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Operations Section Chief Type 3

Position Description

Duties

  • Attend briefing from the Agency Administrator or outgoing Incident Commander.
  • Identify kind, type and number of resources required to achieve control objectives.
  • Collect information from outgoing Operations Section Chief, initial Incident Commander or other personnel responsible for incident.
  • Prepare for and participate in strategy meetings.
  • Evaluate and monitor current situation.
  • Observe and review current operations to prepare tactics for operational period planning meetings.
  • Evaluate urban interface needs.
  • Evaluate resource status and tactical needs to determine appropriate resource assignments.
  • Participate in preparation of IAP.
  • Lead operational period briefings.
  • Interact and coordinate with Command and General Staff.
  • Supervise operations organization.
  • Coordinate with replacement Operations Section Chief or others.
  • Evaluate overall effectiveness of IAP and adjust when necessary.
  • Use fire behavior prediction information to plan and organize tactical operations.
  • Update Incident Commander on current accomplishments and/or problems.
  • Report special events (incidents, accidents, political contacts, property loss or damage, etc.).
  • Ensure all personnel and equipment time records are complete and submitted in a timely manner.
  • Consider demobilization needs throughout the incident.
  • Assist in development and approval of Incident Demobilization Plan.
  • Implement Demobilization Plan.
  • Ensure that performance ratings are completed as required by the incident or agency policy.
  • Participate in Agency Administrator debriefing.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • ICS-400, Advanced ICS
  • Qualified DIVS or ICT3

 

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