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Incident Communications Center Manger

Position Description

Duties

  • Must have an understanding and familiarity with the terminology used in fire suppression. This should include, but not be limited to familiarity with the Incident Action Plan (IAP), cache/supply items, resource definitions by kind and type, etc.
  • Maintains equipment accountability and inventories.
  • Establishes and maintains issue accountability system and issue hand-held radios.
  • Ensures that issued equipment is operational.
  • Tags non-functioning equipment upon return.
  • Orders needed equipment/supplies.
  • Clones radios.
  • Assists operations and other personnel with interpreting Communications Plan.
  • Recognizes basic communications network malfunctions (low battery on repeater, intermittent repeater transmissions, dead spots, etc.) and reports them to COML.
  • Completes lost radio reports.
  • Ensures information regarding communications restrictions or coverage limitations is disseminated to operations and ICP personnel.
  • Obtains a briefing from your supervisor, Communication Unit Leader.
  • Provides for the safety and welfare of personnel assigned to the incident.
  • Establishes and maintains positive internal and external interpersonal working relationships.
  • Establishes the incident communication center with FACL.
  • Maintains unit log.
  • Maintains files of status change slips (ICS 210) and general message forms (ICS 213).
  • Supervises incident communications center.
  • Establishes message center procedures. Receives and transmits messages internally and externally.
  • Tracks frequencies in use and determines location of repeaters.
  • Completes any required performance evaluations of subordinates.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • Understanding of radio procedures and operations.
  • Qualified as a Radio Operator.

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