Skip to main content

Share Public Web Products


The continued growth and expansion of the NIFC AGOL Org has meant that the NIFC AGOL Org has entered a new phase of public publishing. To keep in line with DOI security policies, tighter controls and oversight of public content shared from the NIFC AGOL Org have been created. 
Any user that needs to have non-emergency content shared with the public must fill out the Public Publishing Request Form. The NIFC Data Manager role is the only role that can share content to the public. This is to ensure that on an active incident, emergency and incident related content can be shared with the public without having to go through the form and approval process. Users in the Data Manager role, not on an active incident, must go through the approval process.

Careful consideration must be given to each product shared with the public. Always ensure that public content has been approved by the appropriate party at the unit or on the Incident Management Team (IMT) and does not contain any non-public information.

NIFC Org Public Content Policy

The Public Content Policy and other rules and requirements for NIFC Org content can be found in the NIFC Org Rules of Behavior.

Publicly shared content must serve a current, legitimate business need to provide information to the general public.

Publicly shared feature services shall not have Sync or Edit enabled, relative date queries or extent filters shall not be used in any filter or view definition, and the cache control will be set to 5 Minutes at a minimum.

Rate Limiting

When a database is receives an excessive number of requests, it will cease to respond and begin returning errors to protect the system from being overwhelmed. This is called rate limiting and is generally associated with error number 429.

Rate limiting most often occurs when a public service is not configured properly and is included in a map that goes viral, resulting in a massive amount of demand.

Rate limiting is applied to and affects the entire NIFC Org, not just the service(s) causing it. One popular map can prevent.

If you receive a 429 error, please report it to the NIFC Admins immediately at wildfireresponse@firenet.gov.

Critical Settings

The most important aspect of public data sharing is ensuring that the content can handle the potential load of thousands upon thousands of views.
In 2020, the official public perimeter service received nearly 3 billion hits (that’s billion, with a B).

This scalability is accomplished through the use of a Content Delivery Network (CDN). A CDN uses many geographically distributed servers to cache and deliver the data as opposed to relying on only the one that houses the source database.

Properly configured services hosted in the NIFC Org will leverage the Esri CDN automatically.

There are three primary settings that will affect a service’s ability to use the CDN (i.e., be cached): Edit, Sync, and Cache Control.

Several query types also effect caching: Relative Date/Time and Extent Filters.

Edit

Editing must be disabled on all publicly shared services.

Enabling editing on a public service will allow anyone in the world to modify the data. There are very few cases where this is desirable and should generally be avoided for that reason alone.

However, the pertinent reason here is that editable services do not use the CDN. When enabled, each call will travel all the way to the database to ensure any edits are performed on the current data state (e.g., you would not want to update a feature that someone else deleted several minutes ago).

Sync

Sync must be disabled on all publicly shared services.

The Sync setting allows users to create a replica of the data such as taking a map offline in Field Maps or creating the Offline Copy of the NIFS in ArcGIS Pro.

Like Edit, having Sync enabled will stop the use of the CDN, forcing each query all the way to the database to ensure currency.

Cache Control

The cache control will be set to 5 Minutes at a minimum for any public service.

The Cache Control setting determines how long the CDN will wait before refreshing the information it has cached.

Only set the cache control higher than 5 minutes if the data is not updated or is not time sensitive. Setting the cache control to 1 hour will potentially result in up to a 1-hour delay in updates being seen by end users as the cache waits to refresh.

Relative Time Queries and Extent Filters

Relative date queries or extent filters shall not be used in any filter or view definition.

Relative time queries and extent filters may produce requests that are not cached on the CDN and therefore have the potential to cause rate limiting.

Relative Time
A relative time query is based off a reference to the current date-time. Another way to think of this is as a rolling time frame, such as:

  • FireDiscoveryDateTime is in the last 3 days
  • EditDate is not in the last 2 weeks

Extent Filter
Extent filters are configuration options in certain web apps and dashboards. Most often they are used to produce a count or list of features within the displayed area. Every time a user pans or zooms the map with the extent filter, it sends a request for the data within the displayed area which can quickly add up to a significant load.

There are some scenarios where relative time queries and extent filters can be configured and not affect the database.
High-use apps (state or regional) that need to leverage either relative date queries or extent filters may be approved for use by the NIFC Admins with review. To obtain approval, please contact wildfireresponse@firenet.gov.

Hosted Feature Layer Views

The best way to create cacheable services for public use when the data still needs to be editable by someone is through Hosted Feature Layer Views.

A Hosted Feature Layer View is a new service with independent settings that points back to the same data as its parent service.

This allows the implementation of an internal, editable layer for data management, and a cacheable read-only layer for sharing publicly.

Official Services for Public Use

For some data, optimized layers for public use have already been created and are available on the NIFC Open Data Site.

When wildland fire (point) locations and/or perimeters need to be displayed in public content, the official Open Data Site layers should always be used.

 

Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! Incident Performance and Training Modernization Story Map Now Available

Date: Aug 26, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
National Wildfire Coordinating Group

NWCG is excited to announce the launch of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) Story Map, a new interactive resource that showcases how NWCG is transforming wildland fire training and qualifications through a performance-based system.

Since its launch in 2023, IPTM has made major strides in updating how we manage incident positions:

  • 36 incident positions now have new Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books available for field use
  • 6 more incident positions are nearing completion
  • 111 total incident positions are being analyzed through the IPTM initiative

The Story Map guides you through the IPTM process, highlights key accomplishments, and outlines what’s ahead. Whether you are a trainer or a trainee, this tool offers valuable insight into the modernization effort shaping the future of wildland fire training and qualifications.

This effort would not be possible without the contributions of NWCG staff, NWCG committees, and hundreds of subject matter experts across the wildland fire community.

References:

IPTM Story Map

Incident Performance and Training Modernization Webpage

NEW! S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended) Available Now

Date: Aug 15, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended) training is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. S-290 (Blended) training combines online training and instructor-led training components that support individuals working towards any Single Resource Boss or Fire Effects Monitor incident qualifications.

This second course in the series collectively serves to develop fire behavior prediction knowledge and skills, and provides more detailed information on fuels, weather, and topography that affect wildland fire behavior for safety purposes.

Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended).

References:

S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

NEW! S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) Now Available

Date: Aug 14, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

The S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) is now available. Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) incident qualifications. 

S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) training combines online training and instructor-led training components. This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties of the HECM position, as described in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22.

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 2026.

References:

S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended)

NWCG Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for FBAN and LTAN

Date: Aug 13, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) and Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) 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 January 2026.

References:

NWCG Fire Behavior Analyst Position Page

NWCG Long Term Fire Analyst Page