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S-440, Planning Section Chief, 2001

Decorative banner: Three photos of wildland fire planning operations. A woman leans over desk to write on a wall chart. A bulletin board with papers taped on it. Three long tables with three computer operators on one side and a group of people sitting on the other.

 

Administration

Certification Date:
Oct 2001
Previous Certification Date(s):
Oct 2001
Course Components:
Title
S-440 Instructor Guide
NFES Number
001962
Product Date
Distribution
Cache
Type
Instructor Guide
Previous Edition
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title
S-440 CD-ROM Course Materials
NFES Number
002043
Product Date
Distribution
Cache
Type
CD Rom
Previous Edition
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title
S-440 Trainee Workbook
NFES Number
001963
Product Date
Distribution
Cache
Type
Student Workbook
Previous Edition

Material is available in the NWCG NFES Catalog - Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2. The catalog lists the materials needed, along with their cost. For ordering procedures and payment options, please visit Catalogs and Ordering Quicklinks page.

 

Both the Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, and the Wildland Fire Incident Management Field Guide, PMS 210, are now discontinued. Existing references to these documents will need to be removed from course materials and exams.  Any existing paper copies of exams are now outdated. Course Coordinators, Lead Instructors, or Unit Training Officers may request access to the final exam and answer key by emailing blm_fa_nwcg_training@blm.gov.  All emailed requests must come from an official NWCG partner email address.

The following update is suggested for the S-440 Unit 7 Test:

  • Questions 2: List five reference documents or sample documents that the PSC should carry in the kit. (5 points).
    • Answer:  Fireline Handbook can be deleted from the answer key. 

The video ICS Incident Planning at Work (NFES 2042) is no longer available. In its place instructors should use the FEMA Planning P Video. It can be downloaded here: https://training.fema.gov/Allhazards/.

Optional materials have been developed to enhance the students understanding of the Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) relative to the Planning Section Chief position. Instructors who choose to use the optional materials to enhance the course should be familiar with the lesson and its contents and determine how it will be used in the course. The materials are available here: https://wfdss.usgs.gov/wfdss/WFDSS_NWCG_WFDSS.shtml.

Applies to 2001 Version.

 

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USWDS Paragraph Bundles

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

2024 Week of Remembrance

Date: June 27, 2024
Contact: 6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee 

As we approach the 2024 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30 to July 6, we dedicate this time to thoughtfully reviewing and recognizing the events of the 2018 Mendocino Complex. As such, this year’s theme of “Learning From the Mendocino Complex” embodies a longstanding hallmark of WOR, honoring through learning.

Throughout the week, our energy will be directed toward fostering generative conversations in briefing rooms and at tailgates.

References:

6 Minutes for Safety - 2024 Week of Remembrance

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Updated NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236

Date: June 24, 2024
Contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee 

The June 2024 update of the NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236, is now available to meet the current needs for incident management typing.

The NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment should be used to evaluate firefighter safety issues, assess risk, and identify the appropriate incident management organization based on incident complexity. Assessing risk, determining incident complexity, and identifying an appropriate incident management organization is a subjective process based on examining a combination of indicators or factors, which can change over time.

References:

NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236

Operations Branch Director (OPBD) Next Gen PTB Available

Date: June 10, 2024
Contact: NWCG Feedback 

The NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Branch Director (OPBD), PMS 311-109 is now available for use within the OPBD position qualification pathway. As part of the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), the OPBD Next Gen PTB was developed and the position qualification pathway updated.

More information about the Next Gen PTB format can be found on the NWCG Position Task Book webpage.

References:

Operations Branch Director Position Page

Operations Branch Director Next Gen PTB

NWCG Position Task Books

Updated NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902

Date: June 5, 2024
Contact: NWCG Incident Business Committee 

The 2024 revision of the NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902 is now available. The uniform application of interagency incident business management standards is critical to interagency fire operations. PMS 902 assists NWCG agencies in constructively working together to provide effective execution of each agency's incident business management program.

References:

PMS 902