The Operations Section Chief Type 1 (OSC1) manages incident operations through the operations section, establishing and directing branches, divisions, groups, and units as necessary to support operations. The OSC1 leads the development and execution of the tactical assignments documented in the Incident Action Plan (IAP). The OSC1 reports to the Incident Commander (IC) and works in the Operations functional area.
The OSC1 performs position duties commensurate with Type 1 incident complexity and characteristics stated in the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book). (OSC2 and OSC1 duties are identical but are performed at different complexity levels.)
The Forest Service and Department of Interior are enabled by Administratively Determined Pay Plans (AD Pay Plans) to hire persons for temporary duration for the following reasons:
- To cope with a sudden and unexpected emergency caused by a fire, or extreme fire potential, flood, storm, or any other all-hazard emergency that threatens damage to federally protected property, has the potential to cause loss of life, serious injury, public health risk, or damage to natural or cultural resources unless brought under immediate control.
- To provide emergency assistance to States under formalized agreements.
- To meet mission assignments issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Incident Business Committee (IBC) reviews positions annually and establishes pay rate classifications for each position.
For more information on the AD Pay Plans, visit Incident Business Committee.
Required Training
- RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)
- S-520, Advanced Incident Management OR Complex Incident Management Course (CIMC)
Required Experience
- Satisfactory performance as an Operations Section Chief Type 2 (OSC2)
- AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Operations Section Chief Type 1 (OSC1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-08 - OSC1/OSC2 Combined.
The qualification pathway for this position is discontinued per NWCG direction on January, 2025. Responders with an active PTB will transition to the corresponding complex position PTB.
Added: Safety Officer Complex (SOFC) to "OSC1 Maintains Currency For These Positions."
Added: Position-Specific publication added under Standards and References: NWCG Position-Specific Standards for Operations Section Chiefs, PMS 350-8.
Added: Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For OSC1" and "OSC1 Maintains Currency For These Positions"
Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.
Added: Operations Section Chief Type 3, Wildland Fire (OPS3) to "OSC1 Maintains Currency for These Positions."
Removed: Operations Section Chief Type 3, Wildland Fire (OPS3) from "These Positions Maintain Currency for OSC1" and from "OSC1 Maintains Currency for These Positions."
Added: S-430, Operations Section Chief (16 hrs.) and S-420, Command and General Staff (32 hrs.).
Position created.
Operations Section Chief (Multi-Branch), Operations Section Chief (Multi-Division) and Operations Section Chief (Multi-Leader) in 1984 PMS 310-1.
