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Operations Section Chief Type 2

Position Description

Duties

  • Attends briefing from the Agency Administrator or outgoing Incident Commander.
  • Identifies kind, type and number of resources required to achieve control objectives.
  • Collects information from outgoing Operations Section Chief, initial Incident Commander or other personnel responsible for incident.
  • Prepares for and participates in strategy meetings.
  • Evaluates and monitors current situation.
  • Observes and reviews current operations to prepare tactics for operational period planning meetings.
  • Evaluates urban interface needs.
  • Evaluates resource status and tactical needs to determine appropriate resource assignments.
  • Participates in preparation of IAP.
  • Leads operational period briefings.
  • Interacts and coordinates with Command and General Staff.
  • Supervises operations organization.
  • Coordinates with replacement Operations Section Chief or others.
  • Evaluates overall effectiveness of IAP and adjust when necessary.
  • Uses fire behavior prediction information to plan and organize tactical operations.
  • Updates Incident Commander on current accomplishments and/or problems.
  • Reports special events (incidents, accidents, political contracts, property loss or damage, etc.).
  • Ensures all personnel and equipment time records are complete and submitted in a timely manner.
  • Considers demobilization needs throughout the incident.
  • Assists in development and approval of Incident Demobilization Plan.
  • Implements Demobilization Plan.
  • Ensures that performance ratings are completed as required by the incident or agency policy.
  • Participates in Agency Administrator debriefing.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • S-420, Command and General Staff
  • I-400, Advanced ICS
  • S-430, Operations Section Chief
  • S-481, Advanced Management Concepts
  • Qualified DIVS

 

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