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RX Burn Boss Type 1

Position Description

Duties:

  • The Prescribed Fire Burn Boss is responsible to the agency administrator or Prescribed Fire Manager for implementing the Prescribed Fire Plan
  • Review prescribed Fire Plans prior to implementation and ensure that plan requirements are met
  • Perform a reconnaissance of the site to validate burn plan elements, including areas of special concern and that holding/contingency plans adequately address the expected fire behavior outside of the unit
  • Maintain communication with the FMO and/or Agency Administrator
  • Obtain weather forecasts, updates and advisories from a meteorologist
  • Ensure that the Agency Administrator Go/No-Go decision and checklist is still valid
  • Coordinate with resource advisor and or land owners and permittees when burning on or adjacent to private lands
  • Make the go/no-go decision, complete and sign the implementation go/no-go checklist
  • Conduct the personnel/safety briefing to ensure a safe operation
  • Conduct the test burn
  • Supervise assigned personnel
  • Direct the ignition, holding and monitoring operations
  • Ensure that a log records all activities during each operational period
  • Determine when the prescribed fire is not within prescription parameters or is not meeting project objectives
  • Manage the incident or oversee the transition to another Incident Commander if an escape occurs
  • Evaluate and document objective accomplishments, operational procedures, assigned personnel and costs
  • Declare the prescribed fire out unless the project is formally passed to another burn boss, prescribed fire manager or the local fire management organization
  • Ensure that reports are completed

Position Needs:

  • Advanced Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (S-490)
  • Satisfactory performance as a Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 AND
  • Satisfactory performance as an Incident Commander Type 3 AND
  • Satisfactory position performance as a Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 in representative fuel group(s)
  • Recommended training includes: Smoke Management Techniques (RX-410), Applied Fire Effects (RX-510), Fire in Ecosystem Management (M-580), Fire Program Management (M-581)
  • RX300 and RX341

 

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