Public Information Officer Type 2*

PIO2 decorative banner: photos depicting PIO2 position. PIO2 position description: The Public Information Officer (PIO2), a member of the Command Staff, is responsible for the formulation and release of information about the incident to the news media, local communities, incident personnel, other appropriate agencies and organizations, and for the management of all Public Information Officers assigned to the incident.

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The Public Information Officer Type 2 (PIO2) participates in the collection and dissemination of incident information and may be the first public point of contact. They may be assigned to information center operations, community engagement, media relations, or other branches. The PIO2 supervises the public information function of an Incident Management Team (IMT) and may support a branch of a Type 1 IMT. The PIO2 may report to the Public Affairs Officer (PAO), Agency Administrator (AA), or Incident Commander (IC). The PIO2 works in the Command functional area.

The PIO2 performs position duties commensurate with Type 2 incident complexity and characteristics stated in the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book).

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: 
May 2022

Added the following position to "These Positions Maintain Currency For": Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC).

Added the following position to "Maintains Currency For These Positions": Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC).


Date: 
Dec 2021

Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.


Date: 
Oct 2021

Required Training:  Remove IS-800, National Response Framework, An Introduction

Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills

Add:


Date: 
Oct 2018

Added “Individuals utilizing this pathway must complete the Public Information Officer Course (E/L952) prior to position qualification.”


Date: 
Oct 2015

Removal of Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents (ICS-300) and Advanced ICS (ICS-400) as required training.

Addition of bridging experience pathways for qualified OSC2, LSC2, and PSC2 to move into the PIO2 position.


Date: 
Oct 2011

Updated required experience for PIO2 from Successful to Satisfactory performance as a PIOF.

Updated PIO2 information on the position flow chart.


Date: 
Jun 2011

Added Annual Fireline Safety Refresher (RT-130) as Required Training.

Added PIOF as Required Experience.


Date: 
Jan 2006

Position created. Replaced IOF2.

 

Page Last Modified / Reviewed: 
2022-05-26
Primary Committee: 
Communication Education and Prevention Committee
Steward: 
Public Information Officer Subcommittee
Key Stakeholder (s): 
Incident Command Subcommittee

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