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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

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