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Wildland Fire Information and Technology WFIT Support to NWCG Business Needs

NWCG committees, which represent the functional areas of wildland fire management on an interagency and intergovernmental basis, establish information and technology (IT) capability requirements and/or business needs in their mission areas. These IT capability requirements or business needs are communicated through NWCG Coordinators to the NWCG Executive Board and WFIT Program Board. The WFIT Program Board then provides leadership, funding recommendations, and support in turning these requirements into actual IT capabilities through applications, infrastructure, etc.

The portfolio of NWCG IT business needs or capability requirements is provided below. NWCG maintains a full list of applications currently in operation and maintenance, including information on the NWCG Committee or Subgroup(s) responsible for maintaining the associated capability requirements and business needs.

Coordination and questions about the NWCG IT capability requirements portfolio, including progress, next steps, and funding request status, can be directed to Steve Manthei, WFIT Program Manager (steven_manthei@ios.doi.gov), and Dave Schultz , NWCG Coordinator (dschultz@blm.gov) and liaison to WFIT Program Board.

NWCG IT Business Needs (July 2024)

PDF version of this table

NWCG
Committee		 IT Business Need WFIT Submission Date NWCG Priority
RMC SAFENET:
Risk management capabilities, related to safety reporting. Resolve overlaps, gaps, and inconsistencies. Need to define requirements.
SAFENET Improvements: correcting some language on the website, trying to streamline our posting process and make the “outputs” more useful for RMC to identify emerging issues and trends.
 		 June 2023 1
IPSC/IPS Electronic Check-in:
Development of eCheck-In, eDemob and eExtensions.
See NWCG Exec Board memo 21-003, Incident Management Remote Response Electronic Check-In Pilot Project.
 		 Aug 2021 2
NCSC Dispatch Cost Analysis Tool (DCAT):
A standard process to assess workload and budget for dispatch/coordination centers. Identified as high priority by the NCSC and the IDIP study. Work of a task team supported by NWCG (March 2018) and FMB (April 2018). NWCG Exec Board support for DCAT tool in Oct 2023.		 Oct 2023 3
DMC EDG Database:
Data integration services, with focus on a “data cache.” See NWCG Data Management Strategy, WFIT Data Cache Requirements Document, IFDC Alternatives Analysis, and DMC Recommendations for Data Cache.
DMC is evaluating the use of EDG as the tool to support a Data Cache.
 		 2020 4
NCSC Integrated OAT Training Environment:
The intent of this project is to create a replica of the IRWIN production environment along with all the connected applications to allow end-to-end user practice/training for all the connected wildland fire applications. This system would allow employees to train in an end-to-end incident lifecycle workflow utilizing all the IRWIN integrated applications without impacting any of the production environments, during normal day to day operations.
 		 Aug 2023 5
IBC/IPS e-ISuite Improvements:
Functionality improvements, incorporating the use of eCheck-In, eDemob and eExtension in support of incident management. 
 		 In Committee Review 6

 

Applications in the Operation & Maintenance Phase (link to EDG)

NWCG Committees

  • Identify the business need and establish the IT capability requirements in their respective mission areas. The goal is to identify the capability or business need and not the application or technology for the solution.
    • The requirement should not read “upgrade FireNet.” It should identify the need to “enhance collaboration.” The WFIT team will then identify the best application or technology needed to meet the requirement.
  • Maintain and/or modify existing IT capability requirements. Changes may require alterations to an existing application or the replacement of one or more applications with a new approach to providing the capability.
  • Jointly with NWCG staff, consolidate and prioritize NWCG-wide IT capabilities each year.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with business subject matter expert responsible for IT applications currently serving the committee’s mission area. Coordinate capability requirements efforts with IT project manager.

Data Management Committee (DMC)

  • Provide support to committees in development of IT capability requirements.

  • Provide support to committees and WFIT for data standards and integration.

NWCG Coordinators & Staff

  • Collect, consolidate, and update IT capability requirements both in development and in operation and maintenance from committees each January.
  • Jointly with NWCG committees, consolidate and prioritize NWCG-wide IT capabilities each year.
  • Inform NWCG Executive Board of new and changing IT capability priorities and request support for presenting the IT Capability Requirement to the WFIT Program Board.

NWCG Executive Board

  • Assess, revise as necessary, and forward NWCG prioritized IT capabilities requirements to Fire Management Board (FMB) annually by March.
  • Support presenting business needs and IT capability requirements to the WFIT Program Board.

Fire Management Board (FMB)

FMB assumed the role of the WFIT Management Activity Board, chartered in 2012, to “provide a forum for senior wildland fire program managers to provide the WFIT Executive Board with information and recommendations regarding requirements, priorities, strategies, policies, and investments for interagency wildland fire investments.”

