Skip to main content

S-520, Advanced Incident Management, N/A

S-520 Decorative banner: Four photos of wildland fire incident operations. Two people stand in a command tent at the end of a large table covered in maps. A finance section chief works on a laptop she stands over. A female firefighter holds a handheld radio as she looks down. A planning section chief sits behind a desk talking on a handheld radio.

 

Description

Using classroom lecture and simulated incidents, students will understand the role and function of a Type 1 Incident Management Team, the applicability of management principles to the incident management job, and the special considerations of incident management within geographic areas of the nation.

The Complex Incident Management Course (CIMC) was developed in conjunction with Advanced Incident Management, S-520. The two courses were co-developed around similar course and lesson objectives and content. For additional information on CIMC or S-520, go to the NAFRI website at https://www.nafri.gov.

Early Nomination Rationale: Early nomination has been requested to give those nominated the necessary mentoring and pre-work assignments for the course.

Objectives

  • Given a simulated complex fire situation, students will effectively perform functional and team responsibilities. Individual performance must meet established criteria for successful completion of the course.

Target Group

Any person qualified to fill a national level interagency Type 1 Incident Management Team position as Incident Commander, Planning Section Chief, Operations Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, Finance Section Chief, Safety Officer, or Public Information Officer, or any person desiring to become certified in one of these positions at the Type 1 complexity level. 

Prerequisite Qualifications and Training

  • Individuals must be functionally certified and qualified at the Type 2 level for the position they will be filling at the course. Nominations must be submitted with a current fire qualifications record and with a narrative statement giving a brief background of the person nominated. Include a description of the intended use of the skills developed as a result of attending S-520.
  • Satisfactory completion of pre-course work.

Session Offerings

Sessions of this course may be available in the NWCG Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Enrollment requires an account. Log on as a guest to search for session offerings of this course and to view other public content. To search for a specific course, use the FIND LEARNING menu at the top of the page, then select UPCOMING COURSES. To view Geographic Area training schedules, select the specific GEOGRAPHIC AREA information using the drop-down menu at the top of the page. Contact your local Training Officer for more information about local course sessions.

 

Delivery

S-520 is available as classroom instructor-led training.

Course Components and Hours to Complete

Course Component Course Time
Pre-course work 20
Pre-selection assessment N/A
Online training N/A
Instructor-led training 40
Total Hours 60

Course Level

National

Minimum Instructor Qualifications

This course is managed by a National Steering Committee. Nationally recognized subject matter experts and practitioners serve as instructors in this course.

See NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1, Instructor Standards for more information.

 

Functional Area: CGS Command

Primary Committee: Incident and Position Standards Committee

Steward: S520 S620 Course Steering Committee

Required for: FSC1, ICT1, LSC1, OSC1, PIO1, PSC1, SOF1

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

USWDS Paragraph Bundles

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Training Catalog now on Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Date: April 25, 2023
Contact: NWCG Training  

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has migrated the training catalog from the NWCG website to the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline processes and improve efficiency. To facilitate this transition, the training catalog remains available on www.nwcg.gov through April 2024.

Starting May 2024, the training catalog will no longer be accessible on www.nwcg.gov. However, you can still access the complete training catalog by logging in as a guest to the WFLP.

References:

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

 

NWCG Website Migration

Date: April 01, 2024
Contact: NWCG Webmaster

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group is thrilled to announce a significant upgrade to https://www.nwcg.gov, involving a comprehensive redesign of over 7,000 web pages. This enhancement is focused on improving user experience. The migration to the new NWCG website will commence on April 2, 2024, starting at noon EST and is expected to take a few hours. 

During the migration period, as the www.nwcg.gov domain-name-location updates across the Internet, you might encounter either the current or the new site depending on your location. We request your patience during this transition. If you are not redirected to the new site by April 3, 2024, we recommend clearing your browser’s cache and refreshing the page.

Please note that while navigating the revamped website, there may be instances of broken links or errors. Our dedicated web migration team has made significant efforts to minimize such issues prior to launch and will promptly address any that arise via use of analytic reports. We value your patience and understanding as we work towards enhancing your overall website experience.

WFSTAR 2023 Year in Review and 2024 Core Component Module Packages Available

Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: Joe Schindel 

The 2023 Fire Year in Review module and 2024 Core Component Module Packages for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) are now available on the NWCG website. The 2024 Core Component Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

 

References:

WFSTAR 2023 Fire Year in Review module

WFSTAR 2024 Core Component Module Packages

2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter

Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: NWCG

The NWCG Executive Board is privileged to share with you the 2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter. As we look into the future and navigate an incredibly complex and dynamic environment, we must remain focused on our mission while actively engaging in national conversations regarding numerous wildland fire initiatives. In 2024, we prioritize building upon our successes and committing to continuous improvement. Key priorities and considerations for this year include: 

  • Determining Core Workload
  • Ensuring Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) Success
  • Improving Efficiencies
  • Firefighter Health and Wellness
  • Engagement in National Conversations

Together we will continue to make significant strides in the challenging and vital work that lies ahead. 

 

References:

2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter