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NFES Catalogs

The National Fire Equipment System (NFES) was created to provide standards for fire supplies and equipment as well as an organized method for ordering and stocking those items. The NWCG National Fire Equipment System Catalog, national in scope, reflects the items admitted to the NFES and the cache locations where they are stocked.   Each catalog item has been assigned a unique National Fire Equipment System (NFES) number for identification and ordering purposes.  The NWCG NFES Catalog consists of two parts::

NWCG NFES Catalog - Part 1: Fire Supplies and Equipment, PMS 449-1:  This portion pertains to incident fire supplies and equipment stocked by and ordered from the National Interagency Support Caches (NISC). Ordering from Part 1 is limited to federal and state agencies via the NISC located within their respective geographic areas. For questions, contact your local NISC .

NWCG NFES Catalog - Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2  (see Full Catalog):  This document lists the national interagency publications, wildland fire training course materials, and reference materials available through the National Fire Equipment System (NFES) and the Great Basin Incident Supply Cache (GBK) located at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho. NWCG publications are also available electronically.

Course Coordinators and Lead Instructors should review the appropriate course page in the NWCG Training Catalog for course overview, delivery information, updates, and additional materials.

Questions regarding orders, payments, or returns can be directed to the GBK Supply Office at (208) 387-5104. Detailed Ordering Procedures (including payment, shipping, and return information) are found under the Ordering Procedure accordion on the NWCG NFES Catalog - Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2 page.  Incomplete orders may not be processed.  For detailed information on Unit of Issue and general NFES guidance, refer to the NWCG NFES Catalog – Part 1: Fire Supplies and Equipment, PMS 449-1.

All catalog item prices are adjusted annually in the spring. Individual item prices may be subject to change without advance notice.

Comments, questions, and recommendations shall be submitted to the appropriate agency program manager assigned to the National Fire Equipment System Subcommittee. View the complete roster

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