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Fire Danger Background

  1. General References
  2. NFDRS Version Comparison

General References

Fire Danger ratings are an effective part of daily risk rating and operational preparedness for fire management agencies across the world. Chapter 10 – Preparedness of the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations outlines processes and resources applied in the development of standard Fire Danger Operating Plans in the United States.

Included in Fire Danger Operating Plans are:

  • Specification of fire danger ratings.
  • Identification of climatological thresholds for administrative purposes. Default thresholds include the 90th and 97th percentile values for key indices in the applied system. The Bureau of Land Management (Department of Interior) uses the 80th and 95th percentiles instead.
  • Communication of those danger ratings, including both internal and external forms.

Some valuable links:

A variety of fire weather systems are applied in danger rating around the United States. There are primarily two systems used in fire danger operating plans.

U.S. National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS):

First introduced in 1964, NFDRS has been updated in 1972, 1978, 1988, and now 2016 to integrate newer science and improved processing. This guide will compare important aspects of the 1978, 1988, and 2016 versions, detail important outputs, and describe primary components and indices. More information about the system and the latest update to it can be found at:

NFDRS Information Page

NWCG Fire Danger Subcommittee Website

The Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS) Fire Weather Index (FWI) System

CFFDRS was introduced in Canada in 1970. Implemented in Alaska and the lake states of Michigan,
Minnesota, and Wisconsin in the early 1990s. Details about CFFDRS are included a separate section of this guide. The following websites provide data access:

Other tools, formulations, and applications are used locally across the country. Some examples are highlighted later, in the  Fire Danger References Section.

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NFDRS Structure

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Structure and Process Flow of the 2016 National Fire Danger Rating System.

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NWCG Latest Announcements

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book Available for Helicopter Crewmember

Date: April 28, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22, and the NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22, are now available.

These resources, part of the Performance Support Package developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators.

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

References:

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22

Updated NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

Date: April 23, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee

The NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515 standardizes processes and procedures for the interagency use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including pilot inspections and approvals. This updated publication provides the aviation community with standards to ensure UAS are used safely, effectively, and efficiently in support of fire management goals and objectives.

References:

NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

NWCG National Interagency Aviation Committee

ETC Bulletin 25-001: Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits - 2025 Field Season

Date: April 16, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

Due to spout failures and the associated risk of burn injuries, manufacturers have retrofitted the Hot/Cold Beverage Kits using a heat-shrinking band to secure the black spout at the insertion site. The updated kits feature a fluorescent label on each full kit assembly for easy identification. Catering units are encouraged to confirm the clear heat-shrinking bands are intact around each spout before filling.

ETC Bulletin 24-001 regarding Hot/Cold Beverage Kits has been archived and replaced by ETC Bulletin 25-001 for the 2025 season.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC-EB-25-001 Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and Next Generation Position Task Book for Basic Faller Are Now Available

Date: April 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

The updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-19 are now available.

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212 includes position standards designed to be used in conjunction with the Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB). The Next Gen PTB for Basic Faller (FAL3) includes an evaluation guide with suggested rating elements to consider when assessing trainees.

References:

NWCG Standards For Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-119

NWCG Basic Faller (FAL3)