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Division/Group Supervisor

Position Description

Duties

  • Obtains briefing from Branch Director, Operations Section Chief or Incident Commander.
  • Identifies resources assigned to division/group.
  • Identifies kind, type and number of resources required to achieve control objectives.
  • Reviews division/group assignments and consider span of control.
  • Identifies and evaluate improved properties and structures requiring protection.
  • Briefs subordinates and assigns tasks.
  • Implements Incident Action Plan for division/group.
  • Obtains briefing from person being relieved.
  • Supervises division/group resources.
  • Determines need for assistance on assigned work task.
  • Coordinates activities with adjacent division/groups and air operations.
  • Submits situation and resources status information to Brand Director or Operations Section Chief.
  • Reports special occurrences or events (accidents, structure/improved property loss or damage, sickness, etc.) to immediate supervisor.
  • Resolves logistics problems with the division/group.
  • Participates in the development of the Incident Action Plan.
  • Responds to information requests from other organizational elements.
  • Updates replacement on progress.
  • Evaluates performance of subordinates.
  • Ensures all personnel and equipment time records ae complete and submitted in a timely manner.
  • Considers demobilization needs throughout the incident.
  • Confirm demobilization instructions with Branch Director or Operations Section Chief and brief subordinates.
  • Attend agency debriefings depending on complexity and/or as requested.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • S-339, Division/Group Supervisor
  • S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations
  • Qualified as a Task Force Leader or ICT3 or ICT4 and any two Strike Team Leader positions (one must be STCR or STEN)
    AND
  • Successful position performance as a Division/Group Supervisor on a wildland incident

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters

Date: January 15, 2025
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters. Non-specification fire shelters claiming to meet Forest Service (FS) fire shelter specification 5100-606 were first found in February of 2023. As of September 2024, non-specification shelters are again being advertised and sold on the open market.

This Safety Warning outlines details and recommended procedures to purchase FS specification shelters made with materials and components that meet performance criteria and toxicity testing requirements outlined in FS Specification 5100-606. 

For additional information on identifying non-specification shelters, please view ETC Safety Warning 23-01.

References:

ETC Safety Warning 25-001: Non-specification fire shelters

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee

ETC Safety Warning 23-01

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Awards

Date: January 14, 2025
Contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee has awarded the 2023 Paul Gleason “Lead By Example” awards to individuals in the categories of Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Sam Bowen, Superintendent of the Mark Twain Veteran Crew with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Greg Titus, Zone Fire Management Officer for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Renae Crippen, Manager of the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Eric Carlson, Instructor with OMNA International.

References:

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Interview with Paul Gleason

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