Skip to main content

Smoke Managers Subcommittee

Banner Image
SMSC header graphic. Heavy smoke billows up from a large forest fire. Inset photo of a wildland firefighter with full Nomax mask covering his face. Far right inset photo of heavy smoke from wildland fire. Decorative.
Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Smoke Managers Subcommittee (SMSC) provides relevant technical, administrative, and organizational information and feedback for operational smoke managers, forecasters and modelers.

Body

Primary Objectives

Photo of large smoke column at dusk. Flames case a brilliant light within smoke. Decorative

  • Identify criteria for and assist with the development of the skills necessary for successful decision-making within the context of smoke managers for wildland fires.
  • Develop communication protocols for both wildfires and prescribed fires.
  • Develop consistent recommendations for wildland fire management which account for the air quality impacts of planned and unplanned ignitions.
  • Develop, publish, and maintain relevant products, handbooks and guides.
  • Develop webinars, briefing papers, presentations, etc., to distribute the information.

Webinars 

FRAMES - Fire Research and Management Exchange System - FRAMES strives to provide a convenient, systematic exchange of information and technology within the wildland fire research and management community.

Published Journal Articles Related to Fire

News and Events

https://www.frames.gov/smoke/nwcg-smoc/webinars

Chair: Seth Morphis

NWCG Coordinator: Dave Schultz

Parent Committee: Smoke Committee

Meeting Schedule: Every 2-3 months

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

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