Skip to main content

RT-130 (WFSTAR)

WFSTAR Overview

WFSTAR Catalog

Course Delivery Information

Core Components

2024 Fire Year in Review

2025 Core Components Module Package

Target Audience

FAQ

Historical Modules (Archived)

 

RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)

RT-130 Decorative banner. Group of photos depicting wildland firefighters performing various duties.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Capabilities and Limitations

Agency operated Unmanned Aircraft Systems are becoming more prevalent and more capable every year. This video is designed to provide all firefighters with a baseline understanding of UAS capabilities and limitations. Through that lens the video covers typing, communications, integration in the Fire Traffic Area, decision making when ordering, and updates in the Incident Response pocket guide.
Category: Aviation
Core Component(s):
Fire and Aviation Operational Safety, Human Factors, Communication and Decision Making
Estimated Delivery Time: 30 Minutes
Video Length: 9:24

Intent

Enhance firefighters’ abilities to effectively use Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) through increased knowledge of UAS operations and mission profiles.

Facilitator Preparation

Review the video and module tools. Consider additional activities and discussion questions pertinent to the geographic location and your respective agency.

Facilitating the Discussion

Show the video. Facilitate a small or large group discussion using the activity and discussion questions. Present the scenario below and guide students through the exercise.

Scenario

You are the Firing Boss for a prescribed burning operation on your home unit. It is late March. This burn unit is 700 acres. You have five Type 6 engine crews and a hotshot crew for this project. The area is prescribed burned every 4 years. This burn unit is in a hardwood forest. The fuel types are a compact leaf litter layer interspersed with a small amount of 10-hour fuels. 

 

Image
A forest filled with numerous trees the ground covered with rich brown leaves.
Image 1

The terrain is relatively flat with small rolling hills. One unit boundary is a dirt road, two boundaries can only be patrolled on foot and border private land, and one boundary is a steep cliff with a 70ft drop into a drainage. Structures at risk are a large wooden footbridge over a stream and a lean-to. What factors would you consider when making the determination whether to order a UAS crew for assistance? 

Conduct Activity (Optional)

  • Divide the class.
  • Give each group the Activity Questions below.
  • Discuss group responses.

Activity Questions

  1. What are the safety protocols firefighters should follow when UAS are operating in the airspace above you?
  2. What is the process for reporting aviation near misses during firefighting operations?
  3. Discuss past experiences where there has been a miscommunication with aviation. How could the miscommunication have been prevented?
  4. How do you get ahold of UAS crews on your radio?
  5. Can UAS be used to help mitigate hazards and if so which hazards?
  6. Can you think of any ways that UAS could save resources time and energy?

Resources 

Table of Abbreviations
ADS-B  Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast
AOBD    Air Operations Branch Director
ATGSAttack Group Supervisor
BVLOS    Beyond Visual Line of Site
EO/IR Electro-Optical/Infra-Red
FTAFire Traffic Area
TFRTemporary Flight Restrictions
UASUnmanned Aircraft Systems

Additional Video Information

  • The video is also available as a download (zip file, size 1.72 GB) with .srt file for closed captioning (you may need to right click and Save As). For information on how to add closed captioning to a video, see this how to page.
  • Note: For Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, right click the word download and select Save Link As; for IE, right click and select Save Target As.

Last Modified / Reviewed:

Print PDF

Please Provide Feedback

NWCG values your constructive input and we thank you for taking the time to provide feedback.

Although contact information is optional, we hope that you provide a way for us to contact you in case we need clarification on your comment. If you would like to be contacted regarding your feedback, you must provide contact information. 

Would you like a response?
If you would like a response, you must provide contact information (name and email) below.
One file only.
9.28 GB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, eps, tif, pict, psd, txt, rtf, html, odf, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, xml, avi, mov, mp3, mp4, ogg, wav, bz2, dmg, gz, jar, rar, sit, svg, tar, zip.

NWCG Latest Announcements

WFSTAR 2025 Core Component Module Package and 2024 Fire Year in Review Now Available

Date: March 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Joe Schindel at mschindel@blm.gov
 

The 2025 Core Component Module Package for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) and the 2024 Fire Year in Review are now available on the NWCG website. The 2025 Core Component Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

References:

2025 Core Component Module Package

2024 Fire Year in Review Module

NEW! NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053

Date: March 12, 2025
Contact: Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Committee

The NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 provides mitigation practitioners at all experience levels with recommendations on the most effective and efficient ways to accomplish mitigation work in communities at risk to wildfire damage or destruction. The content in this guide was written in coordination with the NWCG Standards for Mitigation in the Wildland Urban Interface, PMS 052.

References:

NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514