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RT-130 (WFSTAR)

WFSTAR Overview

WFSTAR Catalog

Course Delivery Information

Core Components

2023 Fire Year in Review

2024 Core Component Module Packages

Target Audience

FAQ

Historical Modules (Archived)

 

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

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

WFSTAR Annual Refresher

The intent of RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) is to focus line-going personnel on operations and decision-making issues related to fireline safety in order to recognize and mitigate risk, maintain safe and effective practices, and reduce accidents and near misses.

Target Group

RT-130 is required for designated positions in order to maintain currency, for all personnel assigned to positions with fireline duties, and for any position assigned to the fireline for non-suppression tasks.

Position Title Position Code
Air Support Group Supervisor (ASGS)
Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS)
Incident communications Technician (COMT)
Crew Representative (CREP)
Crew Boss, Single Resource (CRWB)
Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS)
Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB)
Advanced Faller (FAL1)
Intermediate Faller (FAL2)
Basic Faller (FAL3)
Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN)
Felling Boss, Single Resource (FELB)
Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO)
Firefighter Type 1, Squad Boss (FFT1)
Firefighter Type 2, Crewmember  (FFT2)
Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB)
Field Observer (FOBS)
Finance/Administration Section Chief Complex (FSCC)
Helicopter Crewmember  (HECM)
Heavy Equipment Boss, Single Resource (HEQB)
Helibase Manager (HEBM)
Helicopter Coordinator (HLCO)
Helicopter Manager, Single Resource (HMGB)
Incident Commander Complex (ICCI)
Incident Commander Type 1 (ICT1)
Incident Commander Type 2 (ICT2)
Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4)
Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5)
Logistics Section Chief Complex (LSCC)
Long term Fire Analyst (LTAN)
Operations Branch Director (OPBD)
Operations Section Chief (OPS3)
Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC)
Operations Section Chief Type 1 (OSC1)
Operations Section Chief Type 2 (OSC2)
Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC)
Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC)
Public Information Officer Type 1 (PIO1)
Public Information Officer Type 2 (PIO2)
Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1)
Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2)
Prescribed Fire Manager (RXMG)
Radio Operator (RADO)
Situation Unit Leader (SITL)
Safety Officer Complex (SOFC)
Safety Officer Type 1 (SOF1)
Safety Officer Type 2 (SOF2)
Safety Officer, Line (SOFR)
Strategic Operational Planner (SOPL)
Staging Area Manager (STAM)
Strike Team Leader Crew (STCR)
Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN)
Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ)
Structure Protection Specialist (STPS)
Task Force Leader (TFLD)

Firefighters who receive initial fire training are not required to take RT-130 in the same calendar year.

Hours of attendance requirements for RT-130 are determined by each agency and issued through agency-specific directives systems.

BIA, BLM, USFWS, NPS, and USFS RT-130 hours requirements are stated in the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book), Chapter 13.

Course Content and Delivery

The RT-130 modules provide a range of training options to meet NWCG position training requirements and agency-specific RT-130 course-hours requirements. The intent of the NWCG Executive Board is that, regardless of the agency-specific RT-130 course-hours requirements, all RT-130 training covers the core components identified below.

RT-130 Core Components

  1. Local Topics: (replacing Current Issues) Review and discuss local topics and areas of concern that can impact firefighter safety in the upcoming fire season. Topics may include:
  • WFSTAR Year In Review.
  • Previous fire season statistics.
  • Current national and local Predictive Services products for upcoming fire season.
  • Local Fire Management updates and expectations.
  • Local staffing and availability updates.
  • Local and national aviation updates and availability.
  1.  Incident Reviews and Lessons Learned (replacing Other Hazards and Safety Issues) Review and discuss lessons learned from past local, regional, and national incident response. Topics may include:
  • The Lessons Learned Center Annual Review Summary.
  • Responding to an incident within an incident utilizing the Medical Incident Report.
  • Local lessons learned.
  • Case studies, accident reports, facilitated learning analysis, or lesson learned reports.
  1. Fire and Aviation Operational Safety: (replacing Entrapment Avoidance) Review and discuss the risk management principles and tools that promote safe and effective incident operations. Utilize the appropriate sections of the IRPG. Topics may include:
  • Aviation for fireline personnel.
  • LCES, Standard Firefighting Orders, Watch Out Situations.
  • Common Denominators of Fire Behavior on Tragedy Fires.
  • Common Tactical Hazards.
  • Downhill Checklist.
  • Equipment.
  • Safety Zones.
  • Weather and fire behavior.
  • Wildland Urban Interface. 
  • Chainsaw Operational Safety.
  • Driving Safety.
  • Heavy Equipment.
  • SAFENET and SAFECOM reports.
  • All hazard response.
  • Other hazards and safety issues.
  1. Human Factors, Communication and Decision Making:  Discuss the complexity of human factors, their impact on communications and decision making.  Topics may include:
  • Operational Leadership.
  • Communication Responsibilities.
  • Situational Awareness.
  • Command Presence.
  • Leader’s Intent.
  • Mental Health.
  1. Fire Shelters and Entrapment Avoidance: Review and discuss shelter use, deployment site selection, shelter inspections, personal protective equipment, and practice proper deployment techniques.  Topics may include:
  • Conduct hands on fire shelter proficiency drills in different environments.
  • Case studies related to entrapment avoidance.
  • Annual updates and reminders for fire shelters from NWCG Fire Shelter and Protective Equipment Subcommittee.

