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Strategic Operations Map

Product Description

The Strategic Operations Map effectively displays an Incident Management Team’s (IMT) long-term strategy in managing an incident, and the data that informs the strategy. It consists of one or more large-format maps with an accurate, current, and detailed record of incident information across the entire planning area.

Target Audience

Incident Commander, all IMT staff, Agency Representatives, Resource Advisors, all Operations and Line personnel, Aerial resources, Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group (GEOMAC), National Multi-Agency Coordination Group (NMAC).

Guidelines

  • Standard Incident Command System (ICS) symbology discernible from the back of a meeting area. 
  • Printed in color to enable clear depiction of incident and map features.
  • Size varies but usually “D” (22” x 34”) size or larger.
  • Scale varies based on planning area and map size.
  • May be one map for the entire incident or multiple maps.
  • Georeferenced.

Standard Elements

All map products produced should include the STANDL-SGD cartographic elements.

Data

Disclaimer: NWCG Data Standards do not currently exist for all data recommended for inclusion on a Strategic Operations Map. Not all datasets listed may be needed for every incident.

Data Source Recommendations
Incident perimeter and Contained/Uncontained lines National Incident Feature Service Use standard dataset and symbology.
ICS line such as Planned and Completed Lines, Repair Line National Incident Feature Service Use standard dataset and symbology.
ICS point features such as Camp, Dip Site, Drop Point, Helispot, Lookout, Mobile Retardant Base, Mobile Weather Unit, Repeater, Restricted Water Source, Safety Hazards, Staging Area, Structure Wrap, Water Source, Values at Risk National Incident Feature Service Use standard dataset and symbology.
Division and branch breaks and labels National Incident Feature Service Use standard dataset and symbology.

Values at Risk

 No single source dataset currently exists. WFDSS Management Requirement Shapes and Other Shapes may be downloaded from WFDSS Classic or acquired direct from jurisdictional agency(s). Values may be represented in other agency, local, state, and national datasets. Point data may be added to National Incident Feature Service / Event Point layer. Use existing datasets authoritative to jurisdictional agency(s) where possible. Symbolize based on cartographic need of the map.
Management Action Points
NWCG definition is specific to Prescribed Fire		 WFDSS, GISS adds to National Incident Feature Service Include associated language (Condition, Action, Resources) from WFDSS on map layout.
Strategic Lines
Proposed, planned, under construction and/or completed line that outline the overall strategy for achieving an incident’s defined goals. The tactical steps for implementation and/or exact locations of line placement may or may not fully be identified.		 National Incident Feature Service Use the Strategic Line Type attribute field of the Event Line layer to indicate if the line is considered one of the following:
  • Primary Strategic Line – the current plan being implemented to meet incident objectives.
  • Secondary Strategic Line – an alternate or contingency line that, based on current conditions, will be implemented or is already being constructed.
  • Proposed Strategic Line – an alternate or contingency line that has been identified but is not currently being implemented. This may be because it still needs to be scouted or current conditions on the incident do not require the construction of this line.
  • Once a selection is made on the Strategic Line Type attribute field, the Strategic Operations service will display a halo under the Event Line with the color scheme above.
Evacuation Planning Areas Local Jurisdictional Agency(s) Use existing datasets authoritative to jurisdictional agency(s) where possible. If GISS is tasked with creating data on-incident, symbolize based on the local jurisdiction's direction.
Fire History WFIGS Use standard dataset. Supplement with existing datasets authoritative to jurisdictional agency(s) where there are data gaps. Symbolize based on cartographic need of the map.
Fuels Treatment History WFMRDA Use standard dataset. Supplement with existing datasets authoritative to jurisdictional agency(s) where there are data gaps. Symbolize based on cartographic need of the map.

Planning Area
See WFDSS glossary for definition

 WFDSS Use WFDSS Classic shapefile output. Symbolize based on WFDSS palette (R: 194, G: 23, B: 199).

Short-Term Fire Behavior (STFB) model including Minimum Travel Time (MTT) lines
Near-Term Fire Behavior (NTFB) model
Fire Spread Probability (FSPro) model
See WFDSS glossary for definitions

 WFDSS; generated by analysts. Use WFDSS Classic shapefile outputs. Symbolize based on WFDSS palettes.

Limited Action Line
Portion of the fire perimeter that is inactive and/or poses little to no threat of impacts to identified values, therefore limited to no action is being proposed or implemented.

 Determined by Operations. Store data in the Limited Action Line feature class in the Other Incident Data geodatabase in the GeoOps incident directory.
  • Copy the portion of the Perimeter Line to the Limited Action Line feature class
  • Repair path of the Limited Action Line lyrx to the Limited Action Line feature class
  • The Limited Action Line symbol will display offset from the perimeter automatically

Special Interest Management Areas
Areas in which there are management or use restrictions in place.

 No single source dataset currently exists. Use existing datasets authoritative to jurisdictional agency(s) where possible. For example, EDW/EDW_SpecialInterestManagementArea_01 (MapServer) (usda.gov).

Administrative boundaries, political boundaries (city (subdivisions)-county, state, national)

 Local Jurisdictional Agency(s), PADUS, CENSUS  

Ownership–land status

 WFMRDA Use standard dataset and symbology.

Appropriate base map, such as topography or orthoimagery

 Varies  

Other SITL-requested data

 Varies  

Examples

These are examples from actual incidents and may include elements that differ from this guide. 

  1. 2023 Black Feather
  2. 2023 Smith River Complex South
  3. 2023 Colt
  4. 2023 River Road East

Modified / Reviewed:

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NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters

Date: January 15, 2025
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters. Non-specification fire shelters claiming to meet Forest Service (FS) fire shelter specification 5100-606 were first found in February of 2023. As of September 2024, non-specification shelters are again being advertised and sold on the open market.

This Safety Warning outlines details and recommended procedures to purchase FS specification shelters made with materials and components that meet performance criteria and toxicity testing requirements outlined in FS Specification 5100-606. 

For additional information on identifying non-specification shelters, please view ETC Safety Warning 23-01.

References:

ETC Safety Warning 25-001: Non-specification fire shelters

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee

ETC Safety Warning 23-01

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Awards

Date: January 14, 2025
Contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee has awarded the 2023 Paul Gleason “Lead By Example” awards to individuals in the categories of Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Sam Bowen, Superintendent of the Mark Twain Veteran Crew with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Greg Titus, Zone Fire Management Officer for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Renae Crippen, Manager of the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Eric Carlson, Instructor with OMNA International.

References:

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Interview with Paul Gleason

Updated NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Water Scooper Operations Unit

The 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:

NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Updated NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee

The Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee has updated the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505. PMS 505 establishes standards for aerial supervision operations for national interagency wildland fire operations. 

References:

NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505