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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
Listed in 310-1
Yes

NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Professional Reading Program

Date: February 18, 2025
Contact: Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program is announcing the 2025 Professional Reading list! The goal of the annual reading list is to promote the reading and discussion of the books throughout the year.

The five books chosen for this year are: Surf When You Can by Brett Crozier, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, Elephant Company by Vicki Constantine Croke, Simply Managing by Henry Mintzberg, and Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Metcalf.

References:

Professional Reading Program

Task Group Volunteers Needed to Update the Property Loss or Damage Report, OF 289

Date: February 5, 2025
Contact: Julie Bennett, Incident Business Committee Chair

The Incident Business Committee (IBC) is requesting volunteers for a new task group to revise the 1981 version of the Property Loss or Damage Report, OF 289 and create an incident replacement job aid. The volunteers may be recruited from within or outside the Geographic Area Incident Business Committees.

References:

IBC Memorandum 25-02

IBC Correspondence

2025 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

Date: February 4, 2025
Contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

The NWCG Incident and Position Standards Committee has updated the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1. 

These updates address changes to incident position names and requirements for qualification, training, and experience. Updates related to the implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) are also included.  

The NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308 has also been updated to reflect the recent changes.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308

NWCG Memo: 2025-01 January 2025 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Positions Qualifications, PMS 310-1

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