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COVID-19 Prevention and Management During Wildland Fire Operations

A picture of a covid 19 infected cell.Introduction

A significant amount of information regarding COVID-19 has been distributed as agencies respond to the Coronavirus pandemic. This page provides wildland fire personnel quick, singe-point access to COVID-19 prevention and management information pertinent to wildland fire operations. As always, all wildland fire personnel are responsible for ensuring compliance with home-agency direction.

USWDS Paragraphs

Wildland Fire-Specific Information and Direction on COVID-19

Operational Tools

Testing and Screening Information

Prevention and Management Information

Other Resources

Older Information But Still Useful

Key Takeaways:

Get Ready for Fire Season 2022!

Key Mitigations to Practice

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Videos Related to Coronavirus

Note: Videos were created in 2020 and guidance has changed slightly. The videos are still relevant but ensure you are checking for the most up to date guidance.

COVID-19: NWCG Executive Board Message

NWCG Executive Board Chair Frank Guzman shares a message about COVID-19 to the wildland fire community.


Time: 1:38

COVID-19: Mental Health Awareness

The pressures of wildland fire response have been compounded in 2020 by the presence of COVID-19. NWCG Mental Health Subcommittee Co-Chair Bodie Ronk shares a message about the importance of mental health awareness.


Time: 1:36

COVID-19: A Message from Fire Leadership

The global coronavirus pandemic adds additional complexity to wildland fire suppression. Leaders from various NWCG member agencies share their intent regarding challenges associated with COVID-19, mitigation strategies, and special considerations for wildland fire personnel this fire season.


Time: 10:32

COVID-19: Prevention for Fire Personnel

An Incident Commander, Fire Staff Officer, Medical and Public Health Advisory Team member, and Medical Officer discuss the importance of COVID-19 spread prevention and describe best practices for wildland fire response personnel.


Time: 12:34

LLC Resources for COVID-19 Education

The Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center promotes ongoing learning in the wildland fire service. Assistant Center Director Alex Viktora describes LLC resources associated with COVID-19 in fire season 2020 and provides a tour of some useful features of Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center.


Time: 2:39

COVID-19: Psychological Transition and Balance

Dr. Steven Nicholas, a mental health professional with an extensive background counseling first responders, describes concepts and tools to assist fire personnel in monitoring and managing stress and mental health.


Time: 11:20
Documents referenced in the video:

COVID-19: Taking Care of Fire Personnel

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, safe wildland fire response requires additional coordination and specialized procedures. MPHAT Coordinator Kaili McCray discusses the importance of public health engagement during pre-incident planning and describes available resources for fire personnel.


Time: 8:13

COVID-19 Resource Movement

Firefighters and personnel are essential, emergency service providers who often need to be moved inside and across state boundaries to successfully fight fire. Sharing resources and helping each other is the key to our success. Covid-19 has presented new challenges to move resources safely and effectively. In this video, resource managers discuss various strategies and tactics being implemented to help move resources throughout the country.


Time: 9:12

NWCG Latest Announcements

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

Incident Position Standards and Next Gen Position Task Books Now Available for Dispatch Incident Positions

Date: March 5, 2025
Contact: National Coordination System Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all six Dispatch positions:

  • Aircraft Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Coordinator
  • Expanded Dispatch Recorder
  • Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher
  • Initial Attack Dispatcher

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including the Expanded Dispatch Job Aid, J-601 and the Initial Attack and Aircraft Dispatcher Job Aid, J-602, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Coordinator Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Recorder Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Initial Attack Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Job Aids