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Geospatial Subcommittee

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Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Geospatial Subcommittee (GSC) provides national leadership for the integration of geospatial information, technology, and systems into all phases of wildland fire management. This includes the development and promotion of standards and tools; trusted data to support wildland fire operations; training; the development of geospatial capability in the field; and providing geospatial expertise to other wildland fire lines of business.

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Primary Objectives

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  • Define, promote, and recommend the use of NWCG standards-based interagency datasets, both current and historic. Develop processes for combining agency datasets to build interagency datasets.
  • Develop requirements for centralized acquisition, storage, and delivery of trusted interagency geospatial datasets, including governance, quality control, access, and maintenance of included data.
  • Provide a platform for the development, revision, review and adoption of the NWCG Standards for Geospatial Operations, PMS 936, the NWCG GISS Workflow, PMS 936-1, and geospatial data standards to enable wildland fire geospatial data to achieve broad usage throughout the interagency community. Identify gaps in standards and propose solutions. Promote the use of interagency standards within wildland fire applications.
  • Identify common GIS training needs and resources, and plan or make recommendations for the development and presentation of training in cooperation with other groups, programs, or agencies in the wildland fire community.
  • Establish and regularly update wildland fire incident position standards related to GISS and IRIN. This includes incident position descriptions and position requirements for training, experience, physical fitness, and position currency.

Guidance Documents

Standard Templates, Tools, and References

We have collected a variety of tools, documents, and other resources can be downloaded from this page to assist the GISS on an incident. Please provide any suggestions for page content to your GSC representative.

Job Aids and Reference Information

Spatial Data Sources

Wildfire Response GIS Group on GeoNet

You are invited to join the Wildfire Response GIS group on GeoNet!  The new Wildfire Response GIS group in the GeoNet Community is open. This is a place to ask questions, get updates from the NIFC ArcGIS Online Organization Admins, and connect with your Fire GIS colleagues.  It is a private group, which means the content is not searchable by the public and is only accessible to members of the group.

Get started: Join and contribute today!

  1. Go to GeoNet.
  2. Log in with your NIFC AGOL Org username and password and accept the Esri GeoNet Terms of Use and Conditions.​
    • NOTE: GeoNet only allows an email address once in the entire system. If you have ever signed into GeoNet with another AGOL account that uses the same address, you will receive an error. If you receive this error, you can submit a Support Request to change your NIFC Org account email to a different address.  Alternatively, if you actively use the other account, you may log in and request access with it.  If you use your work email address for your NIFC account and your agency uses an Enterprise Login for their own AGOL Org (BLM, NPS, USFS), we recommend you submit a Support Request to change your NIFC Org account email or use your agency login to request access to the group.
  3. Click “Ask to join this group” and give the Admins at least 1 business day to approve your request. You will receive a notification in your GeoNet inbox once you’ve been accepted in.
  4. Read the welcome blog post Start Here: Welcome to the Wildfire Response GIS Community.

Got Questions? Check out these GeoNet Community Quick tips

Thanks for joining and we look forward to your questions and engagement in our new GeoNet Community!

Chair: Beauchaine, Tony

NWCG Coordinator: Schultz, Dave

Parent Committee: Data Management Committee

Meeting Schedule:

TBD

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NWCG Latest Announcements

2025/2026 Leadership Campaign Quarter 2 Now Available!

Date: February 13, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the Quarter Two materials for the 2025/2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign are now available! This annual initiative invites all leadership and wildland fire management students to engage with essential skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

This quarter focuses on Leadership Level 2: New Leader (Conveying Intent). Conveying intent is a crucial leadership competency in the high-risk, dynamic environment of wildland firefighting. Months 4 - 6 will concentrate on how successfully conveying intent enhances situational awareness, promotes shared understanding, and empowers firefighters to exercise initiative and adapt to changing conditions.

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Leadership Committee

Opportunity to Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date: February 10, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

NWCG is seeking experienced wildland firefighters and support personnel to serve as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) initiative. The intent of IPTM is to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model through updated position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and updates to training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the following positions:

  • Aircraft Timekeeper (ATIM)
  • Compensation/Claims Unit Leader (COMP)
  • Cost Unit Leader (COST)
  • Crew Representative (CREP)
  • Deck Coordinator (DECK)
  • Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO)
  • Field Observer (FOBS)
  • Geographic Information System Specialist (GISS)
  • Ordering Manager (ORDM)
  • Receiving/Distribution Manager (RCDM)
  • Staging Area Manager (STAM)

Projects begin April/May 2026 and require 15–20 hours per month for 6–8 months, including a five-day workshop in Boise, Idaho this May. Apply by February 27, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for details.

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

NEW! M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led) Course Available Now

Date: January 29, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Resource Advisor Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led) course is now available. This training supports individuals working towards Resource Advisor, Fireline (REAF) incident qualifications.

M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led) training prepares students to serve as a Resource Advisor, Fireline (REAF) as defined in NWCG Incident Position Standards for Resource Advisor, Fireline, PMS 350-112. This course presents scenarios that reflect the diverse challenges a REAF may encounter during an incident. Through these scenarios, participants gain hands-on experience and an understanding of REAF responsibilities in a controlled learning environment.

References:

Resource Advisor, Fireline Position Page

NWCG Position Standards for Resource Advisor, Fireline, PMS 350-112

M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

2026 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

Date: January 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

The Incident and Position Standards Committee has updated the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

These updates address changes to incident position names and requirements for qualification, training, and experience. Updates related to the implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) and Incident Performance Training Modernization (IPTM) are also included.

The NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308 has also been updated to reflect the recent changes.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308

IPSC Memo 26-01: January 2026 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Positions Qualifications, PMS 310-1