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

RT-130 Decorative banner. Group of wildland firefighters hiking down a valley to a fire. Black topo map and WFSTAR logo on left.

Aquatic Invasive Species Mitigation for Ground Resources

Avoid the spread of aquatic invasive species by fire personnel and water delivery equipment by adhering to the procedures presented in this video.
Category: Operations
Core Component(s):
Local Topics
Estimated Delivery Time: 30:00
Video Length: 9:20

Remote Video

Intent

Stop or decrease the spread of aquatic invasive species by fire personnel and other water delivery equipment by adhering to the procedures presented in this video.

Facilitator Preparation

  • Review the video, module tools, and resources.
  • Decide which discussion questions (below) will best fit the level of the session audience.

Facilitating the Discussion

  • Show the video.
  • Facilitate a small or large group discussion using the selected discussion questions.

Discussion Questions

  1. What kind of equipment/supplies do you carry in the vehicle for decontamination?
  2. Do you prime the pump using water from the engine tank or the water source?
  3. How often do you inspect your foot valve? Do you carry a spare?
  4. Is aquatic invasive species mitigation a regular part of employee training?
  5. When on assignment, is aquatic invasive species a topic in the general briefing? How about at division breakouts?
  6. What type of apparatus do you have at the home unit for decontamination?
  7. Have you written a Job Risk Analysis for decontamination?  Have you identified and procured specific personal protective equipment (PPE) for this purpose?
  8. Why is aquatic invasive species mitigation important with regard to agency mission, public lands, firefighters, and the public?
  9. What aquatic invasive species are in your area or neighboring areas?
  10. What are the mitigation procedures for dealing with aquatic invasive species?
  11. What effects can these species have on waterways if they spread?

Resources

Additional Video Information

  • This video is also available as a download (zip file, size 140 MB) 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 Internet Explorer (IE), right click and select Save Target As.

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Quarter Three Materials for the 2025-2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign Now Available

Date:  April 1, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Quarter Three materials for the 2025/2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign are now available. This annual initiative offers all students of leadership and wildland fire management an opportunity to engage with essential leadership skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

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References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

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Leadership Committee

WFSTAR 2026 Core Components Module Package and 2025 Fire Year in Review Now Available

Date:  March 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Joe Schindel

The 2026 Core Components Module Package for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) and the 2025 Fire Year in Review are now available on the NWCG website. The 2026 Core Components Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

References:

2026 Core Components Module Package

2025 Fire Year in Review Module

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Date:  March 17, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended), 2026 course is now available.

This training includes performance-based activities that allow students to apply the knowledge and concepts required for the Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN), Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN), and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1) positions. It supports individuals working towards these incident qualifications.

This blended course begins with a self-paced online training (OLT) in the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP), followed by an in-person instructor-led training (ILT).

References:

S-490, Advanced Fire Calculations (Blended)

NWCG Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) Position Page

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Date:  March 13, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Paul Gleason "Lead By Example" awards. Award categories include Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Justin Baxter, National Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Operations Specialist, with the U.S. Forest Service — Initiative and Innovation
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References:

Paul Gleason Lead By Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

Leadership Committee