Notices

Disclaimer

This website and the information it contains are provided as a public service by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). While every effort is made to provide accurate and complete information, the NWCG makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this website and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this website. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to the contents of this website or its links to other Internet resources.

Some webpages may contain links to information created and maintained by other non-federal public and/or private organizations. These organizations may have different policies from those of NWCG. Please note that NWCG does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of these outside materials.

Reference on this site to any specific commercial product, process, or service, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is solely for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the NWCG or its member agencies of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.

Accessibility

NWCG is committed to meeting the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C 794d), as amended. Section 508 is a federal law that requires agencies to provide individuals with equal access to electronic information and data comparable to those who do not have disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. 

From the Section 508 website on Coverage of Electronic Content (508 Standards)

Like the original 508 Standards, the updated 508 Standards apply to a federal agency’s full range of public-facing content, including websites, documents and media, blog posts, and social media sites. The final rule also specifically lists the types of non-public-facing content that must comply. This includes electronic content used by a federal agency for official business to communicate: emergency notifications, initial or final decisions adjudicating administrative claims or proceedings, internal or external program or policy announcements, notices of benefits, program eligibility, employment opportunities or personnel actions, formal acknowledgments or receipts, questionnaires or surveys, templates or forms, educational or training materials, and web-based intranets.

If you require assistance or wish to report an issue related to the accessibility of any content on this website, please contact us or your NWCG representative. Please include the web address or URL and the specific problem encountered.

Guides and Related Information:

• NWCG Guidelines for Creating Accessible Electronic Documents
• Adobe Document: Creating accessible PDF documents with Adobe® InDesign® CS6
• 508 Webinars:
  • Part 1; Text only
  • Part 2; Text only
  • Part 3; Text only

Copyrights

Publications and training materials produced by NWCG are in the public domain. Use of public domain information, including copying, is permitted. Use of NWCG information within another document is permitted if NWCG information is accurately credited to NWCG.

Before you use any U.S. government work, check to make sure it does not fall under one of these exceptions:

• Other people may have rights in the work itself or in how the work is used, such as publicity or privacy rights. Privacy and publicity rights protect the interests of the person or people who may be the subject of the work. Learn more about copyright, privacy, and publicity rights from USA.gov.
• You cannot use government trademarks or government agencies' logos without permission. For example, you cannot use an agency logo or trademark on your social media page.
• You cannot use a government work in a way that implies endorsement by a government agency, official, or employee. For example, you can't use a photo of a government official wearing your product in an ad.

Additionally, NWCG complies with existing laws and directives that address the digital, copyrights, trademark, and patent rights of the public.

• Digital Millennium Copyright Act
• Copyright Law
• U.S. Trademark Law
• U.S. Patent Law, U.S. Code 35, Chapter 26

All instructional materials developed on behalf of NWCG must be accompanied by an NWCG Copyright Compliance Letter indicating if third-party materials were utilized and documenting appropriate permissions.

• Copyright Compliance Letter

NWCG Logo

The NWCG logo may not be used except on NWCG authorized information. "National Wildfire Coordinating Group," "NWCG," and the NWCG logo are trademarks of NWCG. The logo may be used with permission in official capacities. Please contact NWCG if you have an official request for the logo use.

Linking Policy

NWCG follows the linking policies implemented by our member organizations.  

• Reference the DOI policy
• Reference the USDA policy

Records Management

NWCG guidance for the management of documents, data, and the protection of government records. Individuals handling NWCG or incident records are responsible for managing them responsibly and according to the law and regulation. Information is provided for the following:

1. Guidance for the creation, maintenance, and disposition of NWCG records, and
2. Agency policy and guidance to incident management teams for the creation, maintenance, and disposition of incident records.

• NWCG Records Flow Chart
• NWCG Disposition of Authority
• Incident Records

Social Media Policy

The overarching and definitive guidance document for all NWCG social media is the DOI Digital Media Guide. Any activities prohibited within the DOI policy are inherently prohibited by NWCG. The DOI Social Media Policy also contains an extensive explanation of the government’s use of social media and applicable laws that must be followed. Additional guidance can be found in the DOI Social Media Policy.

Comments by the Public

The ability to accept comments and respond to them appropriately is vital to a successful NWCG social media site. Users and visitors to NWCG social media sites will be notified that the intended purpose of the site is to serve as a mechanism for communication between NWCG and the public and that certain restrictions will be placed on users’ comments and feedback.

A disclaimer on each social media site will describe the process for submitting official comments to NWCG. It will emphasize that comments submitted on social media sites are informal and unofficial and will inform the public on the process for submitting official comments.

Citizen Conduct

Each social media site will have content or a link to reference expected “Citizen Conduct.” This notification will indicate that comments or responses made by the public containing any of the following forms of content will not be tolerated and will be removed:

• Comments in support of or opposition to political campaigns or ballot measures;
• Profane language or content;
• Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation;
• Sexual content or links to sexual content;
• Solicitations of commerce;
• Conduct or encouragement of illegal activity;
• Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems; or
• Content that violates a legal ownership interest of any other party.

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) codified in 44 USC Chapter 35 requires that all Federal Agencies receive approval from the Officer of Management & Budget (OMB) prior to collecting information from the public.

OMB Regulations on Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the Public – 5 CFR 1320 – The section of the Code of Federal Regulations describes how Federal Agencies will implement the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and also provide exceptions to the PRA.

Form Approval Process

NWCG works with Agency personnel to ensure that forms, surveys, and other information collections follow these procedures.