Skip to main content

NWCG Alerts

Definitions

You may search for the definition of these safety terms in the NWCG Glossary Quick View: Safety Advisory, Safety Alert, Safety Bulletin, and  Safety Warning.

Templates

Templates are available on the NWCG Correspondence Templates page.

Additional Alert Programs

Alerts are issued by the NWCG committee with responsibility for the topic to be addressed. To request an alert, contact your agency representative on the appropriate NWCG Committee.

Date of Issue Alert Title Attachments Alert Type Alert Category
2025-01-10 ETC-SW-25-001: Non-specification fire shelters Safety Warning Equipment
2024-10-01 ETC-SW-24-001: Stihl Toolless Fuel Caps Spill Prevention Safety Warning Equipment
2024-10-01 Advertencia de equipos 24-001: Prevención de derrames de la tapa de combustible sin herramientas de la motosierra Stihl Safety Warning Equipment
2024-09-16 RMC-SB-24-001: Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires Safety Bulletin Health
2024-08-29 ETC-EB-24-003: Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in fuel containers Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2024-08-29 ETC-EB-24-005: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Inspection, Care, and Maintenance Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2024-08-29 ETC-EB-24-004: Two-compartment fuel and oil container (Dolmar) unavailable in the United States (US) and reminders for upkeeping current inventories Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2024-07-15 ETC-EB-24-002: NWCG Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Typing Standard – Request for Comment Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2024-05-29 ETC-EB-24-001: Discontinued Use of Hot/Cold Beverage Kits – 2024 Field Season Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2023-05-11 ETC-EB-2023-02: Fire shelter training material moved to a website and publication renamed Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2023-03-08 ETC-SW-2023-001: Non-specification Fire Shelters Safety Warning Equipment
2023-03-01 ETC-EB-2023-01: Discontinuation of Shelf Stable Food Boxes (NFES 7478) in NISC Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2022-09-12 RMC-SW-22-01: Hazard Tree Awareness for Strategic Decision Makers Safety Warning Personnel
2022-06-21 ETC-EA-22-05: BKR5000 Series Radio Firmware Update Equipment Advisory Equipment
2022-05-19 ETC-EA-22-04: BK Radio Not Powering Up When Switched to the On Position Equipment Advisory Equipment
2022-05-18 ETC-EB-22-01: 50:1 Fuel/Oil Mix Ratio Recommendation for 2-Stroke Wildland Fire Portable Pumps Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2022-03-16 ETC-EA-2022-03: Performance Differences Between Pre-and Post-2006 Fire Shelters Equipment Advisory Equipment
2022-01-05 ETC-EA-22-02: Fuel Container Geysering Equipment Advisory Equipment
2022-01-03 ETC-EA-22-01: Inspection of 3,000 lb. Cargo Nets Equipment Advisory Equipment
2021-04-22 ETC Safety Advisory 21-01: Drip Torch Lock Rings Detaching Safety Advisory Equipment
2021-03-04 ETC-EA-21-01: Fire Shelter PVC Bag Retrofit 2021 Equipment Advisory Equipment
2021-03-04 ETC-EB-21-01: Fire Shelter Training Update/Reminders Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2019-08-20 ETC-EB-2019-04: Medical Kit Changes – Urgent Recall of Altaire Pharmaceuticals Eye Wash Solution
Link to Altaire Pharmaceuticals Urgent Drug Recall Press Release
Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2019-05-30 ETC-EB-2019-03: NWCG Dozer Typing Standard - Request for Comment Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2019-05-09 ETC-EB-2019-02: Firefighter Pants Questionnaire Survey Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2019-02-12 ETC-EB-2019-01: Medical Kit Changes for 2019 Field Season Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2018-09-27 ETC-EB-2018-01: Further information on removal of NFES 001175 Five Gallon Fuel Can from NISCs Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2017-02-03 ETC-EB-2017-01: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Issues STIHL Chainsaw Recall Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2016-10-07 ETC-EB-2016-03: Engine and Water Tender Foot Valve Leakage - Field Test Protocol Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2016-02-25 ETC-EB-2016-01: Phase-Out of Drip Torches That Do Not Comply with US DOT and US OSHA Specifications Equipment Bulletin Equipment
2015-07-22 Hardhat Cracking and Delamination Safety Advisory Equipment
2014-08-01 Stihl Chainsaw Fuel/Oil Caps and attachment Safety Warning Equipment
2013-06-25 NWCG Heat Related Illness (HRI) Reporting Form Safety Advisory Health
2013-05-28 Creation of Arduous Duty Line Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Positions Safety Advisory Personnel
2013-04-05 Heat Illness Prevention Pocket Guide Safety Advisory Health
2013-02-25 2013 WFSTAR Letter Safety Advisory Training
2012-11-13 SAFENET System Update Safety Advisory Reports
2012-01-27 2012 Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher Safety Advisory Training
2011-09-13 Hyperthermia Safety Advisory Health
2011-05-17 Implementation of New SAFENET Field Card Safety Advisory Personnel
2011-05-12 Rhabdomyolysis Epidemiological Study Results and Recommendations Safety Advisory Health
2011-02-04 2011 Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) Safety Advisory Training
2010-12-21 Rhabdomyolysis Epidemiological Study Safety Advisory Health
2010-07-22 Cache Memorandum No.10-3 - Non Compliant Fuel Bottles Safety Advisory Equipment
2010-07-04 Wildland Fire Smoke - Employee Exposure and Health Safety Advisory Health