Additional Fire Shelter Resources:

Functional Area: Operations

Primary Committee: Incident and Position Standards Committee

Steward: Incident and Position Standards Committee

Required For: ASGS, ATGS, COMT, CREP, CRWB, DIVS, ENGB, FAL1, FAL2, FAL3, FBAN, FELB, FEMO, FFT1, FFT2, FIRB, FOBS, HEBM, HECM, HEQB, HLCO, HMGB, ICCI, ICT1, ICT2, ICT3, ICT4, ICT5, LTAN, OPBD, OPS3, OSC1, OSC2, OSCC, PIOC, PIO1, PIO2, PIO3, PIOT, RXB1, RXB2, RXMG, RADO, SITL, SOFC, SOFF, SOF1, SOF2, SOFR, SOPL, STAM, STCR, STEN, STEQ, STPS, TFLD

Page Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Single Resource Casual Hire Information, PMS 934

Date: September 19, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee

The Incident Business Committee has updated the NWCG Single Resource Casual Hire Information, PMS 934. This update expands the provisions for hiring emergency personnel.

References:

NWCG Single Resource Casual Hire Information, PMS 934

IBC Memorandum 24-03

NWCG 2024 Spring/Summer Highlights

Date: September 13, 2024

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Bureau of Land Management Logo
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National Park Service Logo
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Fish & Wildlife Service Logo
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State Foresters Logo
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U.S. Fire Administration
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Intertribal Timber Council Logo
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International Association of Fire Chiefs
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Welcome to our latest highlights from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, where we explore the latest updates, insights, and efforts that develop interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners.

The Performance Support Package, which for ABRO includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.
 

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NASA Logo

NASA JOINS NWCG!

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is officially an associate member of NWCG. As such, NASA is beginning to collaborate with wildland fire management agencies with the goal of increasing collaboration across agencies and leveraging NASA data, technology, and innovation for nation-wide efforts in wildland fire management. NASA has a rich history of research, development, and technology transfer in the areas of Earth science, space technologies, and aeronautics that support the NWCG mission.

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NWCG new website look.

WWW.NWCG.GOV HAS A NEW LOOK AND DESIGN

The NWCG web team dedicated the past two years to making a significant upgrade to the www.nwcg.gov site. This upgrade involved a comprehensive redesign of over 7,700 web pages.

The modernization of NWCG’s website involved migrating to Drupal 10, a cutting—edge content management system, and leveraging Amazon Web Service GovCloud for secure and efficient hosting. These upgrades help ensure that the NWCG website remains current in content management practices, offering enhanced customization, improved performance, and an overall superior user experience.

NWCG Leadership Committee

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WFLDP Professional Reading Program logo
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WFLDP PRP book covers

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program announced the Professional Reading Program’s 2024 list!

The years books include:

  • Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean
  • The Wisdom of the Bullfrog by William H. McRaven
  • The Art of Clear Thinking by Hasard Lee
  • Emotional Agility by Susan David
  • Writing to Persuade by Trish Hall

Learn more at the NWCG Leadership Committee

INCIDENT PERFORMANCE AND TRAINING MODERNIZATION

In 2023, NWCG kicked off the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. A training system overhaul focused on developing a performance-based training system designed to shift training to on-the-job when appropriate.

Over the next five years, NWCG intends to analyze all positions within the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1. To date we are currently working on 30 incident positions, and planning for 20+ in calendar year 2025.

Subject Matter Experts from a variety of geographical areas and agencies recently completed the position analysis for 16 positions. From this analysis, Incident Positions Standards and a Next Generation Position Task Book will be developed for each position.

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Incident Performance and Training Modernization

NEXT GENERATION POSITION TASK BOOK

In April 2024, NWCG launched the new Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB) which is a key component of the IPTM effort. This revised evaluation tool is designed to work in conjunction with the newly developed Incident Position Standards.

Major Next Gen PTB changes:

  • Structured to improve constructive conversations between evaluators and trainees.
  • Reference new Incident Position Standards.
  • Include only tasks required to be evaluated for successful performance.
  • Trainees will be rated on their performance vs. initialing whether a task was completed.
  • Must include written feedback when trainee does not meet the standard.
  • Will be position specific (no combined PTBs).
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Screen shot of the Next Gen Position Task Book
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Banner image of the Wildland Fire Learning Portal website

NWCG’s training course catalog is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP).

To access the training course catalog, visit WFLP and either set up an account or login as a guest.

 

 

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Aircraft Base Radio Operator (ABRO)

Date: September 12, 2024
Contact: Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Aircraft Base Radio Operator, PMS 350-87 and NWCG Position Task Book for Aircraft Base Radio Operator (ABRO), PMS 311-87 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for ABRO includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Base Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Aircraft Base Radio Operator, PMS 350-87

NWCG Position Task Book for Aircraft Base Radio Operator, PMS 311-87

NWCG Mental Health Subcommittee Recognizes September as Suicide Prevention Month

Date: September 9, 2024
Contact: Mental Health Subcommittee 

The NWCG Mental Health Subcommittee (MHSC) is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health within our wildland fire community. This year’s Suicide Prevention Month theme, “Stronger Together,” underscores the importance of unity and support in every facet of our lives — at work, with family, and among friends.

As we recognize Suicide Prevention Month, including Suicide Prevention Week (September 8 – September 14, 2024) and World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10, 2024), we encourage you to share resources and engage in meaningful conversations within your teams.

Remember: We are Stronger Together, and help is always available. Let’s continue to support one another and foster an environment where mental health is a priority.

References:

NWCG Mental Health Subcommittee

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline