Skip to main content

6MFS

6MFS Committee

6MFS Calendar

Topics Categories

All 6MFS Topics

Aviation

Airtankers

Felling Safety

Fire Communication

Firefighter Health and First Aid

Leadership

Miscellaneous Fireline Hazards

Operational Engagement

This Day in History

Vehicles - Roads

Weather - Fire Behavior

Week of Remembrance

Search All 6MFS Topics by Keyword

2024 WOR: Communication

 Day 1  |  Day 2  |  Day 3  |  Day 4  |  Day 5  |  Day 6  |  Day 7  |  Letter to Leadership

 

Communication

Have you ever been talking with someone and had the feeling that you just aren’t understanding each other? Maybe you were trying to deliver a message and it didn’t land well, or there was no reply, and you were left to interpret body language? Or you were receiving a message and distractions were present like a noisy environment, a sense of urgency, or position rank? If that instance lingered in your mind, you experienced a breakdown in communication and the natural human desire to communicate effectively. 

The challenges of communication were numerous on the Mendocino Complex. As a part of the Facilitated Learning Analysis (FLA) following the entrapment on August 19th, interviews were conducted with numerous key personnel involved. The lessons they shared were broken into the categories of Aviation, Intercrew, Fireline, and Overhead. Each category of lessons learned contained takeaways about communication. Upon review of the airtanker drop that resulted in one firefighter fatality and multiple firefighter injuries days earlier, the notification and acknowledgement of impending aerial drops was documented as a safety issue for review. 

There’s no question that for our craft to evolve, as wildland fire professionals we must work to continually improve our communication skills, habits, and protocols. But where do we start? 

The Mendocino Entrapment FLA Team posed numerous communication questions for discussion. Think of your own experiences and consider some of these questions that came out of the fire. 

Discussion Questions:

  • When you give a message, how do you obtain confirmation that it has been understood? When you receive a message, how do you confirm that you are understanding it correctly? 
  • What is the difference between briefings given to a group of people who commonly work together and a briefing between a group of people who just met?
  • In your experience, what difficulties and benefits have you found working with other agencies? How might you put added effort into ensuring smooth communication with resources from other agencies?
  • Have you ever been given a compressed or abbreviated briefing? What essential information needs to be included in a compressed briefing? 
  • In today’s environment of large fires and minimal logistical support (especially during PL 5), what can you do to compensate for communications issues? 
     

Resources:

 

Category
Week of Remembrance

6MFS Suggestion Form


Have an idea or feedback?

Share it with the NWCG 6MFS Subcommittee
 


Follow NWCG on X and Facebook
 


 

Last Modified / Reviewed:

Print PDF

NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Emergency Medical Committee

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2025 Wildland Fire Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Awards. EMC annually recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated outstanding actions or accomplishments that are above and beyond the expectation of one’s normal mission or job duties.

Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Emergency Medical Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for RAMP

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Airtanker Base Operations Unit

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Ramp Manager (RAMP).

The Performance Support Package for this position was developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization 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, scheduled for release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Ramp Manager Position Page

National Interagency Aviation Committee

Make an Impact: Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date:  June 11, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

Note: Positions with an * will last approximately 6 months.
Positions with ** will last 12 - 18 months.

NWCG is seeking experienced wildland firefighters and support personnel to serve as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) initiative. IPTM aims to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model by updating position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the Fall 2026 positions listed below:

  • Equipment Manager (EQPM)*
  • Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT)**
  • Mixmaster (MXMS)*
  • Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC)*
  • Retardant Crewmember (RTCM)*
  • Strike Team Leader Crew (STCR)*
  • Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN)*
  • Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ)*
  • Task Force Leader (TFLD)**
  • Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF)** 

Projects begin October 2026. Sign up by July 10, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for additional details. 

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

Date:  May 28, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has issued Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters. Research from 2016 to 2025 shows that 88 cases of rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) were reported. Analysis of reports from eSafety, the Safety Management Information System (SMIS), and the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) indicates that rhabdo is common during this time of year due to Work Capacity Tests and contributing factors such as weather, hydration, nutrition, and medication or supplement use.

RMC issued this safety bulletin to raise awareness in the Wildland Fire Community, and to provide research findings and educational resources that support reducing future cases of rhabdo.

References:

NWCG Alerts

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters