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This Day in History

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Week of Remembrance

Origin of the 10 and 18 – June 17, 1957

This Day in History is a brief summary of a powerful learning opportunity and is not intended to second guess or be judgmental of decisions and actions. Put yourself in the following situation as if you do not know the outcome. What are the conditions? What are you thinking? What are YOU doing?

The 10 Standard Firefighting Orders and the 18 Watch Out Situations, as referenced in the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, provide wildland firefighters with a set of consistent best practices and a series of scenarios to be mindful of when responding to a wildland fire.

A poster with individual line art drawings of the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders and 18 Watch Out Situations used to educate wildland firefighters of the dangers and situations to be aware of.

View the 10 and 18 Poster, PMS 110-18.

Summary:

The original 10 Standard Firefighting Orders were developed in 1957 by a task force commissioned by USDA Forest Service Chief Richard E. McArdle. The task force reviewed the records of 16 tragedy fires that occurred between 1937 and 1956. The Standard Firefighting Orders were based in part on the successful "General Orders" used by the United States Armed Forces. The Standard Firefighting Orders are organized in a deliberate and sequential way to be implemented systematically and applied to all fire situations.

Shortly after the Standard Firefighting Orders were incorporated into firefighter training, the 13 Situations That Shout Watch Out were developed. Later this was expanded to the 18 Watch Out Situations.  These Situations are more specific and cautionary than the Standard Fire Orders. They describe situations that expand the Firefighting Orders with the intent that if firefighters follow the Standard Firefighting Orders and are alerted to the 18 Watch Out Situations, much of the risk of firefighting can be reduced. Below are the original recommendation and fire orders from the report.

Recommendation:

Adopt for service-wide use the attached "Standard Firefighting Orders." These orders are to be committed to memory by all personnel with fire control responsibilities.

Standard Firefighting Orders

  1. FIRE WEATHER.  Keep informed of fire weather conditions and predictions.
  2. INSTRUCTIONS.  Know exactly what my instructions are and follow them at all times.
  3. RIGHT THINGS FIRST.  Identify the key points of my assignment and take action in order of priority.
  4. ESCAPE PLAN.  Have an escape plan in mind and direct subordinates in event of a blow-up.
  5. SCOUTING.  Thoroughly scout the fire areas for which I am responsible.
  6. COMMUNICATION.  Establish and maintain regular communication with adjoining forces, subordinates, and superior officers.
  7. ALERTNESS.  Quickly recognize changed conditions and immediately revise plans to handle.
  8. LOOKOUT.  Post a lookout for every possibly dangerous situation.
  9. DISCIPLINE.  Establish and maintain control of all men under my supervision and at all times know where they are and what they are doing.
  10. SUPERVISION.  Be sure men I commit to any fire job have clear instructions and adequate overhead.  

Discussion Points:

Though the Firefighting Orders are in the form of a list, they are not a checklist. The intended use of the Orders is not to check off 1 through 10 and be done with them but that they act as reminders of conditions that need to be continuously monitored and assessed.

  • What is the connection between the Standard Fire Orders and situational awareness?

Originally there were 13 Watch Out Situations, with the additional five added in 1987.

  • If you could add one more Watch Out what would it be and why?

The original recommendation in 1957 states that the Fire Orders “are to be committed to memory.”

  • What do you and your crew/unit do to help each other remember and understand the 10 and 18s?

Have everyone at the briefing look at the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461 outside back cover. Compare the current and original list.

  • Is the same material covered?
  • What are the biggest differences?

 

Category
This Day in History
References
1957 Report of Fire Task Force


Last Modified / Reviewed:

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NWCG Latest Announcements

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for DMOB, DOCL, and RESL

Date: February 28, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Demobilization Unit Leader (DMOB), Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL), and Resources Unit Leader (RESL).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including a job aid for RESL, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) 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.

References:

NWCG Demobilization Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Documentation Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Resources Unit Leader Position Page 

Next Generation Position Task Book and Updated Incident Position Description Now Available for Operations Section Chief Complex

Date: February 27, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC) has a Next Generation NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC), PMS 311-108 and an updated Incident Position Description.

These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

References:

NWCG Operations Section Chief Complex Position Page 

NWCG Operations Section Chief Complex Incident Position Description 

NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC), PMS 311-108 

2025 NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, Now Available

Date: February 27, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the 2025 NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, is now available. Visit NWCG's website to learn about the major updates and changes in the 2025 version of the IRPG. The NWCG Guia de Respuesta de Incidente de Bolsillo (GRI), PMS 461-ES is available electronically and will be available from Great Basin Cache by early summer 2025.

All hard copy materials, including the IRPG, are ordered through the Great Basin Cache (GBK). Information on the ordering process can be found in the National Fire Equipment System (NFES) Catalog.

References:

2025 IRPG Information 

NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461 

NWCG Guia de Respuesta de Incidente de Bolsillo (GRI), PMS 461-ES 

NWCG NFES Catalog - Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2 

2025 Professional Reading Program

Date: February 18, 2025
Contact: Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program is announcing the 2025 Professional Reading list! The goal of the annual reading list is to promote the reading and discussion of the books throughout the year.

The five books chosen for this year are: Surf When You Can by Brett Crozier, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, Elephant Company by Vicki Constantine Croke, Simply Managing by Henry Mintzberg, and Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Metcalf.

References:

Professional Reading Program