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Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss

FTT1 decorative banner: Four photos depicting firefighter type 1 position, firefighter carrying branches, firefighter with drip torch, firefighter walking with drip torch, group of firefighters working with hand tools. FFT1 Position Description: The Firefighter Type 1 leads a small group (usually not more than seven members) and is responsible for their safety on wildland and prescribed fire incidents. The FFT1 supervises resources at the FFT2 level and reports to a Single Resource Crew Boss or other assigned supervisor. The FFT1 works in the Operations functional area.

The Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1) leads a small group (usually no more than seven individuals) and is responsible for their safety on wildland and prescribed fire incidents. The FFT1 supervises resources at the Firefighter Type 2 Crewmember (FFT2) level and reports to a Single Resource Boss [Crew Boss (CRWB), Heavy Equipment Boss (HEQB), Engine Boss (ENGB), Felling Boss (FELB), Firing Boss (FIRB), or Helicopter Manager (HMGB)] or other assigned supervisor. The FFT1 works in the Operations functional area.

The FFT1 performs position duties commensurate with all incident complexities and characteristics stated in the  Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book).

USWDS Paragraphs

Operations Section Chief (OPS3) 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) 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) Helecopter 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) 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, visit Incident Business Committee.

Date: Jan 2026

Added:

Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills

  • S-112, Introduction to Chainsaw Operations
  • S-215, Fire Operations in the Wildland Urban Interface

Removed:

Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills

  • S-112, Introduction to Chainsaw Operations
     
Date: Jun 2025

Added: 

  • NWCG Incident Position Standards for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss), PMS 350-14
Date: Oct 2019

Added: S-131, Firefighter Type 1 (8 hrs.) to Required Training.

Date: May 2019

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 S-131, Firefighter Type 1.

Date: Oct 2012

Added: S-219, Firing Operations to “Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge & Skills.”

Date: Apr 2006

Updated: The Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) and Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5) Position Task Books have been combined. However, the positions have not been combined. The FFT1 tasks are completed only once; additional tasks must be completed to meet the ICT5 level. The FFT1 and ICT5 tasks can be completed simultaneously. The Required Experience is satisfactory performance as a Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2).

Date: Oct 1993

Position created.  Squad Boss in 1984 PMS 310-1.

USWDS Paragraph Bundles

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


Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Emergency Medical Committee

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2025 Wildland Fire Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Awards. EMC annually recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated outstanding actions or accomplishments that are above and beyond the expectation of one’s normal mission or job duties.

Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Emergency Medical Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for RAMP

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Airtanker Base Operations Unit

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Ramp Manager (RAMP).

The Performance Support Package for this position was developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Ramp Manager Position Page

National Interagency Aviation Committee

Make an Impact: Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date:  June 11, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

Note: Positions with an * will last approximately 6 months.
Positions with ** will last 12 - 18 months.

NWCG is seeking experienced wildland firefighters and support personnel to serve as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) initiative. IPTM aims to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model by updating position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the Fall 2026 positions listed below:

  • Equipment Manager (EQPM)*
  • Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT)**
  • Mixmaster (MXMS)*
  • Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC)*
  • Retardant Crewmember (RTCM)*
  • Strike Team Leader Crew (STCR)*
  • Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN)*
  • Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ)*
  • Task Force Leader (TFLD)**
  • Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF)** 

Projects begin October 2026. Sign up by July 10, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for additional details. 

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

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