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

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

WFSTAR 2024 Core Component Module Packages

Local Topics

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Give clear instructions and be sure they are understood. About 20 firefighters stand in a semi-circle in front of two crew buggies where a map has been put up.  A supervisory firefighter points at the map and speaks to the group.
  • Fire Year In Review 2023

    • Revisit significant events and statistics from the 2023 fire season. Identify lessons learned to prepare for the future. Explore intelligence sources to independently enhance big picture situational awareness.

Vehicle Safety Operations

Incident Reviews and Lessons Learned

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Identify escape routes and safety zones, and make them known. A fire crew is walking through a meadow on a path lined with pink flagging.  Behind them, a fire is growing in heavy timber.
  • Salt Fire
    • Understanding infancy stages and safety zone burnover on a wildland fire.
  • Cramer Fire:
    • Review of the Salmon River Breaks Cramer fire and identifying hazardous situation in difficult terrain and fuels.

Fire and Aviation Operational Safety

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Watch Out Situations #5. Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards.
  • Mission Planning
    • All wildland firefighting modules participate in mission planning. Depending on the type of module you are on dictates specialized considerations you must account for. This module provides mission planning insights from a Rappel Module that are relevant to all firefighters.
  • Counter Rotating Vortex Pairs
    • This module creates both awareness and conversation among fire personnel around a relatively unknown fire behavior phenomenon called the Counter Rotating Vortex Pair (CRVP). Concisely describe conditions that may lead to CRVP formation for tactical resources like crew lookouts and Division Supervisors (DIVS).

Human Factors, Communication, and Decision Making

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Weather conditions can significantly impact fire behavior, and weather forecasts help firefighters anticipate changes. This Standard Firefighting Order shows a remote automated weather station (RAWS) which sends real-time weather information to incident fire personnel.
  • Digital Maps
    • Explore digital, geo-referenced topographic maps on mobile devices for use in initial and extended attack. Practice downloading and sharing digital maps on your smartphone or tablet using public domain sites and free applications.
  • How to Properly Refuse Risk
  • Medical Incident Report
    • The Medical Incident Report is a tool that supports efficient, timely, and appropriate response to accidents and medical emergencies. Like any other tool, proficiency with the Medical Incident Report comes through practice. It is up to you to ensure that you and your crew understand the intent and contents of the Medical Incident Report and how to use it before an incident occurs.
  • Wildland Fire Mental Health
    • Highlights the importance of mental health in wildland fire. The video also emphasizes the importance of work-life balance and highlights the resources available to help those in need.
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Photo of deployed fire shelters.

Fire Shelters and Entrapment Avoidance

Resources

 

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NWCG Latest Announcements

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

Incident Position Standards and Next Gen Position Task Books Now Available for Dispatch Incident Positions

Date: March 5, 2025
Contact: National Coordination System Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all six Dispatch positions:

  • Aircraft Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Coordinator
  • Expanded Dispatch Recorder
  • Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher
  • Initial Attack Dispatcher

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including the Expanded Dispatch Job Aid, J-601 and the Initial Attack and Aircraft Dispatcher Job Aid, J-602, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Coordinator Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Recorder Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Initial Attack Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Job Aids 

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for DMOB, DOCL, and RESL

Date: February 28, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Demobilization Unit Leader (DMOB), Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL), and Resources Unit Leader (RESL).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including a job aid for RESL, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Demobilization Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Documentation Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Resources Unit Leader Position Page