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Wildland Fire Information and Technology WFIT Support to NWCG Business Needs

NWCG committees, which represent the functional areas of wildland fire management on an interagency and intergovernmental basis, establish information and technology (IT) capability requirements and/or business needs in their mission areas. These IT capability requirements or business needs are communicated through NWCG Coordinators to the NWCG Executive Board and WFIT Program Board. The WFIT Program Board then provides leadership, funding recommendations, and support in turning these requirements into actual IT capabilities through applications, infrastructure, etc.

The portfolio of NWCG IT business needs or capability requirements is provided below. NWCG maintains a full list of applications currently in operation and maintenance, including information on the NWCG Committee or Subgroup(s) responsible for maintaining the associated capability requirements and business needs.

Coordination and questions about the NWCG IT capability requirements portfolio, including progress, next steps, and funding request status, can be directed to Steve Manthei, WFIT Program Manager (steven_manthei@ios.doi.gov), and Dave Schultz , NWCG Coordinator (dschultz@blm.gov) and liaison to WFIT Program Board.

NWCG IT Business Needs (July 2024)

PDF version of this table

NWCG
Committee		IT Business NeedWFIT Submission DateNWCG Priority
RMCSAFENET:
Risk management capabilities, related to safety reporting. Resolve overlaps, gaps, and inconsistencies. Need to define requirements.
SAFENET Improvements: correcting some language on the website, trying to streamline our posting process and make the “outputs” more useful for RMC to identify emerging issues and trends.
 		June 20231
IPSC/IPSElectronic Check-in:
Development of eCheck-In, eDemob and eExtensions.
See NWCG Exec Board memo 21-003, Incident Management Remote Response Electronic Check-In Pilot Project.
 		Aug 20212
NCSCDispatch Cost Analysis Tool (DCAT):
A standard process to assess workload and budget for dispatch/coordination centers. Identified as high priority by the NCSC and the IDIP study. Work of a task team supported by NWCG (March 2018) and FMB (April 2018). NWCG Exec Board support for DCAT tool in Oct 2023.		Oct 20233
DMCEDG Database:
Data integration services, with focus on a “data cache.” See NWCG Data Management Strategy, WFIT Data Cache Requirements Document, IFDC Alternatives Analysis, and DMC Recommendations for Data Cache.
DMC is evaluating the use of EDG as the tool to support a Data Cache.
 		20204
NCSCIntegrated OAT Training Environment:
The intent of this project is to create a replica of the IRWIN production environment along with all the connected applications to allow end-to-end user practice/training for all the connected wildland fire applications. This system would allow employees to train in an end-to-end incident lifecycle workflow utilizing all the IRWIN integrated applications without impacting any of the production environments, during normal day to day operations.
 		Aug 20235
IBC/IPSe-ISuite Improvements:
Functionality improvements, incorporating the use of eCheck-In, eDemob and eExtension in support of incident management. 
 		In Committee Review6

 

Applications in the Operation & Maintenance Phase (link to EDG)

USWDS Paragraphs

NWCG Committees

  • Identify the business need and establish the IT capability requirements in their respective mission areas. The goal is to identify the capability or business need and not the application or technology for the solution.
    • The requirement should not read “upgrade FireNet.” It should identify the need to “enhance collaboration.” The WFIT team will then identify the best application or technology needed to meet the requirement.
  • Maintain and/or modify existing IT capability requirements. Changes may require alterations to an existing application or the replacement of one or more applications with a new approach to providing the capability.
  • Jointly with NWCG staff, consolidate and prioritize NWCG-wide IT capabilities each year.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with business subject matter expert responsible for IT applications currently serving the committee’s mission area. Coordinate capability requirements efforts with IT project manager.

Data Management Committee (DMC)

  • Provide support to committees in development of IT capability requirements.
  • Provide support to committees and WFIT for data standards and integration.

NWCG Coordinators & Staff

  • Collect, consolidate, and update IT capability requirements both in development and in operation and maintenance from committees each January.
  • Jointly with NWCG committees, consolidate and prioritize NWCG-wide IT capabilities each year.
  • Inform NWCG Executive Board of new and changing IT capability priorities and request support for presenting the IT Capability Requirement to the WFIT Program Board.

NWCG Executive Board

  • Assess, revise as necessary, and forward NWCG prioritized IT capabilities requirements to Fire Management Board (FMB) annually by March.
  • Support presenting business needs and IT capability requirements to the WFIT Program Board.

Fire Management Board (FMB)

FMB assumed the role of the WFIT Management Activity Board, chartered in 2012, to “provide a forum for senior wildland fire program managers to provide the WFIT Executive Board with information and recommendations regarding requirements, priorities, strategies, policies, and investments for interagency wildland fire investments.”

When FMB meets in the role to support WFIT, it meets as the Information and Technology Advisory Board (ITAB).

