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Planning Section Chief Type 2

Position Description

Duties

  • Collects and identifies current and potential problems/concerns, and processes situation information about the incident. Monitors incident status and develops alternative strategies.
  • Supervise preparation of the IAP. Obtains elements from other appropriate sections within established time frames, which includes but is not limited to Wildland Fire Situation Analysis, contingency plans, and operation period briefings.
  • Incorporates the incident traffic plan (from Ground Support) and other supporting plans into the IAP.
  • Establishes information requirements, supervises section and reporting schedules for Planning Section units.
  • Determines need for any specialized resources in support of the incident.
  • Assembles and disassemble strike teams and task forces not assigned to operations.
  • Establishes special information collection activities as necessary, e.g. weather, environmental, toxics, etc. Coordinates incident rehabilitation needs, e.g. Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation Team.
  • Provides periodic productions on incident potential. Identifies or reaffirms incident objectives, implements, describes and utilizes necessary agency policy, legal and fiscal constraints, and political considerations to be used in the planning meeting to review adequacy of strategic plans (WFSA and IAP).
  • Reports any significant changes in status information, providing accurate, adequate and current situation and resource status information with accurate maps.
  • Ensures that the Operations Section Chief identifies incident control lines, values to be protected, division boundaries, drop points; and prioritizes divisions in the event the choices must be made in allocating scarce resources, on maps visible to all attendees.
  • Coordinates with all sections to assure the plan as proposed can be implemented and supported by available resources and reconcile any differences.
  • Oversees preparation and implementation of the Incident Demobilization Plan.
  • Ensures all incident reports and narratives are completed, and debriefs Agency Administrator upon completion of demobilization.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • Interpersonal skill to communicate, verbally and in writing with members of the planning section and other incident section chiefs.
  • S-420, Command and General Staff.
  • I-400, Advanced ICS.
  • S-440, Planning Section Chief.
  • Satisfactory performance as a SITL and RESL and PCT2 on a wildland fire incident.

 

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