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Engines

Steward: Equipment Technology Committee

The NWCG categorizes information on fire apparatus into logical groups and provides common options often requested by fire managers. The Incident Command System (ICS) uses this system based on the equipment capability. The table below shows NWCG minimum performance requirements for structure and, wildland engine resource types. Additional information for required crew training and equipment recommendations can be found at the position catalog.

Engine Types
Types 1 and 2 are structure; Types 3-7 are wildland
Requirements Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5 Type 6 Type 7
Tank minimum capacity (gal) 300 300 500 750 400 150 50
Pump minimum flow (gal/min) 1,000 500 150 50 50 50 10
Tank minimum capacity (gal) 300 300 500 750 400 150 50
At rated pressure (psi) 150 150 250 100 100 100 100
Hose: 2½-inch 1,200 1,000 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Hose: 1½-inch 50 500 1,000 300 300 300 N/A
Hose: 1-inch N/A N/A 500 300 300 300 200
Ladders per NFPA 1901 Yes Yes N/A N/A N/A N/A 50N/A
Master stream 500 gal/min. Yes N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Pump and roll N/A N/A Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Maximum GVWR (lb) N/A N/A N/A N/A 26,000 19,500 14,000
Personnel (minimum) 4 3 3 2 2 2 2
N/A = Not applicable
NFPA = National Fire Protection Association
GVWR = Gross vehicle weight rating

Notes:

  1. All types shall meet Federal, state, and agency requirements for motor vehicle safety standards, including all gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) when fully loaded.
  2. Type 3 engines and tactical water tenders shall be equipped with a foam proportioner system.
  3. All water tenders and engine Types 3 through 6 shall be able to prime and pump water from a 10-foot lift.
  4. Personnel shall meet the qualification requirements of NWCG’s NIMS Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide, PMS 310-1.

Common Additional Needs for Engines and Tenders (Request As Needed)

  • All-wheel drive (includes four-wheel drive)
  • High-pressure pump (250 psi at one-half flow of Type)
  • Foam proportioner
  • Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) 40 ft3/min minimum
  • Additional personnel

Need a heading for this part - Equipment examples? Equipment directory?  This information is from the Water Handling Equipment Guide, PMS 447-1

This section lists many of the different initial attack engines used in the United States and describes the wide variety of vehicle sizes, pump, and tank size configurations. The data displayed in this section are intended to assist individuals interested in outfitting an initial attack wildland engine. Some of the following engines could possibly be reclassified from one NWCG ICS type to another by changing the basic equipment compliment, personnel staffing, or level of training.

Note:  Click the agency link for a further description. 

NWCG ICS Type Tank Capacity (gallons) Pump Rating (gal/min @150 psi) Pump Drive Equipment Designator Agency
1 500 1500 Mid Ship N/A Los Angeles County Fire Department
1 750 1500 Mid Ship N/A Sacramento Metro Fire Department
1 700 1500 Mid Ship N/A Sacramento Metro Fire Department
3 500 500 Hydrostatic CAL FIRE Model 14/15 CAL FIRE
And so on...          

Line Production Rates for Initial Action by Engine Crews in Chains per Crew per Hour

Fire Behavior Fuel Model Specific Conditions Chains Per Crew Hour
Number of Persons in Crew
1 2 3 4 5+
1. Short Grass Grass 6 12 24 35 40
Tundra 2 8 15 24 30
2. Open Timber/Grass Understory All 3 7 15 21 25
3. Tall Grass All 2 5 10 14 16
4. Chaparrel Chaparrel 2 3 8 15 20
High Pocosin 2 4 10 15 18
5. Brush (minimum 2 ft. tall) All 3 6 12 16 20
6. Dormant Brush/Hardwood Slash Black Spruce 3 6 10 16 20
Others 3 6 12 16 20
7. Southern Rough All 2 5 12 16 20
8. Closed Timber Litter Conifers 3 8 15 20 24
Hardwoods 10 30 40 50 60
9. Hardwood Litter Conifers 3 7 12 18 22
Hardwoods 8 25 40 50 60
10. Timber (Litter & Understory) All 3 8 12 16 20
11. Logging Slash, Light All 3 8 12 16 20
12. Logging Slash, Medium All 3 5 10 16 20
13. Logging Slash, Heavy All 2 4 8 15 20
Note: These rates are to be used for estimating initial action productivity only. Do not use these rates to estimate sustained line construction, burnout, and holding productivity. Initial action may consist of scratch line construction and hotspotting.

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