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Unit Identifier Board

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Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Unit Identifier Board (UIB) provides national leadership in the approval and use of Unit Identifiers in support of effective fire management decision-making. Primary objectives include

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Primary Objectives

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  • Manage NWCG data standards, business rules, and processes related to Unit Identifiers and associated information.
  • Publish current Unit Identifiers in the document NWCG Unit Identifiers, PMS 931.
  • Ensure standards and processes are implemented consistently by Geographic Area Coordination Centers, agencies, and applications.

From the markings on a wildland fire engine to every incident listed on the daily Incident Management Situation Report (IMSR), the Unit Identifier (UI) is an integral piece of information.

Unit Identifiers may be the most fundamental and essential informational elements for the interagency incident management community because they uniquely identify organizational units within that community. Unit Identifiers are created by the interagency incident management community. They are the standard way organizational units communicate who they are, the incidents they are hosting, and the resources they provide, in a way that is common among agencies and applications.

In the past, misunderstandings, assumptions, lack of standards, and inconsistent utilization of Unit Identifiers has led to mistakes and inefficiencies, such as lost time and increased costs. Users were often forced to conduct uncoordinated and divergent workarounds to achieve desired outcomes.

Geographic Area Unit Identifier Data Custodians

Alaska Interagency Coordinator Center (USAKACC)

Name Email Phone
Peter Butteri Peter_Butteri@fws.gov (907) 356-5874
Jennifer Humphrey jhumphre@blm.gov (907) 356-5690

Northern California Area Coordination Center (USCAONCC)

Name Email Phone
Chris Bunker laura.bunker@usda.gov (530) 226-2800
Laurie Forni laurie.forni@usda.gov (530) 226-2800

Southern California Area Coordination Center (USCAOSCC)

Name Email Phone
Manuel Salas manuel.salas@usda.gov (951) 276-6725

Eastern Area Coordination Center (USWIEACC)

Name Email Phone
Jennifer Parrish jennifer.parrish@usda.gov (414) 391-6090

Great Basin Coordination Center (USUTGBC)

Name Email Phone
Gina Dingman gdingman@blm.gov (801) 531-5320

Northern Rockies Coordination Center (USMTNRC)

Name Email Phone
Jay McCallister jmcallis@blm.gov (406) 329-4880

Northwest Area Coordination Center (USORNWC)

Name Email Phone
Gina Papke gina.papke@usda.gov (503) 277-3391

Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center (USCORMC)

Name Email Phone
Rob Juhola robert.juhola@bia.gov (303) 445-4304
Travis Hartsburg travis.hartsburg@usda.gov (303) 320-3000

Southern Area Coordination Center (USGASAC)

Name Email Phone
Nancy Ellsworth Dana.Ellsworth@usda.gov (678) 320-3000

Southwest Area Coordination Center (USNMSWC)

Name Email Phone
Kenan Jaycox kenan.jaycox@usda.gov (505) 842-3473
Juan Ortiz juan.ortiz@usda.gov (505) 842-3472

Unit Identifier Presentation

Chair: Gina Papke, Chair; Kara Stringer, Co-Chair

NWCG Coordinator: Schultz, Dave

Parent Committee: Data Management Committee

Meeting Schedule: TBD

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NWCG Latest Announcements

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003 Flame-Resistant Shirt Survey

Date: June 12, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The U.S. Forest Service National Technology and Development Program (NTDP) is seeking input on the Forest Service-designed flame-resistant (FR) shirt, currently available through the National Interagency Support Cache system and FedMall.

NTDP is conducting a product review to improve future FR shirt designs. As part of this effort, a short survey is now open for federal employees who have worn any of three recent FR shirt models. Feedback will guide design improvements to better meet the needs of wildland firefighters.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act, responses are limited to federal employees. The survey is open through September 12, 2025. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003

NEW! S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended) Now Available

Date: June 10, 2025
If you have questions, please visit our FAQ page. 
If your question is not answered there, you can 
submit your question using our Contact Us form. 
 

The S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended), equips new wildland firefighters with essential skills through a mix of online learning and hands-on training. The course features a required online component and an instructor-led exercise, reinforcing online concepts with practical performance-based training.

The course builds competencies in wildland fire operations, safety, and equipment use, applicable across various operational environments. Both the online component and instructor-led field exercise must be completed to receive a certificate of completion. Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended).

References:

S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

EMC Memo 25-001: Interim Rapid Extraction Module (REMS) Training and Qualification Requirements

Date: June 3, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Emergency Medical Committee

The Emergency Medical Committee has issued interim guidance for Rapid Extraction Module Support (REMS) teams. Until further notice, Type I and II REMS teams must designate a team leader qualified at Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss (FFT1) or higher. This temporary change replaces the Single Resource Boss (SRB) requirement, which is currently not feasible due to administrative barriers.

This memorandum does not include any other changes to the NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552. This interim change takes effect immediately and will remain in place until further notice.

References:

EMC Memo 25-001: Interim Rapid Extraction Module (REMS) Training and Qualification Requirements

NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552

Equipment Bulletin 25-002: Chaps, Chain Saw, M-2020, Nonconformities Affecting Use, Appearance, and Serviceability

Date: June 2, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee issued Equipment Bulletin: 25-002 to address a manufacturing nonconformity affecting Forest Service specification, 6170-4K Chain Saw Chaps. The issue applies to chaps manufactured in 2024 and 2025 and distributed through FedMall. These chaps may have incorrectly bound edges that expose inner protective layers.

Independent purchasers should inspect all chain saw chaps received from FedMall beginning in 2024, prior to use. Review the full Equipment Bulletin: 25-002 for inspection criteria and recommended actions.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-002