO) Helicopter Crew Member (HECM) Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) Helicopter Coordinator (HLCO) Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) Strike Team Leader Crew (STCR) Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ) Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN) Operations Section Chief (OSC1) Advanced Faller (FAL1) Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Basic Faller (FAL3) Fixed Wing Base Manager (FWBM) Airtanker Base Manager (ATBM) Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT) Mixmaster (MXMS) Retardant Crew Member (RTCM) Single Engine Air Tanker Manager (SEMG) Aircraft Time Keeper (ATIM) Ramp Manager (RAMP) Operations Section Chief (OSCC) Crew Representative (CREP)

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, go to https://www.nwcg.gov/committees/incident-business-committee

Date: 
Jul 2022

Updated: Incident Position Description (IPD) updated.


Date: 
Apr 2021

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.


Date: 
Oct 2016

Removed: Look Up, Look Down, Look Around (S-133), based on acceptance of NWCG Curriculum Management Issue Paper #123. The S-133 curriculum has been incorporated into the new development of Firefighter Type 1 (S-131).


Date: 
Oct 2014

Position created.

Established the Basic Faller (FAL3), Intermediate Faller (FAL2), and Advanced Faller (FAL1) positions. Transition plan and position task books are available at the NWCG web site.

 

Page Last Modified / Reviewed: 
2022-11-01
Primary Committee: 
Risk Management Committee
Steward: 
Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee
Key Stakeholder (s): 
Incident Operations Subcommittee

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