NWCG Data Standards, PMS 910

NWCG data standards (data element and geospatial data layer) provide specifications that enable the common usage of data across wildland fire information systems. For more information login to EDG Explorer.

NWCG Data Standards

EDG Explorer is a database platform used for managing NWCG Data Standards. The following Data Standards and Geospatial Data Layer tables offer a quick view of the standards.

More detailed information such as rules, documentation, and term relationships may be viewed in EDG Explorer. Expand Data Standards or Geospatial Data Layer Standards below to see data standards term descriptions and status.

Note: If the NWCG Data Standards View is not displaying below please report it to NWCG Webmaster.

Title	Steward	Status	Description
Point of Origin Latitude Data Standard	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard adopts the NWCG Latitude data standard for identifying the latitude location of the point of origin of a fire. [validated: 7/21/2008]
Point of Origin Longitude Data Standard	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard adopts the NWCG Longitude data standard for identifying the longitude location of the point of origin of a fire. [validated: 7/21/2008]
Point of Origin Responsible Agency Unit Identifier Data Standard	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard adopts the NWCG Unit Identifier data standard to identify the agency with primary fire protection responsibility at the point of origin of a fire. [validated: 6/16/2008]
Point of Origin Slope Data Standard	GSC Geospatial Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definition for reporting the typical slope in the immediate vicinity of the point of origin of a fire. [validated: 12/17/2012]
Point of Origin State Code Data Standard	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard adopts the NWCG State Code data standard to identify the state or equivalent entity at the point of origin of a fire. [validated: 6/16/2008]
Point of Origin State Data Standard	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	The State alpha code identifying the state or equivalent entity at point of origin.
Position Code & Position Title Data Standard	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard provides a code (mnemonic) and title for each position used in incident management response. [validated: 2/15/2005; updated: 12/17/2018]
Prescribed Fire Escape Indicator Data Standard	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definition for indicating whether a wildfire resulted from an escaped prescribed fire. [validated: 4/10/2008]
Primary Email Data Standard	DMC Data Management Committee	Approved	Individual’s primary email.
Primary Phone Data Standard	DMC Data Management Committee	Approved	Individual’s primary phone.
Primary Weather Station Identifier Data Standard	FWS Fire Weather Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard adopts the NWCG NFDRS Weather Station Standards six-digit identifiers for identifying the NFDRS weather station best representing weather and climate conditions for an incident site at the time of initial response. [validated: 4/10/2008]
Projected Incident Activity Data Standard	FENC Fire Environment Committee	Approved	Create a data standard that describes an estimate of the direction in which the incident is expected to spread, migrate or expand in the next 12, 49, and 72 hour time frames.
Radio Frequency	RSUSC Wildland Fire Radio Standards and Use Committee		A standard describing radio frequencies used in wildland fire.
Residences Destroyed Quantity Data Standard	PSOG National Predictive Services Oversight Group	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definition for reporting the total number of residences destroyed, or damaged to an extent requiring rebuilding, as a result of a fire. [validated: 6/16/2008]
Residences Threatened Quantity Data Standard	PSOG National Predictive Services Oversight Group	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definition for reporting the total number of residences threatened by the fire. [validated: 7/21/2008]
Resource Quantity Current as of Date Time Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The date and time that reflects the period for which the resource counts are current.
Resource System of Record Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The IRWIN username of the system that currently is the System of Record for the resource and the capabilities for that resource.
Secondary Phone Data Standard	DMC Data Management Committee	Approved	Individual’s secondary phone.
Selection Area Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	Indicates the dispatch center inside/outside the current dispatch center for which resources are being requested.
Serial Number Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	A set of numbers that is put on equipment by the manufacturer so that each has a different number and can be recognized.
Significant Events Data Standard	PSOG National Predictive Services Oversight Group	Approved	Create a data standard that describes the observed fire behavior or significant incident events for the current reporting period. (ICS Block 28)
Special Land Designator Data Standard	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definitions for identifying officially designated special land types within a fire perimeter. [validated: 6/16/2008]
State and Landowner Final Fire Acre Quantity Data Standard	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definition for the measure of acres of land belonging to a specified owner within a fire perimeter within a state. [validated: 6/16/2008]
State Code Data Standard	DMC Data Management Committee	Superceded	This data standard has been superseded by the Country Subdivision Code standard.
Tail Number Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The numerical identification of an aircraft, also known as the registration number for an aircraft, as displayed on the aircraft's tail section.
Time Point Data Standard	DMC Data Management Committee	Approved	This data standard adopts the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for representing time of day. [validated: 4/15/2008]
Unique Fire Identifier Data Standard	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and rules for a unique identifier assigned to each wildland fire. [validated: 6/16/2008]
Unique Fire Report Identifier Data Standard	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and rules for a code that uniquely identifies a particular fire report. [validated: 6/16/2008; next validation: 12/31/2013]
Unit Identifier Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	This data standard specifies the standard format and rules for Unit Identifier, a code used within the wildland fire community to uniquely identify a particular government organizational unit. [validated: 12/18/2012]
VIN Data Standard	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) assigned to a piece of equipment.
Weather Concerns Data Standard	FENC Fire Environment Committee	Approved	A field collected in the ICS 209 containing a brief summary of how the current weather is affecting the incident and how the anticipated weather will affect the incident.
Wildfire Cause Data Standard	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	Approved	The data standard for identifying something that started a wildfire.
Wildland Urban Interface Indicator Data Standard	WUIMC Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Committee, FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	This data standard provides a standard format and definition for indicating if the presence of Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) influenced the cost, strategy, or management of a wildfire. [validated: 12/1/2009]

Note: If the NWCG Geospatial Data Layer View is not displaying below please report it to NWCG Webmaster.

Comment on a proposed data standard

When a new or revised data standard is ready for review and comment, it will have a status of Proposed. Submit your feedback to the Data Standards and Terminology Board.

Request for a new or revised standard

Requests for the development of a new data standard, or for changes to a current standard, may be submitted on a Request form.

Download the User Guide and other reference materials

The User Guide for Development and Maintenance of NWCG Data Standards, PMS 938, explains the processes for developing and maintaining both NWCG data element and geospatial data layer standards.

Modified / Reviewed: April 01, 2025

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NWCG Latest Announcements

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

Next Generation Position Task Book and Updated Incident Position Description Now Available for Operations Section Chief Complex

Date: February 27, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC) has a Next Generation NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC), PMS 311-108 and an updated Incident Position Description.

These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

References:

NWCG Operations Section Chief Complex Position Page

NWCG Operations Section Chief Complex Incident Position Description

NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC), PMS 311-108

2025 NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, Now Available

Date: February 27, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the 2025 NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, is now available. Visit NWCG's website to learn about the major updates and changes in the 2025 version of the IRPG. The NWCG Guia de Respuesta de Incidente de Bolsillo (GRI), PMS 461-ES is available electronically and will be available from Great Basin Cache by early summer 2025.

All hard copy materials, including the IRPG, are ordered through the Great Basin Cache (GBK). Information on the ordering process can be found in the National Fire Equipment System (NFES) Catalog.

References:

2025 IRPG Information

NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461

NWCG Guia de Respuesta de Incidente de Bolsillo (GRI), PMS 461-ES

NWCG NFES Catalog - Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2

National Wildfire Coordinating Group

PMS 910

PMS 910

NWCG Data Standards, PMS 910