RX-341 may be delivered as instructor-led (classroom) training.
Course coordinators and instructors should be thoroughly familiar with the NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1. The NWCG Standards for Course Delivery establishes standards for all aspects of NWCG training course management and delivery. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, and the course-specific guidance stated in the NWCG Training Catalog.
Recommended class size is 20-30 students with students divided into groups of 4-5.
Conduct initial, pre-course, daily, and close-out instructor cadre meetings. These provide opportunities to plan, organize, preview materials, review training and exercises, and identify and address concerns and issues. Consider using an informal After Action Review process. Instructor cadre meetings are critical for instructors who do not have previous experience with the course. Additional information is located in the NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1.
Each student must be provided the following:
These materials are needed above and beyond the usual items (pens, paper, flip charts, markers, etc.).
All presentations should be downloaded and tested before the start of class to ensure compatibility with software.
PowerPoint presentations are built in an older version of Microsoft Office. Some features may not work correctly with newer software or systems.
For help, visit the Microsoft Office website or contact your local IT support personnel.
Use the NWCG Course Evaluation Feedback form to collect information critical to future training improvements.
Students and cadre members are asked to contribute course evaluations. Input is welcome on all aspects of the training course, including course content, pre-course work, reference materials, quality of instruction, delivery methods, and testing procedures.
The RX-301 course is also available within the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (delivered concurrently with RX-341). For those geographic areas that would like to use the Portal for the RX-301/RX-341 combined courses, please contact the Great Basin Training Center.
Updated NWCG Prescribed Fire Plan Template, PMS 484, 2017
*Prescribed Fire Complexity Rating System Guide, PMS 424, 2017
An update to the Prescribed Fire Planning Procedures and Implementation Guide (the Guide), now NWCG Prescribed Fire Plan Template, PMS 484, has been released that affects content for RX-341.
Due to the updates to the Guide instructors should note the following changes prior to instructing the course.
Risk Management Principles – Incorporated into the guide where applicable. The Guide emphasizes the role of the complexity analysis process in risk management. The complexity analysis process identifies critical items, mitigation measures, and implementation actions to be addressed in the prescribed fire plan and will acknowledge any remaining unmitigated risk in the final rating.
Lessons Learned – Lessons learned have been incorporated throughout the guide, not as policy statements, but as a tool to help the prescribed fire plan preparer be aware of situations and issues that have caused problems in the past. We encourage you to utilize these, and others from instructors, throughout the course instruction. Many of the Lessons Learned are specific to long duration/landscape scale prescribed fire planning and implementation that the Lead Instructor should be familiar with for the prescribed fire plan elements.
Prescribed Fire Plans – Added allowances for programmatic low complexity prescribed fire plans. Programmatic Low Complexity Plans are intended for low-complexity projects such as district-wide pile burning under snowy conditions. The Guide outlines the differences between Programmatic Low Complexity Plans and Programmatic Moderate/High Complexity Plan (may be known as a Multiple Unit Plan) which can be used for prescribed fire projects with multiple ignition units that can be ignited separately or concurrently.
Element 2a – Changed the name “Agency Administrator Go/No Go checklist” to the name “Agency Administrator Ignition Authorization”. The Guide outlines the reason for this change as to, “clarify intent and use” and to encourage a conversation rather than checking things off. In addition, the form content was substantially modified and the form number was changed from NWCG PMS 422 to NWCG Prescribed Fire Plan Template, PMS 484-1.
Element 2b – The Prescribed Fire Checklist is now the Prescribed Fire Go/No-Go Checklist. Its form number has changed from NWCG PMS 421 to NWCG Prescribed Fire Plan Template, PMS 484-1.
Element 4a – Description of Prescribed Fire Area, Physical Description: the template adds identification and description of units.
Element 4b – Description of Prescribed Fire Area, Vegetation, and Fuels Description: the template adds a description of the percent of the ignition unit composed of each vegetative type and the corresponding fuel models.
Element 4d – Description of the Prescribed Fire Area, Maps: the template identifies two required maps and provides for three optional but recommended maps.
Element 7 – Prescription - clarified that in some cases spatial fire behavior modeling may be needed or desirable to establish the prescription window and assist in building contingency plans.
Element 17 – Contingency Plan - clarified intent and flexibility when using Management Action Points. Contingency should be based on the expected fire behavior, fuel models inside and outside the ignition unit, and values at risk. Contingency needs may vary depending on each phase or activity on the prescribed fire. Lead Instructor should read new Appendix D in the “guide” to familiarize with some of the new tenants and ensure concepts are covered during unit instruction.
Element 18 – Changed terminology from “Wildfire Conversion” to “Wildfire Declaration” and revised the criteria for declaring a wildfire. The 2009 federal fire policy implementation guidance required this change and it is reflected in Element 17.
Reviews – The Guide encourages units to review prescribed fires whenever a learning opportunity presents itself regardless of the outcome, either positive or negative. It also introduces Before-Action Reviews (BAR) and Technical On-Site Peer Reviews as tools to assist prescribed fire plan preparers to identify potential weakness and threats to success.
Appendix C – Added to the guide. Basic Smoke Management Practices.
Appendix D – Added Contingency Planning Aids as a complement to the changes in Elements 17/18. This Appendix introduces PACE Planning, as a risk containment/contingency planning tool that may be used in prescribed fire planning and implementation.
The NWCG Risk and Complexity Assessment (RCA) will replace the NWCG Complexity Analysis and NWCG Organizational Needs Assessment beginning in January 2014. The following table illustrates the changes to this course.
Applies to 2009 Version.