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Public Information Officer Type 1*

PIO1 decorative banner: photos depicting PIO1 position. PIO1 position description: The Public Information Officer (PIO1), a member of the Command Staff, is responsible for the formulation and release of information about the incident to the news media, local communities, incident personnel, other appropriate agencies and organizations, and for the management of all Public Information Officers assigned to the incident.

The Public Information Officer Type 1 (PIO1) participates in the collection and dissemination of incident information and may be the first public point of contact. They may be assigned to information center operations, community engagement, media relations, or other branches. The PIO1 supervises the public information function of an Incident Management Team (IMT) and may support a branch of a Type 1 or Type 2 IMT. The PIO1 may report to the Public Affairs Officer (PAO), Agency Administrator (AA), or Incident Commander (IC). The PIO1 works in the Command functional area.

The PIO1 performs position duties commensurate with Type 1 incident complexity and characteristics stated in the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book).

USWDS Paragraphs

Incident Commander (ICT5)Safety Officer (SOFC)Safety Officer (SOF3)Liaison Officer (LOFR)Incident Commander (ICT4)Incident Commander (ICT3)Incident Commander (ICT2)Incident Commander (ICT1)Safety Officer (SOF2)Public Information Officer (PIO1)Public Information Officer (PIO2)Public Information Officer (PIO3)Agency Representative (AREP)Public Information Officer, Technician (PIOT)Incident Commander (ICCI)Safety Officer (SOF1)Public Information Officer (PIOC)Safety Officer (SOFF)

 

 

 

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:

  1. 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.
  2. To provide emergency assistance to States under formalized agreements.
  3. 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.

Date: Jan 2025

Removed:

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 a Public Information Officer Type 2 (PIO2)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Public Information Officer Type 1 (PIO1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-06

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Operations Section Chief Type 1 (OSC1)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Public Information Officer Type 1 (PIO1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-06*

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Logistics Section Chief Type 1 (LSC1)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Public Information Officer Type 1 (PIO1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-06*

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Safety Officer Type 1 (SOF1)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Public Information Officer Type 1 (PIO1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-06*

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Public Information Officer Type 1 (PIO1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-06*

*Individuals utilizing this pathway must complete the Public Information Officer Course (E/L952) prior to position qualification.

Added:

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.

Date: May 2022

Added: Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For PIO1" and "PIO1 Maintains Currency For These Positions." 

Date: Dec 2021

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Date: Oct 2021

Added: to "Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills."

Date: Oct 2018

Added: “Individuals utilizing this pathway must complete the Public Information Officer Course (E/L952) prior to position qualification.”

Date: Oct 2015

Added: Bridging experience pathways for qualified OSC1, LSC1, and PSC1 to move into the PIO1 position.

Date: Jun 2011

Added: Annual Fireline Safety Refresher (RT-130) as Required Training.

Date: Jan 2006

Position created. Replaced IOF1.

USWDS Paragraph Bundles

Primary Committee: Communication Education and Prevention Committee
Steward: Public Information Officer Subcommittee
Key Stakeholder(s): Incident Command Subcommittee


Last Modified / Reviewed:

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NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and Next Generation Position Task Book for Basic Faller Are Now Available

Date: April 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

The updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-19 are now available.

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212 includes position standards designed to be used in conjunction with the Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB). The Next Gen PTB for Basic Faller (FAL3) includes an evaluation guide with suggested rating elements to consider when assessing trainees.

References:

NWCG Standards For Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-119

NWCG Basic Faller (FAL3)

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Date: April 9, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
RMC Member Eric Fransted

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) serves as the position steward for all Safety Officer incident positions and continues to improve position standards, training, and naming conventions. The implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) required changes to position titles. RMC collaborated with the NWCG Incident Position Standards Committee (IPSC) to propose and implement these updates. 

References:

RMC Memo 25-01: Summary of Updates to Safety Officer Positions 

NWCG Position Catalog

Updated, NWCG Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination, PMS 412

Date: April 8, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee

PMS 412 provides guidance for wildland fire investigations. This guide outlines recommended procedures, practices, techniques, and methods to promote a systematic approach. The last update to this publication was in 2016.

References:

NWCG Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination PMS 412

Updated NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations, PMS 508

Date: March 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Airtanker Base Operations Unit

The updated NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508 standardizes operations and procedures at interagency airtanker bases to ensure safe, efficient, and effective operations in support of interagency goals and objectives.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations, PMS 508