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RT-130 (WFSTAR)

WFSTAR Overview

WFSTAR Catalog

Course Delivery Information

Core Components

2025 Fire Year in Review

2026 Core Components Module Package

Target Audience

FAQ

Historical Modules (Archived)

 

RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)

RT-130 Decorative banner. Group of wildland firefighters hiking down a valley to a fire. Black topo map and WFSTAR logo on left.

WFSTAR 2026 Core Components Module Package

Local Topics

  • Fire Year in Review 2025
    • Revisit significant events and statistics from the 2025 fire season. Identify lessons learned to prepare for the future. Explore available intelligence sources to independently improve big-picture situational awareness.
    • Hear from Brian Fennessy, Chief of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service; Sarah Fisher, Deputy Chief of U.S. Forest Service Fire and Aviation; Scott Mayer from the National Interagency Coordination Center; Greg Smith, Fire Director for the National Association of State Foresters; Travis Touchette, Director of the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center; meteorologist Jim Wallmann; and Brandon Hankla from 6 Minutes for Safety.

Fire and Aviation Operational Safety

  • Module (Patient Assessment)
    • Firefighters learn how to use standardized checklists from the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, during emergency responses. These tools improve communication and guide responders through medical procedures. Firefighters with minimal medical experience can utilize the Patient Assessment and Medical Incident Response (MIR) checklists in the IRPG.
  • Module (Specific Treatments)
    • This module shows firefighters how to use the Specific Treatments page from the Emergency Medical Care section of the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, to treat common injuries that occur during wildland fire operations. This module focuses on simple, effective treatments that can help firefighters stabilize patients and support successful outcomes.
  • Module (Deer Creek Fire Pyro-Vortex)
    • This module discusses the warning signs and hazards of a pyro-vortex by examining a well-documented pyro-vortex that occurred on the Deer Creek fire in Utah on July 12, 2025. This pyro-vortex was large enough and caused enough damage for the National Weather Service to classify the incident as an EF2 tornado.

Incident Reviews and Lessons Learned

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  • Module (Ransom Road Fire Immersive Case Study)
    • This module provides learners with an enhanced understanding of the Ransom Road Fire that occurred on June 8, 1981. This Storymap is a supplement to the Ransom Road Fire video that was released Fall 2025.

Fire Shelter and Entrapment Avoidance

  • Next Generation Fire Shelter Video (Updated 2026) 

    The Next Generation Fire Shelter video is also available as a download (Size 6.86 GB); with the .srt file for closed captioning (you may need to right click and Save As). For information on how to add closed captioning to a video, see this how to page.

  • PMS 411 Web Portal

Resources

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NWCG Latest Announcements

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species – Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

Date:  July 30, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics and Equipment Management Committee (LMC) issued Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels, reminding the wildland fire community that aquatic mussels continue to be a problem. Mussels rapidly colonize hard and soft surfaces, including aquatic plants and fire equipment, clogging pipes, fouling motors, disrupting water systems, and impacting native species.

To help prevent their spread, fire personnel must follow the decontamination procedures outlined in the NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444. Additionally, report any sightings immediately to your Lead Resource Advisor and include clear, close-up photos (with a pen or your hand for size reference) and location details.”

Read the complete LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001, to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Task Book Update

Date:  July 24, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG Operations Management Committee (OMC) has issued an update to the NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91. To ensure clarity for both trainees and evaluators, the updated FAL2 Position Task Book (PTB) explicitly states who is authorized to sign off on your tasks:

“Evaluators must be qualified as a FAL2, or an Advanced Faller (FAL1).”

If you are currently working out of a previously published version of the FAL2 PTB, you do not need to restart. However, OMC highly encourages you to take the following step to prevent any confusion in the field:

  • Print and replace the updated evaluator information page (page 2) in your current physical PTB.

References:

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

RMC Memo 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementing Updates to Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Qualifications

NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91

Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups

Date:  July 10, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics/Equipment Management Committee (LMC) has released Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups. This advisory highlights multiple U.S. Forest Service regions reporting front driveline joint failure incidents.

This advisory recommends firefighters and fire managers to: 

  • Follow all Ram-issued inspection, maintenance, and service guidance for front driveline joints. 
  • Consider installing a driveline loop. 
  • Coordinate with fleet managers and service providers to determine the most appropriate driveline loop kit for each pickup.

For further details, please refer to the complete advisory.

References:

Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups

Technical Service Bulletin: 03-002-21

NEW! NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900

Date:  July 9, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG Staff

NWCG is excited to announce the publication of the NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900.

The new publication establishes general, consistent, and uniform standards for conducting business with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

References:

NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900