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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.

Working with Heavy Equipment

Wildland firefighters perform dangerous work around heavy equipment. Regardless of position or crew type, all firefighters must be equipped to work near heavy equipment. Review Heavy Equipment and other useful references in the IRPG Operational Engagement pages to better prepare yourself when working near heavy equipment.
Category: Hazards
Core Component(s):
Local Topics, Incident Reviews and Lessons Learned, Fire and Aviation Operational Safety, Human Factors, Communication and Decision Making
Estimated Delivery Time: 30 minutes
Video Length: 11:06

Intent

Regardless of position or crew type, all firefighters must be prepared to work safely around heavy equipment.  Review Working with Heavy Equipment and other useful references in the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461. Use the Operational Engagement pages to prepare yourself for working near heavy equipment.

Facilitator Preparation

  • Review the video and module tools.
  • Reference the IRPG. Provide copies for students to utilize and answer questions.
  • Consider additional activities and discussion questions pertinent to the location and agency.

Facilitating the Discussion

  • Share the intent of the module with the class.
  • Show the video.
  • Facilitate a small or large group discussion using discussion questions and IRPG.

Discussion Questions

  1. Locate and review Working with Heavy Equipment in the IRPG. Identify one take-away message within the section specific to your module (e.g., NWCG Dozer Typing Standard, safe distances, communication methods, and hazards).
  2. Locate and review additional IRPG references that may be applicable when working with heavy equipment (e.g., LCES, Safety Zones, Downhill Fireline Construction Checklist, Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) firefighting). Identify one take-away message from each resource specific to your module.
  3. How does your module manage risk when working with or near heavy equipment?
    1. Reference the Risk Management Process in the IRPG.
      1. What critical roles are required when working with heavy equipment?
      2. Who on your module is assessing hazards?
      3. How do you communicate hazard within your module and to heavy equipment operators?
      4. Discuss how this plan differs during night operations.
  4. Review how your module communicates using radios.
    1. What specific channels should be used to communicate with heavy equipment?
    2. How do you communicate with heavy equipment if they don’t have radio capabilities?
    3. How do night operations impact how you communicate with heavy equipment?

Resources

Additional Video Information

  • This video is also available as a download (zip file, size 857MB) with the .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 and Firefox, right click the word download and select Save Link As; for IE, right click and select Save Target As.

Last Modified / Reviewed:

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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

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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
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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