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Fire Behavior Analyst

Position Description

Duties

  • Obtains briefing from the Situation Unit Leader, Planning Section Chief, or local knowledgeable source.
  • Obtains incident maps, transportation, radio communications, and weather information.
  • Organizes and supervises subordinates and the work area.
  • Gathers information and prepares fire behavior predictions.
  • Interprets fire behavior predictions and explains outputs to facilitate planning.
  • Prepares and presents fire behavior forecast at planning and operational briefings.
  • Monitors weather and fire behavior.
  • Documents and prepares Fire Behavior Summaries.
  • Maintains ICS Form 214, unit Log.
  • Confirms demobilization instructions with supervisor.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • Successful completion of S-490, Advanced Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations
  • Successful completion of S-590, Advanced Fire Behavior Interpretations
  • Qualified DIVS

Supervisory Controls

The supervisor makes assignments by defining objectives, priorities, and deadlines.

The incumbent independently plans the manner in which assignments are to be carried out, and handles problems and deviations in accordance with policies and accepted practices.

Completed work is usually evaluated for appropriateness, technical soundness and conformity to policy and requirements.  Methods used by the incumbent are not usually reviewed in detail.

Guidelines

Guidelines are available, but may be limited and have gaps in specificity.

The incumbent uses judgment in determining appropriate actions to take by interpreting and adapting existing guidelines (e.g., agency policies, regulations, precedents, and work directions).

Complexity

The work includes various duties involving different processes and methods.

Decisions as to what needs to be done depend upon analysis of the subject or phase, and choosing the course of action from many alternatives.  The work involves conditions and elements that must be identified and analyzed to discern interrelationships.

Scope and Effect

The work involves treating a wide variety of conventional problems, questions, or situations in conformance with established criteria.

The work product often affects the success of incident operations.

Personal Contacts

Contacts are primarily with incident personnel and other agency incumbents and managers.

Purpose Of Contacts

The purpose of contacts is to obtain, clarify, or advise on work efforts and to resolve operating problems.

Physical Demands

The work may involve some physical exertion; e.g., when working in undeveloped sites.

Work Environment

The work involves some moderate risk.

 

 

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