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Crown Fire References

Alexander, M. E., Help with making crown fire hazard assessments, Canadian Forest Service Publications, 1988.

Anderson, H. E., Aids to determining fuel models for estimating fire behavior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, 1982.

Andrews, Patricia L., Heinsch, Faith Ann, Schelvan, Luke, How to generate and interpret fire characteristics charts for surface and crown fire behavior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2011.

Bishop, Jim, Technical background of the FireLine Assessment MEthod (FLAME),  U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2007.

Cruz, M.G. and M.E. Alexander, Assessing crown fire potential in coniferous forests of western North America: a critique of current approaches and recent simulation studies, International Journal of Wildland Fire, 2010.

Scott, Joe H., Comparison of crown fire modeling systems used in three fire management applications, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2006.

Scott, Joe H.; Reinhardt, Elizabeth D.,  Assessing crown fire potential by linking models of surface and crown fire behavior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2001.

Rothermel, Richard C., How to predict the spread and intensity of forest and range fires, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, 1983.

Rothermel, Richard C., Predicting behavior and size of crown fires in the northern Rocky Mountains, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, 1991.

Van Wagner, C. E., Conditions for the start and spread of crown fire. Can. J. For. Res., 1997.

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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)

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

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