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PMS 448

Chaps – Protective, Summer Weight 40" Long

NWCG Committee Realignment Website Updates: Content will continue to be updated over the coming days as we work through final reviews and adjustments, and all publications and products are currently under revision.

NFES #
000150
Category
Cordura
Updated
Storage and Shelf Life Checks
None

Initial Inspection/Disposal Criteria

  1. Inspect fabric and webbing for any holes, cuts, tears, or burns. Tears less than ½ inch can be repaired. Tears or cuts longer than ½” render the item unserviceable. 
  2. Inspect for any area of abrasion that has weakened fabric beyond repair.
  3. Inspect for any webbing that is cut, burned, or abraded beyond economical repair.
  4. Inspect each leg. If either leg has more than five patches, remove from service.
  5. Chaps should be removed from service if not labeled with specification USFS 6170-4F, 4G, or 4H or are not certified to NFPA 1977-05.
  6. Inspect all molded nylon hardware for dirt, cracks, breaks, and proper function.
  7. Return to stock if item does not show any signs of use and passes visual inspection.
  8. Refurbish if the item needs to be cleaned and/or damage can be repaired economically.
  9. Dispose of item if it fails initial inspection.
  10. Dispose of item if wood chips and sawdust are evident inside the layers at the bottom of the chaps.
  11. Dispose of item if the first layer of yellow Kevlar has a cut that is more than 1 inch long.
  12. Dispose of item if improper repairs have been made, such as patch jobs that stitched through the Kevlar.

Refurbishing Procedures

A.  Cleaning

  1. Allow any mud or loose dirt to dry and then remove using a stiff-bristle brush.  If stains remain, wash as recommended below.
  2. Remove light oil and dirt stains by brushing with a Citrosqueeze® solution, brush with a bristle brush, rinse thoroughly and hang to dry.
  3. For heavier oil or grease soak in a Citrosqueeze® solution for at least 4 hours, brush with a bristle brush, rinse thoroughly and hang to dry.

DO NOT MACHINE WASH OR DRY.

DO NOT USE BLEACH TO CLEAN FABRIC.

DO NOT PRESSURE WASH.

B. Repair

  1. Repair burn holes and cuts. 
  2. Use Seam Grip® to repair holes or cuts in the nylon shell. 
  3. To repair holes less than ½ inch in length, apply a dot of Seam Grip® over the hole and allow the Seam Grip® to dry. 
  4. Allow chaps to dry for at least 12 hours before using.
  5. Replace burned, abraded, or cut nylon webbing with like items.
  6. Replace broken or nonfunctioning hardware. 

C. Testing for Performance

  • Retest all replaced hardware. The hardware should function easily with little force being applied and no difficulty in the release.

D. Repackaging

  • Pack 10 each in NFES #002007 carton (24” x 16” x 16”).

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

2026 Week of Remembrance

Date:  June 30, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: 6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee

As we approach the 2026 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30–July 6, we dedicate this time to reflect on past incidents from 2016 and honor the fallen through learning. Since its inception in 2014, WOR has honored wildland firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while encouraging critical discussions that reinforce lessons learned.

Throughout the week, we encourage thoughtful and generative conversations that promote a culture of continuous learning and safety.

References:

2026 Week of Remembrance: Letter to Leadership

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

RMC Memorandum 26-02: SAFENET Modernization and SafeNetX Launch

Date:  June 25, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) is pleased to announce the launch of SafeNetX, the modernized safety reporting system now available to the wildland fire community. Effective June 15, 2026, SafeNetX enables reporting of unsafe, unhealthy, near-miss, and high-risk operations across wildland fire, all-hazard incidents, training, and related work environments.

SafeNetX is the result of a multi-agency modernization effort led by RMC, which began evaluating improvements to the legacy SAFENET system in 2021. To learn more, read the full RMC memorandum in the links provided.

References:

SafeNetX

RMC Safety Memorandum 26-02: SAFENET Modernization and SafeNet X Launch

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Emergency Medical Committee

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2025 Wildland Fire Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Awards. EMC annually recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated outstanding actions or accomplishments that are above and beyond the expectation of one’s normal mission or job duties.

Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Emergency Medical Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for RAMP

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Airtanker Base Operations Unit

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Ramp Manager (RAMP).

The Performance Support Package for this position was developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Ramp Manager Position Page

National Interagency Aviation Committee