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Incident Action Plan (IAP) Map

Note: The Situation Map has been deprecated as a map standard. The Operations map should be used as an acceptable substitute for task book purposes.

Product Description

The Incident Action Plan (IAP) map is the primary map used by field operations personnel and it is an essential tool for firefighter safety. The IAP map effectively communicates incident management objectives in addition to geographic and incident features.

The IAP map is used by operations staff to display field assignments, crew instructions, and division safety concerns at operational briefings and breakout meetings. IAP maps are typically at 1:24,000 scale and either printed small enough to be carried into the field or produced digitally for use on a mobile device. An incident may fit on one page or tiled across multiple pages (Multi-Page IAP Map).

The IAP map is a component of the Incident Action Plan.

Target Audience

Incident field personnel.

Guidelines

Apply for digital or hard copy maps.

  • Standard Incident Command System (ICS) symbology.
  • Letter (8½” x 11”) or tabloid (11”x 17”) size.
  • Mapped area should cover the incident area and predicted spread.
  • Generally 1:24,000 scale; 1:63,360 scale in Alaska (Situation Unit Leader (SITL) may direct other scales).

Standard Elements

All map products produced should include the STANDL-SGD cartographic elements and an index page for multi-page products.

Data

  • Wildfire Daily Fire Perimeter (Polygon) with Contained and Uncontained Perimeter Lines.
  • Event Lines (including, but not limited to: Planned and Completed lines, Access Routes, Escape Routes).
  • Event Points (including, but not limited to: Camps, Dip Sites, Draft Sites, Drop Points, Hazards, Helispots, Helibase, Incident Command Post, and Safety Zones).
  • Assignment (Division, Branch, Zone) breaks and labels.
  • Land Ownership / Jurisdiction.
  • Special Management Areas (including, but not limited to: Wilderness, Wilderness Study Areas, Inventoried Roadless Areas).
  • Structures.
  • Utilities (including, but not limited to: Powerlines, Substations, Pipelines).
  • Topographic Base.
  • Other Situation Unit Leader (SITL)-requested data. 

Examples

These are examples from actual incidents and may include non-standard elements.

Also note that examples use the standard symbols at the time of their creation and may not reflect the current GeoOps symbology.

Map elements, incident features, and composition remain consistent across these visual changes.

  1. 2022 Dodge Springs Fire
  2. 2010 Wrangler Fire
  3. 2015 Sucker Creek Fire
  4. 2016 Buffalo Fire (a non-suppression fire)
  5. 2017 Sunrise Fire (Multi-Page IAP)
  6. 2016 Beaver Creek Fire (Multi-Page IAP)
  7. 2017 Burro Fire (Multi-Page IAP)

 

Last Modified / Reviewed:

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NWCG Latest Announcements

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for UASD, UASM, UASL and UASP

Date: July 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all four Unmanned Aircraft Systems positions:

  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist (UASD)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager (UASM)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader (UASL)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UASP)

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were 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 January 2026.

References:

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot Position Page

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for RADO and INCM

Date: July 30, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Logistics Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Radio Operator (RADO) and Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were 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 January 2026.

References:

NWCG Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Communications Center Manager Position Page

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004 NEW Aquatic Invasive Species – Golden Mussels

Date: July 29, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) issued Equipment Bulletin: 25-004, notifying the wildland fire community about a newly discovered invasive species and actions to take if found. Golden mussels, a highly invasive species recently identified in California, pose a significant risk to native ecosystems, infrastructure, and fire equipment. These mussels rapidly colonize hard and soft surfaces, including aquatic plants and fire equipment, clogging pipes, fouling motors, disrupting water systems, and impacting native species.

To help prevent their spread, fire personnel must follow the decontamination procedures outlined in the NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444. Additionally, report any sightings immediately to your Lead Resource Advisor and include clear, close-up photos and location details.

Read the complete ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004

NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for ICT5 and FFT1

Date: July 29, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Command Subcommittee
Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5) and Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss (FFT1).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were 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 January 2026.

References:

NWCG Incident Commander Type 5 Position Page

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page