  • Provide a mechanism for coordinated and integrated federal wildland fire program management and implementation.
  • Assess, support and forward NWCG prioritized IT capability requirements

WFIT Executive Board

  • Lead and oversee the WFIT program and suite of investments.
  • Provide information and recommendations to the U. S. Forest Service and Department of Interior investment review boards regarding strategies, policies, and investments for interagency wildland fire investments.
  • Represent and advocate for the interest, requirements, and priorities of wildland fire IT, including infrastructure and services necessary to conduct wildland fire business.

Assemble, as appropriate, committee representatives, a DMC representative, NWCG Coordinator, relevant application business lead if you are updating existing applications, and other primary stakeholders to address the following:

  • Purpose and Engagement
    • Develop, validate, modify, or replace capability requirements.
    • Ensure the capability requirements are consistent with the committee/subgroup mission.
    • Identify related capability requirements; seek opportunities to consolidate.
  • Process Management
    • Define roles and expectations for everyone involved.
    • Establish timelines, checkpoints, and completion due dates.
    • Identify and engage other NWCG committees/subgroups who must be involved in vetting the capability requirement.
  • Resources Available
    • DMC, primary contact: Roshelle Pederson, Chair, Kimber Roshele Pederson, DOI, (208) 407-6685.
    • IT capability requirements for applications in operation and maintenance.

The NWCG provides national leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations, including the establishment of IT capability requirements for wildland fire. NWCG operational standards are often enhanced, and sometimes accomplished altogether, by IT processes and applications.  IT capability requirements are statements that define the IT capability needed to achieve a particular standard of practice, product, or service.  Effective IT capability requirements should address the following:

  • Relevance: Is the capability relevant to the NWCG mission? Is it relevant to the committee mission? How will it improve mission effectiveness? What capabilities are needed to provide products or services essential to your mission?
  • Scope: Does the capability benefit field-level wildland firefighters and fire managers? Will it improve national standardization? Will it enhance firefighter safety? Is it national, regional, or local in scope? Is it interagency or agency specific?
  • Purview: Is the capability unique to wildland fire? Does it sensibly fall under the purview of the NWCG?
  • Sustainability: Will the capability have a long-term impact? Will it address a significant and consequential issue or concern, even in the short term?
  • Impact: Is the capability new, a revision of an existing capability, or a replacement of one or more existing capabilities?  What problems does the capability solve?
  • Efficiency: Does the capability reduce data entry, leverage existing information and capabilities, address needs for multiple committees, or reduce costs?
  • Time to impact: When is this capability needed?  When is it likely to be delivered, if funded?
  • Defined Process: Does an existing workflow process exist? Is it still relevant? Is a new defined workflow process needed to support sunsetting existing systems?

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Guide for Wildland Fire Modules, PMS 431

Date: May 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Fire Use Subcommittee

The updated NWCG Guide for Wildland Fire Modules, PMS 431 serves as a supplemental resource for wildland fire module operations, providing information frequently used in the field.

PMS 431 defines the organizational structure, staffing, and qualifications for Type 1 and Type 2 Wildland Fire Modules, outlining their roles in wildland fire suppression, prescribed fire, and resource management. The NWCG Guide for Wildland Fire Modules, PMS 431, should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430.

References:

NWCG Guide for Wildland Fire Modules, PMS 431

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200 Now Includes Off-Highway Vehicle Typing Standards

Date: May 13, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee 

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200 has been updated to include newly developed Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) typing standards. These standards organize OHV information into logical categories and outline key safety requirements for occupants.

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200 establishes minimum typing standards for aircraft, crews, and equipment used in national mobilization to wildland fire incidents. Typing designations are assigned based on measurable capability and performance criteria.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200

NEW! S-204, Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills for Safety Officers Now Available

Date: May 12, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Risk Management Committee

The S-204, Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills for Safety Officers self-directed online course is now available! Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Safety Officer, Field (SOFF) incident qualifications.

S-204, Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills for Safety Officers focuses on facilitating hazard mitigation conversations and building trust to influence safety-related decisions. Individuals can self-enroll through the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP).

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:

S-204, Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills for Safety Officers 

NWCG Safety Officer, Field (SOFF) Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Great Basin Cache Upgrading to New Inventory System

Date: May 7, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Great Basin Cache
Phone: (208) 387-5104
Fax: (208) 387-5573

The Great Basin Cache (GBK) is transitioning to a new inventory system to better serve the wildland fire community. During this upgrade, GBK will be unable to process standard orders from Part 1: Fire Supplies and Equipment and Part 2: Publications between May 8-20, 2025, with exceptions made for emergency fire orders. Orders will be accepted through close of business May 7.

To browse the latest available items, please refer to the National Fire Equipment System (NFES) catalogs. 

References:

NWCG NFES Catalog-Part 1: Fire Supplies and Equipment, PMS 449-1

NWCG NFES Catalog-Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2