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Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee

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Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee (WFISC) provides national leadership in wildland fire investigation. This includes developing and promulgating wildland fire investigation standards, qualifications, training, certification, and practices that are sufficient to support fire prevention as well as criminal, civil, and administrative actions.

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Primary Objectives

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  • Establish and maintain a nationally recognized and accepted wildland fire investigation certification program for wildland fire investigators that is both reasonably attainable and meaningful.
  • Promote practices that ensure wildland fire investigations are conducted with a systematic and science based methodology. 
  • Develop and maintain training courses, handbooks and guides.
  • Develop and maintain an inventory of wildland fire investigation resources and tools.
  • Coordinate with pertinent stakeholders to provide information, assistance, and subject matter expertise in wildland fire investigation.

Investigation Courses

Our primary focus is maintaining the following NWCG Wildland Fire Investigation courses

  • FI-110, Wildland Fire Observations and Origin Scene Protection for First Responders
  • FI-210, Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination - required for the PMS310-1 Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF) position.
  • FI-310, Wildland Fire Investigation: Case Development - required training for the PMS 310-1 Wildland fire Investigation Team Member (INTM) position.
  • X-900, Investigating Power Line Caused Wildfires
  • X-902, Investigating Railroad Caused Wildfires

Chair: Shawn Zimmermaker

NWCG Coordinator: Katy O'Hara

Parent Committee: Communication Education and Prevention Committee

Meeting Schedule: TBD

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

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