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RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)

RT-130 Decorative banner. Group of photos depicting wildland firefighters performing various duties.

Felling Hazard Trees: Does it Need to Come Down?

This video promotes dialogue among sawyers and fireline leaders about their ability to discuss and identify expectations and decisions to cut or leave a tree, understand the human factors that influence the decision-making process, and bring awareness to the option that every saw operator has a right to walk away from a tree.
Category: Hazards
Core Component(s):
Local Topics, Incident Reviews and Lessons Learned
Estimated Delivery Time: 45 minutes
Video Length: 13:50

Intent

Create a dialogue among sawyers and fireline leaders about their ability to discuss and identify expectations and decisions to cut or leave a tree. Understand the Human Factors that influence the decision-making process and bring awareness to the option that every saw operator has a right to walk away from a tree.​

Facilitator Preparation

  • Review the video and module tools.
  • Decide which questions will best fit the skill level of the session audience.
  • Consider additional activities and discussion questions pertinent to the location and agency.

Facilitating the Discussion

  • Show the video.
  • Share the intent of the module with the class.
  • Facilitate a small or large group discussion using the selected discussion questions.

Discussion Questions

  1. Define a hazard tree. Is a dead, standing, ember-receptive tree a hazard tree? Do your perceptions of a hazard tree change from hotline construction to mopup? What about from direct line construction to indirect?
  2. What compels us to make the decision to cut the tree in front of us? (Examples include module/crew standard operating procedures [SOPs], personal skills, incident objectives, fireline supervisor, and fireline production rate pressures.)
  3. Which fireline positions make decisions about what trees need to come down? While on fire assignments, do your fireline supervisors (Operations Section Chief, Division Supervisor, Task Force Leader, Strike Team Leader, etc.) provide their tree removal expectations?
  4. Do you have adequate training for the cutting assignment? What influences your decision to walk away/turn down a cutting assignment?  Does your supervisor support you in making these decisions on your own?
  5. What are the key components that must be identified when determining the complexity of a saw operation? How do you determine what level of certification or skill set is needed to safely fell or buck a tree?
  6. If you start cutting a tree and the tree hangs up, what do you do?
  7. Do all hung trees need to be removed?  What influences your decision?
  8. What are the alternatives to cutting down a tree?
  9. Describe a close call you have had with saw work and how it has changed your perception of risk. Looking back, what could have been done to mitigate that close call?
  10. Does your module, team, or crew have SOPs for hazard trees, hung-up trees, alternatives to cutting high complexity trees, and tree turn-down protocols?
  11. Have you seen a change in how the fire service is dealing with tree stand health and hazard trees?
  12. During your fire career, have you heard this statement, “once you put your saw in a tree, it's all yours until it's on the ground.” If so, how do you feel about that statement today?

Feedback

  • Please utilize the PROVIDE FEEDBACK button located at the bottom of the page to provide feedback.
  • The Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee is going to create another Hazard Tree module. Please let us know how feel about this video, as well as other issues and topics you would like to see addressed in the future.

Resources

Video Information

  • This video is also available as a download (zip file, size 977 MB) with .srt file for closed captioning (you may need to Right Click and Save As). For information on how to add closed captioning to a video, see this how to page.
  • Note: For Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, right click the word download and select Save Link As; For IE, right click and select Save Target As.

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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