When FMB meets in the role to support WFIT, it meets as the Information and Technology Advisory Board (ITAB).

  • Provide a mechanism for coordinated and integrated federal wildland fire program management and implementation.
  • Assess, support and forward NWCG prioritized IT capability requirements

WFIT Executive Board

  • Lead and oversee the WFIT program and suite of investments.
  • Provide information and recommendations to the U. S. Forest Service and Department of Interior investment review boards regarding strategies, policies, and investments for interagency wildland fire investments.
  • Represent and advocate for the interest, requirements, and priorities of wildland fire IT, including infrastructure and services necessary to conduct wildland fire business.

Assemble, as appropriate, committee representatives, a DMC representative, NWCG Coordinator, relevant application business lead if you are updating existing applications, and other primary stakeholders to address the following:

  • Purpose and Engagement
    • Develop, validate, modify, or replace capability requirements.
    • Ensure the capability requirements are consistent with the committee/subgroup mission.
    • Identify related capability requirements; seek opportunities to consolidate.
  • Process Management
    • Define roles and expectations for everyone involved.
    • Establish timelines, checkpoints, and completion due dates.
    • Identify and engage other NWCG committees/subgroups who must be involved in vetting the capability requirement.
  • Resources Available

The NWCG provides national leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations, including the establishment of IT capability requirements for wildland fire. NWCG operational standards are often enhanced, and sometimes accomplished altogether, by IT processes and applications.  IT capability requirements are statements that define the IT capability needed to achieve a particular standard of practice, product, or service.  Effective IT capability requirements should address the following:

  • Relevance: Is the capability relevant to the NWCG mission? Is it relevant to the committee mission? How will it improve mission effectiveness? What capabilities are needed to provide products or services essential to your mission?
  • Scope: Does the capability benefit field-level wildland firefighters and fire managers? Will it improve national standardization? Will it enhance firefighter safety? Is it national, regional, or local in scope? Is it interagency or agency specific?
  • Purview: Is the capability unique to wildland fire? Does it sensibly fall under the purview of the NWCG?
  • Sustainability: Will the capability have a long-term impact? Will it address a significant and consequential issue or concern, even in the short term?
  • Impact: Is the capability new, a revision of an existing capability, or a replacement of one or more existing capabilities?  What problems does the capability solve?
  • Efficiency: Does the capability reduce data entry, leverage existing information and capabilities, address needs for multiple committees, or reduce costs?
  • Time to impact: When is this capability needed?  When is it likely to be delivered, if funded?
  • Defined Process: Does an existing workflow process exist? Is it still relevant? Is a new defined workflow process needed to support sunsetting existing systems?

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 24-001 Stihl Chainsaw Toolless Fuel Cap Spill Prevention

Date: November 14, 2024
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 24-001 Stihl Chainsaw Toolless Fuel Cap Spill Prevention. Misaligned toolless fuel caps on Stihl chainsaws have led to recurring fuel spillage, fuel ignition, and burn injuries during wildland fire management operations.

This Safety Warning is intended to highlight the details and recommended procedures for the installation of a Stihl chainsaw toolless fuel cap, as well as how to identify and correct a misaligned, damaged, or broken fuel cap to help prevent fuel spillage.

References:

NWCG Safety Warning: 24-001 Stihl Chainsaw Toolless Fuel Cap Spill Prevention

Advertencia de equipos 24-001: Prevención de derrames de la tapa de combustible sin herramientas de la motosierra Stihl

NWCG Alerts

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR)

Date: November 13, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Equipment Time Recorder, PMS 350-51 and NWCG Position Task Book for Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR), PMS 311-51 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for EQTR, includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Equipment Time Recorder Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Equipment Time Recorder, PMS 350-51

NWCG Position Task Book for Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR), PMS 311-51

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC)

Date: November 13, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Personnel Time Recorder, PMS 350-53 and NWCG Position Task Book for Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC), PMS 311-53 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for PTRC, includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Personnel Time Recorder Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Personnel Time Recorder, PMS 350-53

NWCG Position Task Book for Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC), PMS 311-53

NWCG Risk Management Committee Releases Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires

Date: November 7, 2024
Contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has released Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires. As wildland fire respirators are available through several established vendors, wildland fire personnel need to understand regulations and limitations of respirator use in the workplace.

Safety Bulletin 24-001 outlines the following topics regarding respirator use for wildland fires:

  • Requirements for Respirator Use
  • Voluntary Respirator Use
  • Current Respirator Options
  • Unknown Risks of Respirator Use

This bulletin also provides mitigation recommendations to help reduce smoke exposure for wildland firefighting efforts.

References:

NWCG Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires

NWCG Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed Fire, PMS 420-3

VIDEO: Protecting Wildfire Personnel from Smoke - How Incident Management Teams Address Smokes Risks

VIDEO: Smoke, Knowing the Risks