2010-06-17 International Association of Fire Chiefs Safety Week Safety Advisory Health
2010-06-07 Ash Pit Safety Advisory Safety Advisory Personnel
2010-02-24 2009 Final Safety Gram Safety Advisory Reports
2010-02-10 Hang-Ups – Take a Second Look Safety Advisory Training
2010-01-29 2010 Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) Safety Advisory Training
2009-10-01 6 Minutes for Safety New Features Safety Advisory Miscellaneous
2009-08-17 Updates to the SAFENET Website Safety Advisory Miscellaneous
2009-08-03 Pump Refueling Safety Warning Safety Warning Equipment
2009-07-25 Final Safety Advisory Norovirus Safety Advisory Health
2009-07-15 NWCG#020-2009 Memorandum – Interim Influenza Guidelines for Wildland Fire Responses Safety Advisory Health
2009-07-10 DO NOT CONSUME MRE Dairy Shake Powder Safety Warning Health
2009-07-02 New Six Minutes for Safety Addition Safety Advisory Personnel
2009-07-02 Heat Illness Safety Safety Advisory Health
2009-06-16 Interagency Safety and Health Reporting Processes Safety Advisory Reports
2009-06-12 International Association of Fire Chiefs Safety Week Safety Advisory Personnel
2009-02-03 2008 Safety Gram Safety Advisory Reports
2009-02-02 Annual Wildland Fire Safety Refresher Training -2009 Safety Advisory Training
2009-01-22 10th Wildland Fire Safety Summit Safety Advisory Personnel
2008-11-17 TriData Study: 10 Years Later Safety Advisory Reports
2008-10-06 Fire Shelter System Website Safety Advisory Equipment
2008-08-14 MRSA Exposure Potential (Staph Infection) Safety Advisory Health
2008-08-08 Incident Medical Plans and Emergency Communications Safety Advisory Personnel
2008-07-30 NMAC Safety Stand Down - August 1, 2008 Safety Advisory Training
2008-07-25 NWCG Standards and Agency Administrator's Guide to Critical Incident Management Safety Advisory Miscellaneous
2008-07-09 Wildland Fire Fatalities Safety Advisory Reports
2008-07-03 Thunderstorm Safety Safety Advisory Fire Behavior
2008-06-23 Incident Emergency Medical Task Group (IEMTG) Safety Advisory Health
2008-06-17 Firefighter Safety Stand Down Safety Advisory Training
2008-04-28 Firefighters Concerned About Fire Shelter Length Safety Advisory Equipment
2008-02-08 Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Website Safety Advisory Miscellaneous
2008-01-31 2008 Updates - Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training Safety Advisory Training
2008-01-17 2007 Safety Gram Safety Advisory Personnel
2007-10-30 Seat Belt Use Saves Lives!!! Safety Advisory Equipment
2007-08-06 Situation Awareness Briefing Safety Advisory Personnel
2007-07-17 Dry Fuels and Extreme Fire Behavior Safety Advisory Fire Behavior
2007-06-15 Firefighter Safety Stand Down Safety Advisory Personnel
2007-01-31 2006 Safety Gram Safety Advisory Reports
2007-01-09 Factual Investigation Reports – New York Peak Fire & Mudd Fire Safety Advisory Reports
2006-08-28 Burnovers Safety Advisory Personnel
2006-08-24 Driving Safety Safety Advisory Personnel
2006-08-02 National Preparedness Level 5 Safety Concerns and Mitigations Safety Advisory Personnel
2006-07-20 Extreme Fire Behavior Safety Advisory Fire Behavior
2006-07-13 Interagency Aviation Safety Alert Safety Advisory Personnel
2006-06-14 IAFC Safety Stand Down Safety Advisory Personnel
2006-05-16 New Wildland Fire Safety Initiatives Safety Advisory Personnel
2005-11-29 Racal Radio Recall Safety Advisory Equipment
2005-08-24 Narrowband Radio Operations Safety Advisory Equipment
2005-07-11 Failure of Sigg Type Bottles Safety Warning Equipment
2005-06-17 Fine Fuels Safety Advisory Fire Behavior
2005-06-17 Firefighter Safety Stand Down Talking Points Safety Advisory Personnel
2004-09-17 IRPG Correction Safety Advisory Miscellaneous
2004-08-10 Utility Box Mounting Brackets – Chevrolet 2500 HD Crew Cab Pickups Safety Advisory Equipment
2004-07-22 RACALT25 Power Consumption Safety Advisory Equipment
2004-07-06 Nuttall Fire Deployment – Coronado NF, Arizona Safety Warning Personnel
2004-07-02 Frequency Incompatibility – Narrowband / Wideband Issues Safety Advisory Equipment
Showing 1 - 100 of 135 entries

NWCG Latest Announcements

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

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Awards

Date: January 14, 2025
Contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee has awarded the 2023 Paul Gleason “Lead By Example” awards to individuals in the categories of Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Sam Bowen, Superintendent of the Mark Twain Veteran Crew with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Greg Titus, Zone Fire Management Officer for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Renae Crippen, Manager of the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Eric Carlson, Instructor with OMNA International.

References:

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Interview with Paul Gleason

Updated NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Water Scooper Operations Unit

The NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating water scooping aircraft on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, and any local, state, or geographic/regional water scooping plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Updated NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee

The Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee has updated the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505. PMS 505 establishes standards for aerial supervision operations for national interagency wildland fire operations. 

References:

NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505