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NWCG Systems Improvement

Improvement of NWCG systems components is an ongoing effort intended to support the core mission – enabling interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners. Systems improvement efforts include:

photo of 2 firefighters climbing a hillWebsite

  • Increase visibility of and access to NWCG materials.
  • Convert publications to web portals as appropriate.
  • Consolidate information and reduce redundancy and discrepancy across website.

Publications

  • Establish a comprehensive catalog of publications and portals.
  • Improve capability to identify and simultaneously revise interrelated materials.
  • Ensure that primary documents focus on NWCG standards and best practices.

Firefighters walking up a hill with tools.  Decorative.Position Management

Wildland fire personnel throughout the nation mobilize by NWCG position under NIMS-ICS principles. This enables consistent and uniform position performance in support of nationally interoperable wildland fire operations. Improved position management will strengthen that connection and improve our ability to successfully teach, train, and operate to accurate position-related standards. Improvement efforts include development of Incident Position Descriptions (IPDs), implementation of a systematic process to identify training and performance support needs for each position, and development of position-specific standards. The Incident Position Performance Cycle demonstrates the interconnectedness of these elements.

Position pages provide the single authoritative source for:

  • IPDs
  • Standards and References

Position Qualification Requirements (established through the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1)

Training Materials

  • Make all materials fully accessible according to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
  • Make training and performance support content freely available so it is fully interconnected, easily accessible, and can readily serve as reference material. This includes:
  • Post training and performance support material in the training catalog using the NWCG course page template to ensure consistency, branding, and ease of use.
    • For PowerPoint materials, use the NWCG standard template to eliminate duplication and conflict between slide content and instructor notes and to ensure training content is available for current and future reference. This will also serve as the instructor guide for the course, containing both presentation material and instructor notes.
    • Other NWCG templates are available for instructor guides.
  • Use NWCG standards publications as student workbooks to eliminate redundancy and conflict and to train to established standards.

Training Templates

Training templates are designed to help create and deliver NWCG Training. They ensure that all training products are consistent, on-brand, and accessible for everyone.

Position Task Books (PTBs)

  • Improve connectivity between established position-specific standards, position qualification requirements, and the PTB.
  • Ensure that PTBs are effective training and evaluation tools.
  • Eliminate unnecessary roadblocks to qualification.
  • Work within a system that allows/supports responsive changes in position duties.
  • Remove unnecessary redundancy.

NWCG Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP)

The NWCG Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) is a learning management system intended to enable training providers and users to manage and track training information, including:

  • Training schedules
  • Student nominations and registration
  • Self-directed (online) training courses
  • Pre-course work for instructor-led (classroom) training courses
  • Simulations, exams, and other instructor-specific materials
  • Local enhancements, per NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1
  • Student assessment and performance tracking

Non-NWCG Positions

  • Non-NWCG positions, including those found in the Federal Wildland Fire Qualifications Supplement, will not being evaluated by NWCG due to constraints of oversight to positions.
  • The Federal Wildland Fire Qualifications Supplement would add 117 positions to the process. NWCG does not establish or facilitate the development of the standards, training, publications, and support materials associated with these positions.

NWCG Latest Announcements

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book Available for Helicopter Crewmember

Date: April 28, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22, and the NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22, are now available.

These resources, part of the Performance Support Package developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22

Updated NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

Date: April 23, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee

The NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515 standardizes processes and procedures for the interagency use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including pilot inspections and approvals. This updated publication provides the aviation community with standards to ensure UAS are used safely, effectively, and efficiently in support of fire management goals and objectives.

References:

NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

NWCG National Interagency Aviation Committee

ETC Bulletin 25-001: Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits - 2025 Field Season

Date: April 16, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

Due to spout failures and the associated risk of burn injuries, manufacturers have retrofitted the Hot/Cold Beverage Kits using a heat-shrinking band to secure the black spout at the insertion site. The updated kits feature a fluorescent label on each full kit assembly for easy identification. Catering units are encouraged to confirm the clear heat-shrinking bands are intact around each spout before filling.

ETC Bulletin 24-001 regarding Hot/Cold Beverage Kits has been archived and replaced by ETC Bulletin 25-001 for the 2025 season.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC-EB-25-001 Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and Next Generation Position Task Book for Basic Faller Are Now Available

Date: April 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

The updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-19 are now available.

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212 includes position standards designed to be used in conjunction with the Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB). The Next Gen PTB for Basic Faller (FAL3) includes an evaluation guide with suggested rating elements to consider when assessing trainees.

References:

NWCG Standards For Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-119

NWCG Basic Faller (FAL3)