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NWCG User Guide for Glossary of Wildland Fire

The NWCG User Guide for Glossary of Wildland Fire provides information on the glossary process including new term requests, revising terms, and term stewardship.

EDG Glossary Database Capabilities

  1. One entry per definition, not per term. Instead of having one term with multiple definitions, there is now a single definition per term and a term is used multiple times with a clarifying word in parentheses. For example:
    Screenshot showing one entry per definition
  2. Synonym has been replaced with alternative label in order to remove duplicate entries where two synonyms had the same definition. There will be one entry with a label and alternative label or labels.
    Screenshot showing an example of one entry with a label and alternative labels.
  3. It is now possible to see terms associated with a specific publication. This is in its infancy stages and will continue to grow with steward engagement.
    Screenshot of terms associated with a specific publication
  4. Terms have more ways to describe a relationship between other terms. Broader term, narrower term, related term, exact match, close match, and others can now be used to describe the relationships between terms; previously limited to See Also.
    Screenshot showing the relationship between terms
  5. More metadata about terms can be collected, including business rules, permissible values, status, key stakeholders and stewards, and more.
  6. All terms are lowercase unless they are a proper noun or have an acronym.

How to Comment

When viewing any term, click on the Explore button and submit a comment using the Send Feedback option.
Screenshot of the comment box

A steward will then have the ability to mark the comment as Resolved or Declined.

What This Means for Stewards

Additional instructions will be available as the workflow template in EDG is customized. A few features:

  1. Terms and definitions can be edited directly in EDG in a working copy of the glossary.
  2. Automatic notifications will be enabled, so EDG will automatically notify the identified stewards when a comment is received.
  3. Users will be able to easily see where a term is in the process.

 

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