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PMS 910

NWCG Data Standards, PMS 910

NWCG data standards provide specifications that enable the common usage of data across wildland fire information systems. The tables below display these standards by type: Data Element Standards and Geospatial Data Layer Standards. The data in these tables is imported from the TopBraid Enterprise Data Governance (EDG) system.

EDG is an agile data governance solution utilized by the Department of the Interior and its cooperators for enterprise-wide data governance, which includes the management of NWCG data standards and assets. More detailed information, such as rules, documentation, and term relationships, is available within EDG (How to Access EDG).

NWCG Website and EDG Integration Update (July 30, 2025): The NWCG Webmaster and the FAM-IM Development team are currently integrating additional metadata from EDG onto the NWCG Website. This metadata was previously available in PDF format.

USWDS Paragraphs

We are currently experiencing a limited outage with the EDG connection, impacting data completeness in the main view. Our technical teams are aware and urgently investigating the failure point for the missing description field.

Action: Data Element Standards description can still be viewed directly within EDG at this time  (How to Access EDG).

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We are currently experiencing an outage with the EDG connection. Our technical teams are aware and urgently investigating the failure point.

Action: Geospatial Data Standards description can still be viewed directly within EDG at this time  (How to Access EDG).

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Comment on a proposed data standard

When a new or revised data standard is ready for review and comment, it will have a status of Proposed. Submit your feedback to the Data Standards and Terminology Board.

Request for a new or revised standard

Requests for the development of a new data standard, or for changes to a current standard, may be submitted on a Request form

Download the User Guide and other reference materials

The User Guide for Development and Maintenance of NWCG Data Standards, PMS 938, explains the processes for developing and maintaining both NWCG data element and geospatial data layer standards.

Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

Summary of NWCG Complex Incident Management Implementation Decisions

Date: June 23, 2023
Contact: Aitor Bidaburu and Sarah Lee

The purpose of this memorandum is to summarize the NWCG decisions related to the implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) to date and to communicate the pathways for Type 3 Command & General Staff (C&G), Unit Leaders, and Division Supervisors (DIVS) to Complex C&G positions.

This memo does not include any new decisions and is only a summary of NWCG decisions to this point.

References:

Memorandum 23-005

CIM Story Map

Glossary Term for Review: Equipment Identifier

Date: June 22, 2023
Contact: Data Standards and Terminology Board (DSTB)

Hello Wildland Fire Data Community! The Data Standards and Terminology Board has received a request for a new term/data standard. A few things about our process are maturing – this includes ensuring definitions capture only the essence of the term – and nothing more. Historically our definitions have been overloaded with rules, descriptions, and examples, all in an effort to ensure the term is understood. There is a place for that information, just not in the definition. You will see that we are now including those fields, when applicable, as part of the proposed term. If you have additional content that you think will help explain a term, please add it to your feedback.

Please review, share with your subgroups, and provide feedback. The comment period will close July 21, 2023.

Thank you for your engagement in the NWCG glossary process – your participation is key to our success.

Background: Apparatus Number is a field currently exchanged in IRWIN and was originally grandfathered in. The time has come to update the term and standard, but we need your help!

Proposed Data Value Rules:  String, max 75 characters
Proposed Data Element: Equipment Identifier
Proposed Data Element Description: The unique alphanumeric values assigned to an apparatus.
Supersedes: Apparatus Number - the external alphanumeric value painted on the side of the equipment.

References:

Glossary Request Feedback

Resource Ordering Systems Resource Item Data Entry Standards

Glossary Term for Review

Date: June 9, 2023
Contact: Data Standards and Terminology Board (DSTB)

The Data Standards and Terminology Board is requesting feedback on a glossary term. In this case, the proposal is for the addition of Business Rules. Historically we overloaded our definitions with definitions, descriptions, rules etc. We are now trying to separate the parts to make them distinct parts of a glossary term.

Please review, share with your subgroups, and provide feedback as appropriate. The comment period will close July 7, 2023.

Existing Term: Incident Complex
Incident Complex Proposed Business Rules
 –

  1. Child records must meet large fire criteria specific to incident size to be included in an incident relationship within an incident complex. Child records must be at least 100 acres in timber or 300 acres in grass brush to be added to an Incident Complex.
  2. Wildfire (WF) records that are Human Caused shall not be added to an Incident Complex.
  3. Child records may only be in one Incident Complex at a time

References:

Glossary Request Feedback

Guidance for Incident Finance Electronic File Management, Memo 23-08

Date: May 31, 2023
Contact: Incident Business Committee (IBC)

The NWCG Incident Business Committee (IBC) realized the file structure for COST and COMP unit folders needed additional refinement to the current standards. The same task group as previous was convened to address these types of files. The buying team group revised electronic document standards for buying team files now being housed on FireNet. The documents, have been approved by the IBC and are provided as national standards for incident finance electronic files and folders.

References:

Memo 23-08

Finance Working Files and Folder Matrix for FireNet

Finance Electronic Files Management Guidance

Structure for Finance Working Files Provided in FireNet

Buying Team Electronic Document Standard Operating Procedures

Structure for Final Finance eDoc Box Provided in FireNet