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Food Unit Leader

Position Description

Duties

  • Reviews food unit layout with contractor to determine needs and/or changes.
  • Develops menu content with contractor.
  • Reviews and approve suggested menus to determine if menu content, variety, and serving sizes meet or exceed contract specifications.
  • Monitors food service to determine if improvements are needed in food handling, cooking, food preparation and storage.
  • Obtains feedback from incident personnel on adequacy of food serviced.
  • Conducts periodic inspections to ensure quality control standards of all meals and equipment are met.
  • Coordinates with contractor on meal count, number of meals ordered, meal scheduling and food handling requirements.
  • Ensures that special meal requirements are recognized and met.
  • Reviews and approves invoices and evaluations with contractor and disburse copies to appropriate personnel.
  • Ensures all inappropriate actions involving contractor personnel are reported to the contracting officer or COTR using appropriate procedures.
  • Ensures requested time frames are met.
  • Obtains a briefing from supervisor, Logistics Section Chief.
  • Provides for the safety and welfare of assigned personnel to the incident.
  • Establishes and maintains positive internal and external interpersonal working relationships.
  • Maintains unit log.
  • Participates at logistics planning meetings.
  • Determines requirements for type of food service and personnel needs for unit and place order.
  • Organizes and provides supervision for unit.
  • Establishes support system with other units.
  • Serves as contract administrator for national interagency mobile food service contract if used.
  • Ensures all health and safety requirements are met.
  • Maintains records of meals ordered and served.
  • Demobilizes mobile food unit in accordance with national policy.
  • Completes any required performance evaluations of kitchen and unit subordinates.
  • Conducts routine inspections.
  • May supervise camp crew.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • Good understanding of national contract requirements.
  • Understanding of nutritional needs of firefighters.
  • S-357, Food Unit Leader
  • Knowledge of safe food handling.

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