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

2025 Fire Year in Review

Revisit significant events and statistics from the 2025 fire season. Identify lessons learned to prepare for the future. Explore intelligence sources to independently enhance big picture situational awareness.

Category: Operations

Core Component(s):

Local Topics, Incident Reviews and Lessons Learned, Fire and Aviation Operational Safety

Estimated Delivery Time: 45 minutes

Video Length: TBD

Intent

Facilitator Preparation

Review the video, module tools, and additional resources linked below.
Review significant events and statistics from 2025 for your local area.
From the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) website, print or display the 2025 Year End Infographic.
Review 2025 Incident Review Summary.
Print or display the current National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook from Predictive Services.
- Optional: Print or display additional fire potential outlooks for your Geographic Area (links on Geographic Area Coordination Centers – Outlooks) or your local response area (local dispatch center).
- Optional: Listen to the most recent “Predictive Services Monthly Seasonal Outlook Podcast”.
Consider additional activities and discussion questions pertinent to the location and agency.

Facilitating the Discussion

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

Discussion Questions

After watching this video, what is one lesson or idea you plan to take with you into this fire season?
A common theme throughout the 2025 Fire Year in Review video is change. What strategies have you used to stay focused and make decisions when outcomes are uncertain?
How can individuals and crews ensure lessons from one season are carried forward to the next?
Firefighters are widely supported by the public; however, past incidents show that responders may encounter hostile individuals. Read “20 Years of Assault-Related Incidents” on page 10 of the 2025 Incident Review Summary.
1. What is your crew’s plan if you encounter agitated or confrontational members of the public?
2. How will your crew maintain communications and coordination if a hostile incident does occur?
What role do After Action Reviews (AARs) play in improving operational learning?
The LLC segment discussed the persistent risks posed by hazard trees in wildland fire.
1. Choose another topic from the 2025 Year End Infographic, review the information, and discuss how you/your crew can apply the lessons learned from these incidents.

Additional Video Information

The video is also available as a download (Size 3.66 GB); 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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Last Modified / Reviewed: February 13, 2026

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NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Date: June 12, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Emergency Medical Committee

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2025 Wildland Fire Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Awards. EMC annually recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated outstanding actions or accomplishments that are above and beyond the expectation of one’s normal mission or job duties.

Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Emergency Medical Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for RAMP

Date: June 12, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Airtanker Base Operations Unit

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Ramp Manager (RAMP).

The Performance Support Package for this position was 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 release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Ramp Manager Position Page

National Interagency Aviation Committee

Make an Impact: Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date: June 11, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

Note: Positions with an * will last approximately 6 months.
Positions with ** will last 12 - 18 months.

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. IPTM aims to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model by updating position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the Fall 2026 positions listed below:

Equipment Manager (EQPM)*
Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT)**
Mixmaster (MXMS)*
Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC)*
Retardant Crewmember (RTCM)*
Strike Team Leader Crew (STCR)*
Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN)*
Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ)*
Task Force Leader (TFLD)**
Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF)**

Projects begin October 2026. Sign up by July 10, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for additional details.

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

Date: May 28, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has issued Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters. Research from 2016 to 2025 shows that 88 cases of rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) were reported. Analysis of reports from eSafety, the Safety Management Information System (SMIS), and the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) indicates that rhabdo is common during this time of year due to Work Capacity Tests and contributing factors such as weather, hydration, nutrition, and medication or supplement use.

RMC issued this safety bulletin to raise awareness in the Wildland Fire Community, and to provide research findings and educational resources that support reducing future cases of rhabdo.

References:

NWCG Alerts

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

RT-130 (WFSTAR)

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