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Operations Map

Product Description

The Operations Map effectively displays geographic and incident features for use by operations personnel (Operations Section Chief, Operations Branch Directors, Division/Group Supervisors) either in the Incident Command Post or out in the field.

Target Audience

Operations Section, Planning Section, Safety Officer.

Guidelines

  • Standard Incident Command System (ICS) symbology. 
  • Printed in color to enable clear depiction of incident and map features.
  • Size varies but usually anywhere from tabloid (11” x 17”) to “E” (34” x 44”) size.
  • Scale varies based on request and area covered and map size.
  • May be one map for the entire incident or multiple maps for various areas of interest, such as organizational divisions.

Standard Elements

All map products produced should include the STANDL-SGD cartographic elements.

Data

  • Incident perimeter, ICS line, and point features.
  • Division and branch breaks and labels.
  • Transportation routes. 
  • Safety hazards, if available.
  • Administrative boundaries, political boundaries (city (subdivisions)-county, state, national).
  • Ownership–land status.
  • Appropriate base background, such as topographic or orthoimagery.
  • Other SITL-requested data.

Examples

These are examples from actual incidents and may include non-standard elements.

Also note that examples use the standard symbols at the time of their creation and may not reflect the current GeoOps symbology. Map elements, incident features, and composition remain consistent across these visual changes.

  1. 2022 Tenmile Fire
  2. 2021 Greenwood Fire
  3. 2021 Caldor Fire (West Zone Overview)
  4. 2022 Mosquito Fire (Overview)
  5. 2022 Kootenai River Complex (Overview)
  6. 2017 Snake Ridge Fire
  7. 2017 Pinal Fire
  8. 2017 Burro Fire
  9. 2017 Southern LNU Complex (Atlas)
  10. 2015 Valley Fire (West Ops Map)
  11. 2015 Valley Fire (East Ops Map)

 

Modified / Reviewed:

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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