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Unit Identifier Board

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Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Unit Identifier Board (UIB) provides national leadership in the approval and use of Unit Identifiers in support of effective fire management decision-making. Primary objectives include

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Primary Objectives

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  • Manage NWCG data standards, business rules, and processes related to Unit Identifiers and associated information.
  • Publish current Unit Identifiers in the document NWCG Unit Identifiers, PMS 931.
  • Ensure standards and processes are implemented consistently by Geographic Area Coordination Centers, agencies, and applications.

From the markings on a wildland fire engine to every incident listed on the daily Incident Management Situation Report (IMSR), the Unit Identifier (UI) is an integral piece of information.

Unit Identifiers may be the most fundamental and essential informational elements for the interagency incident management community because they uniquely identify organizational units within that community. Unit Identifiers are created by the interagency incident management community. They are the standard way organizational units communicate who they are, the incidents they are hosting, and the resources they provide, in a way that is common among agencies and applications.

In the past, misunderstandings, assumptions, lack of standards, and inconsistent utilization of Unit Identifiers has led to mistakes and inefficiencies, such as lost time and increased costs. Users were often forced to conduct uncoordinated and divergent workarounds to achieve desired outcomes.

Geographic Area Unit Identifier Data Custodians

Alaska Interagency Coordinator Center (USAKACC)

Name Email Phone
Peter Butteri Peter_Butteri@fws.gov (907) 356-5874
Jennifer Humphrey jhumphre@blm.gov (907) 356-5690

Northern California Area Coordination Center (USCAONCC)

Name Email Phone
Chris Bunker laura.bunker@usda.gov (530) 226-2800
Laurie Forni laurie.forni@usda.gov (530) 226-2800

Southern California Area Coordination Center (USCAOSCC)

Name Email Phone
Manuel Salas manuel.salas@usda.gov (951) 276-6725

Eastern Area Coordination Center (USWIEACC)

Name Email Phone
Jennifer Parrish jennifer.parrish@usda.gov (414) 391-6090

Great Basin Coordination Center (USUTGBC)

Name Email Phone
Gina Dingman gdingman@blm.gov (801) 531-5320

Northern Rockies Coordination Center (USMTNRC)

Name Email Phone
Jay McCallister jmcallis@blm.gov (406) 329-4880

Northwest Area Coordination Center (USORNWC)

Name Email Phone
Gina Papke gina.papke@usda.gov (503) 277-3391

Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center (USCORMC)

Name Email Phone
Rob Juhola robert.juhola@bia.gov (303) 445-4304
Travis Hartsburg travis.hartsburg@usda.gov (303) 320-3000

Southern Area Coordination Center (USGASAC)

Name Email Phone
Nancy Ellsworth Dana.Ellsworth@usda.gov (678) 320-3000

Southwest Area Coordination Center (USNMSWC)

Name Email Phone
Kenan Jaycox kenan.jaycox@usda.gov (505) 842-3473
Juan Ortiz juan.ortiz@usda.gov (505) 842-3472

Unit Identifier Presentation

Chair: Gina Papke, Chair; Kara Stringer, Co-Chair

NWCG Coordinator: Dave Schultz

Parent Committee: Data Management Committee

Meeting Schedule: TBD

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NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, Now Available

Date: February 27, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the 2025 NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, is now available. Visit NWCG's website to learn about the major updates and changes in the 2025 version of the IRPG. The NWCG Guia de Respuesta de Incidente de Bolsillo (GRI), PMS 461-ES is available electronically and will be available from Great Basin Cache by early summer 2025.

All hard copy materials, including the IRPG, are ordered through the Great Basin Cache (GBK). Information on the ordering process can be found in the National Fire Equipment System (NFES) Catalog.

References:

2025 IRPG Information 

NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461 

NWCG Guia de Respuesta de Incidente de Bolsillo (GRI), PMS 461-ES 

NWCG NFES Catalog - Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2 

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