In 2010, the Incident Emergency Medical Subcommittee (IEMS), operating under the authority of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) - Risk Management Committee, completed the document, Interim Minimum Standards for Medical Units Managed By NWCG Member Agencies. The document was the first of several to be developed that will address the need for uniform standards and safe delivery of medical care provided by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel at wildland fire. It focused on recognizing current practices and recommending standards to medical units for; promoting the use of licensed personnel within their scope of practice, state EMS office notification, applicable rules and jurisdictions, medical direction, communications, patient transportation and medical equipment, medication and supplies used. The IEMS also committed to developing wildland fire specific protocols and this document, Clinical Treatment Guidelines for Wildland Fire Medical Units, PMS 551, is the finished product. A task group of physicians with diverse backgrounds in wildland fire medicine, wilderness medicine and emergency/ clinical backgrounds reviewed this document and provided valuable input. These guidelines where developed with the expectation that the typical appropriate Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Life Support (ALS) EMS interventions will be provided as needed so we did not include detailed protocols for EMS medical or trauma patient care, which already exists. Rather, we focused on guidance for the unique differences and challenges associated with remote sites and expanded evaluation skills needed for patient care issues such as: 1) assisting a patient with first aid and self-care health management; 2) triaging conditions for recognition of appropriate self-care assistance vs. need for transport to clinical medical care; and 3) initiating urgent/EMS care using appropriate and predetermined transport modes.

The Agency Administrator's Guide to Critical Incident Management is designed to assist Agency Administrators in dealing with critical incidents. A critical incident may be defined as a fatality or other event that can have serious long-term adverse effects on the agency, its employees and their families or the community. Although fire incidents inspired this document, it also has application to other types of incidents. The Agency Administrator is the highest-ranking agency line officer with direct responsibility for the personnel involved in the incident (for example, BLM District Manager, Park Superintendent, Forest Supervisor, Refuge Manager, BIA Agency Superintendent or State land manager). Through effective, efficient, and timely leadership, Agency Administrators are responsible for the overall management of critical incidents within their jurisdiction. This document includes a series of checklists to guide an Agency Administrator through those difficult and chaotic days that follow a death, serious injury, or other critical or highly visible event. The time to use it is now This document needs to be reviewed and updated at least annually. The availability of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams and related resources varies constantly - it is imperative that local units pre-identify in this plan the CISM resources that can support local unit needs. This guide was designed as a working tool to assist Agency Administrators with the chronological steps in managing the incident. It also provides a detailed overview of Agency Administrators' responsibilities before a critical incident occurs, during the actual management of the incident, and after the incident activity has taken place. It is not intended to take the place of local emergency plans or other detailed guidance. It should be used in conjunction with other references as well as the attached appendixes. This guide can also be used as a worksheet (both in preparation for and in management of a critical incident) by Agency Administrators and others with oversight responsibilities during a critical incident.

Navigating with a compass and map is an essential skill for many incident positions. Even with new technology, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, map and compass skills are still needed. Confidence with navigation skills comes with practice and proficiency. This confidence level often impacts how a person performs during a crisis - which can result in life or death decisions. Basic Land Navigation is an introduction to land navigation. It begins with a general overview of maps. Then it specifically addresses how to read topographic maps. Next it covers various types of geographic location systems, such as latitude/longitude and Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM). This is followed by basic instructions on using a compass and clinometer. Then a general overview of the Global Positioning System is presented.

The care of the sick and injured on wildland fire incidents has expanded over the last 30 years. The mission of Medical Units on wildland fire incidents has evolved into a complex service which provides: (1) stabilization and emergency medical treatment of incident personnel, and (2) occupational health and preventative measures for incident personnel to remain safe and healthy. Wildland firefighting operations require a unique array of services due to the remoteness, terrain, and complexity of utilizing multiple agencies. Medical support is essential because of the inherent risks and exposures associated with these events. The issues of standard of care and legal licensure of providers come into play when emergency medical providers from other jurisdictions cross state lines or other geopolitical boundaries to provide medical care. These situations are further complicated in areas where medical control is sometimes nonexistent or the capabilities of nearby medical facilities may be limited, including the variability of local emergency medical services agency capacities. This document introduces stakeholders to the minimum standards developed by the Incident Emergency Medical Task Group (IEMTG) when a Medical Unit has been established by a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) member agency. This document is intended to provide direction regarding medical personnel and equipment assigned to the Medical Unit. The IEMTG recognizes the National EMS Scope of Practice Model as the baseline standard for emergency medical service providers. Therefore, a key component of the minimum standards addresses the recognition of local, state, federal, and tribal jurisdictional authorities and the integration of medical services. Overall, the minimum standards seek to ensure that incident personnel receive quality, timely medical care on wildland fire incidents, which often occur in remote areas.

