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Felling Boss

Position Description

Duties

  • Examines felling saw, tools, and supplies for completeness, serviceability, and safety. Saw is typical of the type used by industry fellers. Inspection forms are complete and all unsafe items noted.
  • Initiates corrective action needed to ready felling crew for task assignment.
  • Corrects deficiencies based on inspection of saw, tools, and supplies and analysis of need to complete task or assignment.
  • Keeps the supervisor advised of felling crew progress, problems, and potentially dangerous situations.
  • Follows coordination/ communication guidelines.
  • Coordinates felling and bucking progress with other supervisors in area.
  • Coordinates according to directions/instructions from supervisor.
  • Evaluates any felling and bucking problems relating to personnel, equipment maintenance, fire activity, and hazards.
  • Takes positive action to correct or avoid felling and bucking problems. Felling and bucking is accomplished safely, effectively, and to desired standards.
  • Keeps and records felling equipment and personnel time of each operational period.
  • Forms are complete and accurate to the satisfaction of the Equipment Time Recorder, supervisor, and agency requirements.
  • Attends operational briefing.
  • Obtains briefing from supervisor.
  • Ensures assigned resources arrives at assignment location.
  • Assesses sawyer capabilities prior to fireline assignment.
  • Adjusts felling crew organization to meet changing considerations within guideline constraints from supervisor.
  • Ensures proper use, safety, servicing and maintenance of felling equipment.
  • Confirms demobilization instructions with supervisor and briefs subordinates.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • S-230, Crew Boss
  • S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior
  • Qualified as an FFT1

NWCG Latest Announcements

WFSTAR 2025 Core Component Module Package and 2024 Fire Year in Review Now Available

Date: March 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Joe Schindel at mschindel@blm.gov
 

The 2025 Core Component Module Package for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) and the 2024 Fire Year in Review are now available on the NWCG website. The 2025 Core Component Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

References:

2025 Core Component Module Package

2024 Fire Year in Review Module

NEW! NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053

Date: March 12, 2025
Contact: Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Committee

The NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 provides mitigation practitioners at all experience levels with recommendations on the most effective and efficient ways to accomplish mitigation work in communities at risk to wildfire damage or destruction. The content in this guide was written in coordination with the NWCG Standards for Mitigation in the Wildland Urban Interface, PMS 052.

References:

NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514