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Expanded Dispatch Coordinator

Position Description

Duties

  • Provides leadership and coordination in developing and implementing the expanded dispatch operation. Plans work objectives on a daily or project basis and makes adjustments to meet priorities. Adjusts shift lengths, staffing levels and work assignments based on changes to workload.
  • Manages incident and administrative intelligence (eg. Fuels, weather, resource status, and reporting) to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of expanded dispatch operations.
  • Coordinates and ensures that communication channels (telephones, email, radios and frequencies) with the incident and Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) are available, operable and afford a safe environment for incident personnel.
  • Provides technical advice and staff support to Multi-Agency Coordination Group (MAC), Incident Management Team (IMT), and host agency as requested.
  • Interacts successfully with Incident Management Teams (IMTs), Agency Administrators, Incident Business Advisors, Agency Financial/Administrative Officers, Agency Dispatch Managers, buying teams and contractors.
  • Provides supervision for the Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher (EDSP).
  • Is a primary contact and has key responsibilities within various emergency plans (evacuation, aviation accidents, sever injuries, and fatalities, etc.).
  • Appropriately describes/interprets contracts, agreements, MOUs, and plans.
  • Conducts operations with policy/legal constraints.
  • Monitors performance of incident support organization and dispatch/coordination systems (timeframes on orders, adherence to dispatch principles, cost effective actions).
  • Manages external impacts (political/social/economic/sensitive issues, technologies implemented).
  • Defines intelligence requirements (interface with public affairs, briefings, development and display).
  • Advises agency and/or MAC (recognize and provide alternatives, provides data for priority setting, implement management direction, gathers and analyze data).
  • Coordinates safe, effective and orderly demobilization of resources.
  • Participates in and provides information for briefings and incident reviews.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • Satisfactory performance as an EDSP, and
  • Satisfactory position performance as a CORD.
Last Modified/Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1 and NWCG Training Course Completion Certificate, PMS 921-1

Date: July 17, 2024
Contact: Training Delivery Committee 

The Training Delivery Committee (TDC) has updated the NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1 to reflect changes in the standards for course management and delivery. These changes have been reviewed and approved by the members of TDC over the past year. Significant updates include additional delivery methods, updated definitions, and instructions for the use of digital signatures on training certificates. The NWCG Training Course Completion Certificate, PMS 921-1 has been updated to lock after an electronic signature has been applied.

References:

NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1

NWCG Training Course Completion Certificate, PMS 921-1

IBC Memo 24-01: OF 297 Signature Order and 2024 Fire Season Use IBC Memo 24-02: Summary of Changes for SIIBM, PMS 902

Date: July 15, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee 

The NWCG Incident Business Committee (IBC) has recently released two memorandums. The first provides direction on the use of the Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297 for the 2024 fire season. Due to delays in hard copy printing, both the 2024 revision and the older version of the Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297 are acceptable for use during the 2024 fire season.

The second memorandum documents the updates of the newly revised NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management (SIIBM), PMS 902. The summary of changes attached to the memo covers the major updates and process changes from the 2022 version.

References:

IBC Memorandum 24-01: OF 297 Signature Order and 2024 Fire Season Use

IBC Memorandum 24-02: Summary of Changes for the NWCG Standards of Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902

IBC Memorandum 24-02 Attachment: Summary of Changes

NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552

Date: July 10, 2024
Contact: Incident Medical Unit Subcommittee 

A new publication from the Incident Medical Unit Subcommittee is now available. The NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552 will be used as a guide and as an opportunity to begin to build out Rapid Extraction Module Support (REMS) modules for the remainder of Fire Year 2024. These standards will be fully implemented as the minimum standard starting in January 2025.

NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support outlines the roles, duties, qualifications, and equipment pertinent to REMS. A REMS team, strategically stationed at wildland fires, plays a pivotal role in prioritizing swift access and medical treatment to injured or ill firefighters for safe and efficient egress off the fireline. This ensures their rapid transport to definitive medical care in cases of emergency during firefighting operations, highlighting the invaluable contribution of the REMS team to firefighter safety and well-being.

References:

NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552

National Wildland Firefighter Day

Date: July 2, 2024
Contact: National Interagency Fire Center 

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) would like to recognize July 2, 2024, as National Wildland Firefighter Day (NWFFD). Established in 2022, NWFFD honors the dedication of wildland firefighters and support personnel. This day falls within the 2024 Week of Remembrance (June 30 - July 6), providing an opportunity to renew our commitment to wildland firefighter safety while remembering those who have fallen in the line of duty.

NWCG continues to provide leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners. NWCG standards and training establish common practices to contribute to safe, effective, and coordinated national interagency wildland fire operations.

References:

NWCG.gov

Week of Remembrance

National Wildland Firefighter Day