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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.

Wildland Fire Investigation and Fire Origin Protection

Define the role of fire investigation in both fire prevention and fire suppression. Define the role of first responder in fire investigation. Review fire origin protection best practices for first responders during initial suppression. Explore paths to becoming a Wildland Fire Investigator.
Category: Operations
Core Component(s):
Fire and Aviation Operational Safety, Human Factors, Communication and Decision Making
Estimated Delivery Time: 40 minutes
Video Length: 14:33

Intent

Define the role of fire investigation in both fire prevention and fire suppression. Define the role of first responders in fire investigation. Review fire origin protection best practices for first responders during initial suppression. Explore paths to becoming a Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF).

Facilitator Preparation

  • Review the video and module tools.
  • Consider additional activities and discussion questions pertinent to the location and agency.
  • Consider inviting a local agency INVF or wildland fire prevention educator to provide pertinent context and input for discussions.
  • Reference the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461. Provide copies of the NWCG IRPG for students to utilize and answer questions.

Facilitating the Discussion

  • Show the video.
  • Facilitate a small or large group discussion using the discussion questions.

Discussion Questions

  1. Discuss your unit or module’s procedures for fire origin protection.
    1. Identify other first responders in your area. How might their fire origin protection procedures differ from yours?
  2. Discuss wildland fire investigation in your local response area.
    1. Identify (and, if present, introduce) local INVFs and Wildland Fire Investigation Team Leaders (INVL).
    2. List common human-caused fire trends in your area.
    3. Discuss local fire cause types that may be considered a crime or a civil offense.
    4. Review fire investigation policy for your area/agency. When should law enforcement be called in to assist with the fire investigation?
  3. Scenario: You have been dispatched to a wildfire in the wildland urban interface bordering your agency protection area. As a first responder, what actions do you take related to fire investigation? (Refer to the Fire Origin Protection Checklist in the NWCG IRPG.)
    1. Discuss your actions as first responder.
    2. What do you see? What do you take note of? What do you protect?
    3. Who do you notify? Who can you call to assist you?
    4. How do you identify potential origin areas? What actions can you take to protect the origin?
  4. What fire cause categories and circumstances of the causes should you be aware of when you arrive at the scene of a wildfire incident? (Refer to Ignition Factors and Sources in the Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination, PMS 412.)
    1. Identify and discuss cause categories common to your local response area.
  5. Discuss training paths and qualification requirements to expand your knowledge of fire investigation. (Refer to the NWCG Position Catalog and NWCG Training Course Catalog.)
    1. Which topics presented in FI-110, Wildland Fire Observations and Origin Scene Protection for First Responders would you find most beneficial as a wildland fire first responder?
    2. Identify required training and experience for INVF qualification.
    3. Discuss fire investigation training opportunities in your local area.

Resources

Additional Video Information

  • This video is also available as a download (zip file, size 574GB) with the .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 and Firefox, 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

ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 New Guidance on Laundering Wildland Fire Clothing to Reduce Contamination

Date: Aug 8, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 Risk Management Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) and the Risk Management Committee (RMC) have issued Safety Bulletin 25-001: Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing. Recent research revealed that wildland fire flame-resistant pants and shirts can be contaminated with chemicals from combustion byproducts, including carcinogens, and that common laundering practices can effectively remove these harmful contaminants from wildland firefighter clothing more effectively than previously understood. It is recommended to decontaminate wildland fire clothing as frequently as possible. 

Frequently Asked Questions about this new information and how to implement recommendations can be found on the NWCG Alerts page. Read the complete ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Safety Bulletin: 25-001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing

Equipment Technology Committee

Risk Management Committee

FAQ Now Available for Archiving Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Positions

Date: Aug 6, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Incident and Position Standards Committee

To support the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), NWCG will archive all Type 1 and Type 2 Command and General Staff (C&G) position qualifications in January 2026, as outlined in NWCG Executive Board Memo 25-002. To assist with this transition, a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is now available.

This resource answers common questions about the status of Type 1 and Type 2 qualifications, impacts to incident qualification management, training requirements, and resource ordering considerations. Review the full FAQ to learn more.

For additional information on CIM and the transition of C&G positions, see NWCG Executive Board Memos 23-005, 24-005, and 25-002, as well as the Incident Workforce and Development Group webpage.

References:

NWCG Type 1 & Type 2 Position Archiving FAQ

NWCG Executive Board Correspondence

Incident Workforce Development Group

Incident and Position Standards Committee

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