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RT-130 (WFSTAR)

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

RT-130 Decorative banner. Group of wildland firefighters hiking down a valley to a fire. Black topo map and WFSTAR logo on left.

Hub Locking and 4WD Operation

Wildland firefighters perform dangerous work around heavy equipment. Regardless of position or crew type, all firefighters must be equipped to work near heavy equipment. Review Heavy Equipment and other useful references in the IRPG Operational Engagement pages to better prepare yourself when working near heavy equipment.
Category: Hazards
Core Component(s):
Local Topics, Incident Reviews and Lessons Learned, Fire and Aviation Operational Safety, Human Factors, Communication and Decision Making
Estimated Delivery Time: 30 minutes
Video Length: 3:42

Remote Video

Intent

Firefighters are exposed to risk while driving on a constant basis. By becoming knowledgeable about your vehicle, its maintenance, and proper use of its components; you can increase your effectiveness on the fireline and decrease your risk while driving.

Facilitator Preparation

  • Review the video and module tools and choose the most relevant videos to your group.
  • Consider additional activities and discussion questions relevant to the location and agency.
  • Browse the Lessons Learned Center for information learned from vehicle incidents.

Facilitating the Discussion

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

Discussion Questions

  1. What are the most common hazards when driving (e.g., poor visibility, cumulative fatigue, wash-boarded roads, vehicle maintenance)?
    1. How does your module manage these risks?
    2. How do these risks differ during night operations?
  2. Reference the Risk Management Process in the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide  (IRPG), PMS 461. Discuss how this process applies to driving (e.g., Identify Hazards (situational awareness), Assess Hazards, Develop Controls and Make Risk Decisions, Implement Controls, Supervise and evaluate).
    1. Discuss as a group one of the following scenarios and how you would apply the risk management process:
      1. Caravanning through a highly populated city during rush hour.
      2. Traversing steep, loose soil while navigating to specific drop point.
      3. Ingress & egress during Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) operations.
  3. What preventative maintenance oversights lead to vehicle malfunctions and accidents (e.g., tire failures, hubs locked in at high speeds, pump failure)?
    1. Discuss what components of your vehicle must be inspected regularly (e.g., engine oil, tire pressure, windshield wiper fluid, power steering fluid).
    2. How does your module track vehicle maintenance and inspections?
    3. How do you check for equipment safety issues and recalls? How often?
    4. What resources do you use answer questions about your vehicle?
  4. What vehicle processes should everyone on your module be familiar with (e.g., how to move specific module vehicles in an emergency, how to start the engine pump)?
    1. Determine an opportunity for crew members to practice this skill.
    2. Compare and contrast driving hazards during fire operations and driving to the incident (e.g., high speed travel vs. low range, 2-1 rest ratio considerations, fatigue).
  5. What is the specific process of engaging and disengaging four-wheel drive in the specific vehicles that you will be operating on your module?
    1. When should you engage the four-wheel drive?
    2. Should you take additional risks or assignments because your vehicle does have four-wheel drive (why or why not)?
  6. Discuss the specific order of operations in starting and stopping the engine’s water pump.
    1. Do all crew members know how to operate the engine pump? How could you cross-train to ensure all crew members understand how to maintain the engine pump (e.g., preventative maintenance, pressure tests, winterization)?
    2. Do adjacent resources at your district know how to operate the engine pump in case of emergency?
  7. The US DOT estimates that there were 42,915 vehicle fatalities in 2021. How do you integrate facets of defensive driving and preventative maintenance into the personal vehicle you use to commute to and from work?

General Resources

Tire Inspection Module Resources

Hub Locking, 4WD Resources

  • Document: Check Your Owner’s Manual

Engine Regeneration Resources

  • Document: Regen Equipment Bulletin: How To
  • Document: Regen Equipment Bulletin: Tips
  • Document: Check Your Owner’s Manual

Resources to Check for Recalls

  • Go to NHTSA.GOV-Subscriptions to sign up for recall information emails for your vehicle.
  • Call The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) for recall information.
  • Call the manufacturer service center and ask them to check the vin for outstanding recalls.
  • When you take your module’s vehicle to the dealership have the manufacturer's service center check the vehicle identification number (VIN) for outstanding recalls.
  • Website: GSA.GOV-GOV RECALLS
  • Website: NHTSA.GOV - SAFETY ISSUES & RECALLS

Additional Video Information

  • This video is also available as a download (zip file, size 349MB) 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

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

NEW! D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder Course Available Now

Date:  May 15, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Dispatch Position and Curriculum Management Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder (Instructor-led) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Developed through the National Coordination System Committee, this course introduces the structure and function of expanded dispatch, the qualities of an effective dispatcher, and provides hands-on experience with the Interagency Resource Ordering Capability (IROC) system. 

The D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder course aligns with the competencies and duties outlined in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Expanded Dispatch Recorder, PMS 350-59, and is designed for individuals with no prior experience who may be called upon to support dispatch operations.

References:

D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder (Instructor-Led)

Expanded Dispatch Recorder (EDRC), Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Expanded Dispatch Recorder, PMS 350-59

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Leadership Committee IAP Flyer Now Available

Date:  May 8, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee promotes and enables leadership development across the wildland fire service. The committee provides education, training opportunities, and support for leadership innovation and best practices throughout the community.

A new IAP flyer is now available on the committee website, offering an overview of the products, curriculum, and learning opportunities the Leadership Committee develops. This resource is ideal for posting in your office, sharing with new employees, or distributing through your incident management teams to engage new voices in the leadership journey and reinforce a culture of self‑reflection, development, and growth.

References:

Leadership Committee 2026 IAP Flyer

Incident Operations Subcommittee Updates the Next Generation Position Task Book for FFT1

Date:  May 7, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

The NWCG Incident Operations Subcommittee (IOSC) has updated the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14. The FFT1 Position Task Book transitioned to the Next Generation (Next Gen PTB) format in June 2025 through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. Since then, IOSC has received feedback from the wildland fire community regarding coding for one of the tasks. Task #13 has been updated to include the option of evaluation in a simulation.

See IOSC Memorandum 26‑01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14 for more information.

References:

IOSC Memorandum 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page