Crews, PMS 200

Hand Crews

Minimum Crew Standards for National Mobilization

Minimum Standards	Type 1 IHC (Interagency Hotshot Crew)	Type 2 with IA (Initial Attack) Capability	Type 2
Fireline Capability	Initial attack/can be broken up into squads, fireline construction, complex firing operations (backfire).	Initial attack/can be broken up into squads, fireline construction, firing to include burnout.	Initial attack, fireline construction, firing as directed.
Crew Size	18 - 22	18 - 20
Leadership Qualifications	Permanent supervision: Supt.: TFLD, ICT4, FIRB Asst. Supt.: STCR or TFLD and CRWB and ICT4 3 Squad Leaders: CRWB and ICT5 2 Senior Firefighters: FFT1	Crew Boss: CRWB 3 Squad Bosses: ICT5	Crew Boss: CRWB 3 Squad Bosses: FFT1
Language Requirement	All senior leadership, including Squad Leaders and higher must be able to read and interpret the language of the crew as well as English.
Experience	80% 1 season	60% 1 season	20% 1 season
Full-Time Organized Crew	Yes (work and train as a unit 40 hours per week.	No	No
Communications	8 programmable radios	4 programmable radios
Sawyers	4 certified as FAL2 and 50% of crew certified as FAL3 or better.	3 agency-qualified	None
Training	As required by the Standards for Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations or agency policy prior to assignment	Basic firefighter training and/or annual fireline safety refresher prior to assignment	Basic firefighter training and/or annual fireline safety refresher prior to assignment
Logistics	Crew level agency purchasing authority	No purchasing authority	No purchasing authority
Maximum Weight	5,300 lb
Dispatch Availability	Available nationally	Available nationally	Variable
Production Factor	1.0	.8	.8
Transportation	Own transportation	Transportation needed	Transportation needed
Tools & Equipment	Fully equipped	Not equipped	Not equipped
Personal Gear	Arrives with: Crew first aid kit, personal first aid kit, headlamp, 1-qt canteen, web gear, sleeping bag
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)	All standard designated fireline PPE
Certification	Must be annually certified by the local host unit agency administrator or designee prior to being made available for assignment.	N/A	N/A
N/A = Not applicable

Crew Resources

Standards for Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations

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NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder Course Available Now

Date: May 15, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Dispatch Position and Curriculum Management Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder (Instructor-led) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Developed through the National Coordination System Committee, this course introduces the structure and function of expanded dispatch, the qualities of an effective dispatcher, and provides hands-on experience with the Interagency Resource Ordering Capability (IROC) system.

The D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder course aligns with the competencies and duties outlined in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Expanded Dispatch Recorder, PMS 350-59, and is designed for individuals with no prior experience who may be called upon to support dispatch operations.

References:

D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder (Instructor-Led)

Expanded Dispatch Recorder (EDRC), Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Expanded Dispatch Recorder, PMS 350-59

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Leadership Committee IAP Flyer Now Available

Date: May 8, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee promotes and enables leadership development across the wildland fire service. The committee provides education, training opportunities, and support for leadership innovation and best practices throughout the community.

A new IAP flyer is now available on the committee website, offering an overview of the products, curriculum, and learning opportunities the Leadership Committee develops. This resource is ideal for posting in your office, sharing with new employees, or distributing through your incident management teams to engage new voices in the leadership journey and reinforce a culture of self‑reflection, development, and growth.

References:

Leadership Committee 2026 IAP Flyer

Incident Operations Subcommittee Updates the Next Generation Position Task Book for FFT1

Date: May 7, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

The NWCG Incident Operations Subcommittee (IOSC) has updated the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14. The FFT1 Position Task Book transitioned to the Next Generation (Next Gen PTB) format in June 2025 through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. Since then, IOSC has received feedback from the wildland fire community regarding coding for one of the tasks. Task #13 has been updated to include the option of evaluation in a simulation.

See IOSC Memorandum 26‑01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14 for more information.

References:

IOSC Memorandum 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page

NEW! S-212, Intermediate Faller (Online) Course Available Now

Date: April 23, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S‑212, Intermediate Faller (Online), course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). This second course in the series provides students with the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of an Intermediate Faller (FAL2), as described in the FAL2 Incident Position Description. This course is intended for individuals seeking to advance from Basic Faller (FAL3) to FAL2.

S‑212, Intermediate Faller is a fully online, self‑paced training program consisting of 13 units. Learners will engage with interactive, scenario‑based content designed to progressively build foundational skills and knowledge essential for the FAL2 role.

Students must be qualified as a Basic Faller (FAL3) prior to enrolling in S‑212, Intermediate Faller course.

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 January 2027.