Emergency Support Function #4 Wildland Support (FEMA)

Introduction

The position functions as a member of the Emergency Support Function #4 (ESF4) Group under the National Response Plan (NRP) organization during a declared emergency or disaster, and provides technical advice and support to FEMA while representing the Forest Service. The Specialist communicates with federal and state agencies regarding policies, procedures, and capabilities related to all-risk emergency management, and serves as an information and intelligence source for the Forest Service during activation of the NRP.

The ESF4 Specialist is responsible for the timely processing of a wide variety of mission requests and tasking from FEMA and cooperating agencies. This responsibility encompasses a complex array of duties as described below.

Nature and Scope

The position is responsible for representing the Forest Service’s interests and concerns during activation of the NRP for emergencies or disasters. Such incidents may range in size and complexity from small “routine” incidents to multi-state “mega” disasters that overwhelm the capabilities of response agencies at all governmental levels. They may involve natural or human-caused emergencies/disasters such as floods, hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, terrorist incidents, and major accidents. The Specialist recommends to the ESF4 Leader, policies, procedures, or actions addressing incident issues, concerns, and opportunities, and maintains a cooperative working relationship with a wide variety of federal and state agencies.

The position is located within the ESF4 Group assigned to the Operations Section of the incident organization at one of the following locations: The National Response Coordination Center, one of the 10 Regional Response Coordination Centers, or a Joint Field Office for the declared emergency or disaster.

Duties

Provides technical information and guidance to FEMA and cooperating agencies related to the availability and capabilities of resources from federal and state wildland fire management agencies.
Participates in information and planning meetings providing current resource status, limitations, and capabilities of agency resources.
Facilitates the ordering of resources and services requested by FEMA through the mission assignment and tasking process.
Provides monitoring, oversight, coordination, and accountability of all resources needed to achieve assigned missions and tasks.
Conducts documentation, record preservation, and reporting in accordance with standard operating procedures.
Recommends procedural or tactical changes as part of the incident action planning process.
As requested, provides Incident Command system (ICS) orientation and training for FEMA and other agency personnel.
Routinely coordinates with, and provides essential information up, down, and laterally within the FEMA and Forest Service organization.
Maintains a high level of situation awareness at all times and prepares briefing papers and situation reports as requested.
Serves as the Acting ESF4 Leader as necessary.

Qualifications

The work requires extensive knowledge and application of the policies, principles, and procedures of the NRP, ICS, and the National Incident Management System.
Requires the knowledge of resource availability, capabilities, and limitations as related to a wide variety of all-risk incidents.
Requires analytical skills needed for evaluating operational activities, improving organizational effectiveness, and recommending policy or procedural changes.
Writing skills are needed for the preparation of evaluations, reports, plans, and special projects as requested.
Verbal skills are needed to effectively communicate a wide variety of complex technical and informational material to a large number of agencies and individuals, often with limited understanding of the subjects being addressed.
Strong interpersonal skills are needed to cooperate, and occasionally negotiate agreements with a wide variety of agencies and organizations under stressful emergency response conditions.
Ability to develop and maintain productive, harmonious relations with a variety of agencies, groups, and individuals.
Requires the ability to effectively function under periods of high stress and confusion resulting from the urgent response to emergency situations.
Strong planning and organizational skills are needed to manage the ESF4 organization and support the planning needs of the incident.
A working knowledge of FEMA’s mission assignment process is needed.
Requires a high level of personal characteristics dealing with flexibility, adaptability, initiative, patience, objectivity, and diplomacy.

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases New Equipment Bulletins

Date: September 27, 2024
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released three new Equipment Bulletins:

ETC-EB-24-003 Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in fuel containers.
ETC-EB-24-004 Two-compartment fuel and oil container (Dolmar) unavailable in the United States (US) and reminders for upkeeping current inventories.
ETC-EB-24-005 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Inspection, Care, and Maintenance.

These bulletins remind field going personnel of important issues related to equipment for wildland firefighting efforts.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC-EB-24-003 Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in fuel containers

ETC-EB-24-004 Two-compartment fuel and oil container (Dolmar) unavailable in the United States (US) and reminders for upkeeping current inventories

ETC-EB-24-005 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Inspection, Care, and Maintenance

The Experiential Learning Subcommittee is looking for your feedback on Staff Rides

Date: September 20, 2024
Contact: Ashleigh D'Antonio and George Risko, Leadership Committee

The Experiential Learning Subcommittee needs to hear from the field about where the greatest need lies regarding staff rides and their accessibility.

Do you have an event you would like to turn into a learning experience?
Do you have a staff ride built, but are struggling to implement the delivery?
Do you need help building capacity?
What other ideas do you have to support experiential leadership training?

Fill out this short survey below to help us help you.

References:

Staff Rides: Feedback

Staff Rides

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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).

Screen shot of the Next Gen Position Task Book

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.

Emergency Support Function #4 Wildland Support (FEMA)

Introduction

Nature and Scope

Duties

Qualifications

NWCG Latest Announcements

References:

References:

References:

NASA JOINS NWCG!

WWW.NWCG.GOV HAS A NEW LOOK AND DESIGN

NWCG Leadership Committee

INCIDENT PERFORMANCE AND TRAINING MODERNIZATION

NEXT GENERATION POSITION TASK BOOK

NWCG National Wildfire Coordinating Group

NWCG

National Wildfire Coordinating Group