The objectives of this guide are to: Define and standardize national interagency operating procedures at large airtanker bases to ensure safe and efficient operations; Support fire policy through interagency coordination; Facilitate the exchange of personnel from all wildland fire suppression agencies during periods of high fire activity through standardization; Provide a common, interagency approach in the State, Federal, and Tribal Government's contract related responsibilities; Provide common forms, checklists, orientations outlines, and special instructions for both contractor employees (retardant supplier personnel, pilots, mechanics) and government employees at airtanker bases; Provide a framework, which allows each airtanker base to provide a local base supplement with site specific guidance.

This Wildfire Prevention Guide is a project of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. This guide is one in a series designed to provide information and guidance for personnel who have interests and/or responsibilities in fire prevention. Each guide in the series addresses an individual component of a fire prevention program. In addition to providing insight and useful information, each guide suggests implementation strategies and examples for utilizing this information. Each Wildfire Prevention Guide has been developed by Fire Prevention Specialists and subject matter experts in the appropriate area. The goal of this series is to improve and enhance wildfire prevention programs and to facilitate the achievement of NWCG program goals. NWCG Wildfire Prevention Guide development: Conducting School Programs (1996); Event Management (1996); Wildfire Prevention Marketing (1996); Wildfire Prevention and the Media (1998); Wildfire Prevention Strategies (1998); Effective Wildfire Prevention Patrol (1998); Recreation Area Fire Prevention (1999); Fire Communication and Education (1999); Fire Education Exhibits and Displays (1999); Industrial Operations Fire Prevention Guide (1999).

This Wildfire Prevention Guide is a project of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. This guide is one in a series designed to provide information and guidance for personnel who have interests and/or responsibilities in fire prevention. Each guide in the series addresses an individual component of a fire prevention program. In addition to providing insight and useful information, each guide suggests implementation strategies and examples for utilizing this information. Each Wildfire Prevention Guide has been developed by Fire Prevention Specialists and subject matter experts in the appropriate area. The goal of this series is to improve and enhance wildfire prevention programs and to facilitate the achievement of NWCG program goals. Special mention to the National Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Program and members of the Pacific Northwest Fire Prevention Cooperatives in providing information to this guide. NWCG Wildfire Prevention Guide development: Conducting School Programs (1996); Event Management (1996); Wildfire Prevention Marketing (1996); Wildfire Prevention and the Media (1998); Wildfire Prevention Strategies (1998); Effective Wildfire Prevention Patrol (1998); Recreation Area Fire Prevention (1999); Fire Communication and Education (1999); Fire Education Exhibits and Displays (1999); Industrial Operations Fire Prevention Guide (1999); Establishing Fire Prevention Education Cooperative; Programs and Partnerships (1999).

The purpose of this document is to provide general, consistent and uniform guidance to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) organization for use in conducting its business. The operating principles and guidelines presented in this document are intended to result in predictable and consistent organizational behavior. The principles and guidelines provide the foundation for repeatable business practices shared by all NWCG groups, thus eliminating the inefficiencies of each group developing its own processes. This document will be periodically reviewed and updated to ensure the guidance is always timely and relevant to the operations of the NWCG organization. This document is organized around a series of fundamental, organizational management questions and their answers regarding the NWCG organization: Who are we? What should we do? How do we do it? How do we keep things going?

The goal of the Interagency Aerial Supervision Guide (PMS 505) is to promote safe, effective, and efficient aerial supervision services in support of incident goals and objectives. Its objective is to consolidate the Interagency Leadplane Guide, Aerial Supervision Module Guide, and the Interagency Air Tactical Group Supervisors Guide into one document which will: a) State consistent interagency aerial supervision standards and procedures. b) Define the roles, responsibilities, and scope of each aerial supervision position. c) Enhance information sharing between Air Tactical Group Supervisors (ATGS), Aerial Supervision Modules (ASM), Leadplane Pilots, Airtanker Coordinators (ATCO), Air Tactical Pilots (ATP), Air Tactical Supervisors (ATS), and Helicopter Coordinators (HLCO). d) Provide a common interagency guide, which can be utilized by all members of the aerial supervision community.

This Wildfire Prevention Guide is a project of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. This is one in a series designed to provide information and guidance for personnel who have interests and/or responsibilities in fire prevention. Each guide in the series addresses an individual component of a fire prevention program. In addition to providing insight and useful information, each guide suggests implementation strategies and examples for utilizing this information. Each Wildfire Prevention Guide has been developed by Fire Prevention Specialists and subject-matter experts in the appropriate area. The goal of this series is to improve and enhance wildfire prevention programs and to facilitate the achievement of NWCG program goals.