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Initial Attack Sizeup/Safety

 

Having a good sizeup is important to give both the Incident Commander (IC) and Fire Management Officer (FMO) a good idea of existing problems and what resources may be needed for effective firefighting.

Use the following reporting factors for sizeup and reference local fire sizeup cards.  Discuss others that may be used.

  • Fire name and location.
  • Terrain (slope, aspect, elevation) and position of fire on the slope.
  • Size of fire.
  • Fuel type, anticipated control problems, and spread potential.
  • Values threatened.
  • Weather conditions (wind speed and direction).
  • Fire behavior.
  • Resources on the fire and those needed.
  • Estimated containment and control times.
  • Cause (known, suspected, under investigation).

After your initial sizeup of the fire and/or transition from an initial attack IC, answer the following questions. Repeat this analysis whenever there is a change, or predicted change, in conditions on the fire.

  • Have you sized up the fire and relayed the information to dispatch?
  • Is the observed fire weather consistent with the forecast?
  • Can you control the fire with the resources available (on the incident or en route) and under the expected conditions?
  • Have you developed a plan to attack the fire (direct or indirect, anchor points, escape routes, head or flank attack, priority areas)? Have you communicated this information to all personnel assigned to the incident, including new arrivals?
  • Are lookouts in place or can you see the whole fire area?
  • Can you communicate with everyone on the fire and with dispatch?
  • Are escape routes and safety zones established? If you are using the black, is it completely burned and without a reburn potential?
  • Are safety and the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders being followed and/or mitigated?
  • Do you have a complete list of what resources have been ordered for the fire?
  • Will you control the fire before the next operational period? If you won’t, or the size of the organization exceeds the IC’s capability to manage, have you informed the agency FMO or Duty Officer (DO)?

 

 

Category
Operational Engagement
References
Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461. See inside front cover for Size…
10 Standard Firefighting Orders, PMS 110
10 and 18 Poster, PMS 110-18
18 Watch Out Situations, PMS 118


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NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters

Date: January 15, 2025
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters. Non-specification fire shelters claiming to meet Forest Service (FS) fire shelter specification 5100-606 were first found in February of 2023. As of September 2024, non-specification shelters are again being advertised and sold on the open market.

This Safety Warning outlines details and recommended procedures to purchase FS specification shelters made with materials and components that meet performance criteria and toxicity testing requirements outlined in FS Specification 5100-606. 

For additional information on identifying non-specification shelters, please view ETC Safety Warning 23-01.

References:

ETC Safety Warning 25-001: Non-specification fire shelters

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee

ETC Safety Warning 23-01

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Awards

Date: January 14, 2025
Contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee has awarded the 2023 Paul Gleason “Lead By Example” awards to individuals in the categories of Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Sam Bowen, Superintendent of the Mark Twain Veteran Crew with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Greg Titus, Zone Fire Management Officer for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Renae Crippen, Manager of the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center with the U.S. Forest Service.
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References:

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Interview with Paul Gleason

Updated NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Water Scooper Operations Unit

The NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating water scooping aircraft on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, and any local, state, or geographic/regional water scooping plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Updated NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee

The Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee has updated the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505. PMS 505 establishes standards for aerial supervision operations for national interagency wildland fire operations. 

References:

NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505