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Public Information Officer Type 2

Position Description

Duties

  • Acquires regional/national media directories, and NIFC National IOF directory.
  • Ensures the safety and welfare of assigned personnel during the entire period of supervision.
  • Maintains positive interpersonal relationships. Employs good listening/responding skills with co-workers, incident personnel, media, and public.
  • Employs conflict resolution skills to resolve problems within incident staff or with outside interests.
  • Contacts agency Public Affairs Officer and/or established information center(s) by telephone to determine the following: Level of public/media interest in incident; amount of media on scene.
  • Establish contact with incident management team to obtain initial information and review available documentation.
  • Develops policy with Incident Commander (IC), incident management team members, Agency Administrator, Agency Public Affairs Officer, and/or incident investigators regarding information gathering and dissemination.
  • Develops and receives IC’s approval of a comprehensive, proactive communications strategy that reflects both immediate and long term goals.
  • Submits orders to meet immediate and long term needs for center and field operations.
  • Prepares/approves a fact sheet/news release to address basic incident facts (address who, what, when, where and whey). Updates on regular basis.
  • Initiates contact with and respond to inquiries from media.
  • Participates in briefings, meetings, and special sessions as a member of the incident management team.
  • Conducts information staff briefings on a regular basis.
  • Briefs information personnel on incident specific hazards and safety procedures.
  • Establishes/supervises information center.
  • Establishes/supervises field information function.
  • In cooperation with jurisdictional agency, establishes/supervises community relations function.
  • Establishes/supervises procedures for distributing information to incident personnel, and cooperating and participating agencies (local, regional, national).
  • In coordination with jurisdictional agency, develops and/or approves messages for incorporation into routine incident information.
  • In consultation with IC and Agency Administrator, develops strategy for informing/involving VIPs (elected officials, others).
  • Responds to special situations within incident (e.g., fatalities).
  • Determines and follow procedures for coordinating with other information functions (MAC group, area command, NIFC, local communications centers, cooperating agencies, other incidents).
  • Completes, reviews, approves, and submits required ICS documentation and other reports requested by IC and Agency Administrator.
  • Supervises subordinate IOFs.
  • Prepares information personnel demobilization plan keyed to level of media and public interest and information needs of incident personnel.
  • Assists jurisdictional agency with preparation of a post incident information strategic plan.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (S-190)
  • Command and General Staff (S-420)
  • Satisfactory performance as an Information Officer Type 3
  • Satisfactory position performance as an Information Officer Type 2

 

Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 24-001 Stihl Chainsaw Toolless Fuel Cap Spill Prevention

Date: November 14, 2024
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 24-001 Stihl Chainsaw Toolless Fuel Cap Spill Prevention. Misaligned toolless fuel caps on Stihl chainsaws have led to recurring fuel spillage, fuel ignition, and burn injuries during wildland fire management operations.

This Safety Warning is intended to highlight the details and recommended procedures for the installation of a Stihl chainsaw toolless fuel cap, as well as how to identify and correct a misaligned, damaged, or broken fuel cap to help prevent fuel spillage.

References:

NWCG Safety Warning: 24-001 Stihl Chainsaw Toolless Fuel Cap Spill Prevention

Advertencia de equipos 24-001: Prevención de derrames de la tapa de combustible sin herramientas de la motosierra Stihl

NWCG Alerts

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR)

Date: November 13, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Equipment Time Recorder, PMS 350-51 and NWCG Position Task Book for Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR), PMS 311-51 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for EQTR, includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Equipment Time Recorder Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Equipment Time Recorder, PMS 350-51

NWCG Position Task Book for Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR), PMS 311-51

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC)

Date: November 13, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Personnel Time Recorder, PMS 350-53 and NWCG Position Task Book for Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC), PMS 311-53 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for PTRC, includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Personnel Time Recorder Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Personnel Time Recorder, PMS 350-53

NWCG Position Task Book for Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC), PMS 311-53

NWCG Risk Management Committee Releases Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires

Date: November 7, 2024
Contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has released Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires. As wildland fire respirators are available through several established vendors, wildland fire personnel need to understand regulations and limitations of respirator use in the workplace.

Safety Bulletin 24-001 outlines the following topics regarding respirator use for wildland fires:

  • Requirements for Respirator Use
  • Voluntary Respirator Use
  • Current Respirator Options
  • Unknown Risks of Respirator Use

This bulletin also provides mitigation recommendations to help reduce smoke exposure for wildland firefighting efforts.

References:

NWCG Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires

NWCG Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed Fire, PMS 420-3

VIDEO: Protecting Wildfire Personnel from Smoke - How Incident Management Teams Address Smokes Risks

VIDEO: Smoke, Knowing the Risks