All NWCG Announcements

Date: June 29, 2023
Contact: 6MFS Subcommittee

As we approach the Week of Remembrance (June 30 - July 6), we all take a moment to reflect on the wildland fire incidents that took the lives of many of our brothers and sisters. Today, the 6 Minutes For Safety Subcommittee issued a letter to leadership to honor the fallen and to express the importance of lessons learned, checking in with your wildland fire families, and prioritizing the people who serve in the important mission of fighting wildland fire.

References:

6MFS Week of Remembrance

Date: June 23, 2023
Contact: Aitor Bidaburu and Sarah Lee

The purpose of this memorandum is to summarize the NWCG decisions related to the implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) to date and to communicate the pathways for Type 3 Command & General Staff (C&G), Unit Leaders, and Division Supervisors (DIVS) to Complex C&G positions.

This memo does not include any new decisions and is only a summary of NWCG decisions to this point.

References:

Memorandum 23-005

CIM Story Map

Date: June 22, 2023
Contact: Data Standards and Terminology Board (DSTB)

Hello Wildland Fire Data Community! The Data Standards and Terminology Board has received a request for a new term/data standard. A few things about our process are maturing – this includes ensuring definitions capture only the essence of the term – and nothing more. Historically our definitions have been overloaded with rules, descriptions, and examples, all in an effort to ensure the term is understood. There is a place for that information, just not in the definition. You will see that we are now including those fields, when applicable, as part of the proposed term. If you have additional content that you think will help explain a term, please add it to your feedback.

Please review, share with your subgroups, and provide feedback. The comment period will close July 21, 2023.

Thank you for your engagement in the NWCG glossary process – your participation is key to our success.

Background: Apparatus Number is a field currently exchanged in IRWIN and was originally grandfathered in. The time has come to update the term and standard, but we need your help!

Proposed Data Value Rules:  String, max 75 characters
Proposed Data Element: Equipment Identifier
Proposed Data Element Description: The unique alphanumeric values assigned to an apparatus.
Supersedes: Apparatus Number - the external alphanumeric value painted on the side of the equipment.

References:

Glossary Request Feedback

Resource Ordering Systems Resource Item Data Entry Standards

Date: June 9, 2023
Contact: Data Standards and Terminology Board (DSTB)

The Data Standards and Terminology Board is requesting feedback on a glossary term. In this case, the proposal is for the addition of Business Rules. Historically we overloaded our definitions with definitions, descriptions, rules etc. We are now trying to separate the parts to make them distinct parts of a glossary term.

Please review, share with your subgroups, and provide feedback as appropriate. The comment period will close July 7, 2023.

Existing Term: Incident Complex
Incident Complex Proposed Business Rules –

1. Child records must meet large fire criteria specific to incident size to be included in an incident relationship within an incident complex. Child records must be at least 100 acres in timber or 300 acres in grass brush to be added to an Incident Complex.
2. Wildfire (WF) records that are Human Caused shall not be added to an Incident Complex.
3. Child records may only be in one Incident Complex at a time

References:

Glossary Request Feedback

Date: May 31, 2023
Contact: Incident Business Committee (IBC)

The NWCG Incident Business Committee (IBC) realized the file structure for COST and COMP unit folders needed additional refinement to the current standards. The same task group as previous was convened to address these types of files. The buying team group revised electronic document standards for buying team files now being housed on FireNet. The documents, have been approved by the IBC and are provided as national standards for incident finance electronic files and folders.

References:

Memo 23-08

Finance Working Files and Folder Matrix for FireNet

Finance Electronic Files Management Guidance

Structure for Finance Working Files Provided in FireNet

Buying Team Electronic Document Standard Operating Procedures

Structure for Final Finance eDoc Box Provided in FireNet

Date: May 24, 2023
Contact: Emergency Medical Committee (EMC)

This week, NWCG celebrates National Emergency Medical Services Week.  
The Emergency Medical Committee is proud to be affiliated with all the agencies and organizations who collaborate to provide and support EMS across our national wildfire response systems.  

Thank you to all the EMS individuals for the important work and mission you do every day!

Learn about the NWCG Emergency Medical Committee

References:

• EMC Letter

Date: May 22, 2023
Contact: Interagency Water Scooper Subcommittee (IWSS)

The 2023 update of 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: 

• PMS 518

Date: May 25, 2023
Contact: Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee (IHOPS)

The 2023 revision of the NWCG Standards for Helicopter Operations (NSHO), PMS 510, establishes the standards by which helicopter operations are to be conducted under the exclusive direction and operational control of federal, state, and local agencies in the accomplishment of interagency fire suppression and natural resource aviation management.

References:

• PMS 510

Date: May 25, 2023
Contact: Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Committee (WUIMC)

The NWCG Standards for Mitigation in the Wildland Urban Interface, PMS 052, establishes the standards for understanding and implementation of concepts, issues, and best practices to increase community fire adaptation. This publication is designed to: support common understanding, encourage use of consistent and proven local risk reduction efforts, increase awareness and implementation of mitigation best practices, techniques, tactics, and strategies, and improve community and structure survivability as the result of pre-wildfire mitigation actions.

References:

• PMS 052

Date: May 17, 2023
Contact: Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

Today, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) announced the award of a contract as part of an ongoing effort to improve wildland fire management through Incident Performance and Training Modernization. The contract will assist NWCG with building incident position standards, developing an integrated performance-based training system, and aid in modernizing training materials and operational tools to meet NWCG’s mission. NWCG will lead this multi-year effort and will generally start with entry level positions.

References:

• IPTM News Release