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Fire Behavior Subcommittee

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Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Fire Behavior Subcommittee (FBSC) provides national leadership in fire behavior assessment and prediction in support of effective fire management decision-making.

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Primary Objectives

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  • Establish and maintain standards for fire behavior assessment and prediction.
  • Provide subject matter expertise for fire behavior modeling and related decision support applications.
  • Provide technology transfer around new models, modeling practices or research.
  • Establish and regularly update wildland fire incident position standards related to FBAN and LTAN. This includes incident position descriptions and position requirements for training, experience, physical fitness, and position currency.

Overview

Overview of Fire Behavior Subcommittee - including membership, projects, and collaboration efforts (pptx)

Guidance

NWCG Firefighter Math Course

Orientation

This video provides an overview of several orientation methods and exactly how we project flat maps from a round Earth. Watch this video before diving in to the Latitude and Longitude, Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Grid, or the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) videos.

Time:04:36

Latitude and Longitude

This video shows how we use latitude and longitude to map the Earth using degrees. We cover several topics, including the difference between latitude and longitude, converting from degrees minutes seconds to degrees decimal minutes to decimal degrees, and back, and reading a map using latitude and longitude.

Time:05:16

Public Lands Survey System

This video gives a brief history of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), also known as Township Range Section. It shows how the sections are mapped in many areas of the United States using initial points, baselines, and meridians. We cover how to find your location on a map using the township, range, and section, as well as some of the pros and cons of this mapping system.

Time:06:15

 

Chair: Christopher Moore, Dan Jimenez

NWCG Coordinator: Dave Schultz

Parent Committee: Fire Environment Committee

Meeting Schedule: TBD

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

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

New Job Aids Available: Packing Lists for Wildland Fire Fireline Personnel and Support Staff, J-101 and J-102

Date: December 3, 2024
Contact: NWCG TRAINING

Two new job aids are now available: Packing List for Wildland Fire Fireline Personnel, J-101 and Packing List for Wildland Fire Support Personnel, J-102, should serve as a baseline for items needed on a wildland fire assignment. These lists will help personnel prepare for a 14 to 21-day assignment on the fireline or in a support role.

References:

Job Aid Catalog

NWCG Packing List for Wildland Fire Fireline Personnel, J-101

NWCG Packing List for Wildland Fire Support Staff, J-102

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