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2024 NATIONAL INTERAGENCY STANDARDS FOR RESOURCE MOBILIZATION 49

CHAPTER 30

CREWS

CREW STANDARDS FOR NATIONAL MOBILIZATION

Crews will be ordered by a standard type. Three (3) types exist for National or interagency 

assignments. They are Type 1, Type 2 and Type 2 with IA (initial attack) capability.

For a detailed description of minimum crew standards see Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire 

Aviation Operations (NFES 2724):

https://www.nifc.gov/standards/guides/red-book

TYPE 1 INTERAGENCY HOTSHOT CREWS (IHCS)

IHCs require appropriate federal or State agency sponsorship and a recommendation by their 

respective Geographic Area Coordinating Group for inclusion into the national interagency 

mobilization system. NICC will maintain availability status of Type 1 IHCs but will not recognize 

internal Geographic Area rotations of these crews.

Type 1 IHCs attempting to transport chain saws on other than NIFC contract jets should be 

prepared to ship their chain saws via an alternative method should loading be refused. Type 1 IHCs 

normally come equipped with hand tools. There may be occasions when Type 1 IHCs transported 

by air do not arrive with hand tools. If tools are needed, they should be ordered separately as supply 

items.

When Type 1 IHCs are transported by aircraft, the receiving unit should be prepared to provide 

the following:

• Crew transportation.

• Vehicle to transport saws, fuel, and hand tools separate from crew transportation.

• Firing equipment (minimum two cases of fuses).

• Chain saws (four kits).

• Saw fuel (ten gallons, unmixed).

• Bar oil (five gallons).

Interagency Hotshot Crews (IHC) meet or exceed all standards found in the Standards for 

Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations (SIHCO).

https://www.nifc.gov/sites/default/files/standards/SIHCO.pdf

For a complete list of all Type 1 Interagency Hotshot Crews refer to:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/fire/people/ihc

Interagency Hotshot Crews as T2IA, T2 or Suppression Modules

When Interagency Hotshot Crews fall below the level identified in the Interagency Standards for 

Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (NFES 2724) they may still be dispatched as a T2IA, T2 Crew 

or Suppression Module provided they meet the standards for the lesser qualification. The active 

crew qualification in IROC should reflect the standard (T1, T2IA or T2) the crew meets. Do not 

create a new crew resource item with the other qualification(s), update the active qualification 

appropriately. When an IHC falls below the crew standards, an Overhead Group - Suppression 

Module resource item should be created in IROC.
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Crew Qualification and Operational Naming Conventions will reflect according to standard:

• CRW1 – Kern Valley IHC

• CR2I – Kern Valley IHC

• CRW2 – Kern Valley IHC

Suppression Module Qualification (Overhead Group) and Operational Naming Convention:

• SMOD – Kern Valley IHC

TYPE 2 AND TYPE 2 IA CREWS

Crews will be ordered as Type 2 or Type 2 IA. Standard crew size is twenty (20) people maximum 

and eighteen (18) people minimum (including Crew Boss and trainees). In addition to the Type 2 

minimum standards, Type 2 IA Crews can be broken up into squads and have three (3) qualified 

sawyers.

Type 2 and Type 2 IA Crews may or may not come equipped with hand tools and chain saws. 

Crews attempting to transport chain saws on other than NIFC contract jets should be prepared to 

ship their chain saws via an alternative method should loading be refused.

All equipment will be inspected and weighed at time of mobilization to ensure adherence to safe 

transportation procedures.

Units sending Type 2 and Type 2 IA Crews will determine the ratio of crews to Crew 

Representatives (CREP) needed for a given assignment. Depending on the assignment, ratios of 

1:1 to 1:4 may be appropriate. These responsibilities can be met by an Interagency Resource 

Representative (IARR) as well.

A CREP assigned to Type 2 or Type 2 IA Crew will remain with the crew from the initial dispatch 

until the crew is released to home unit. CREPs are not required for agency regular crews.

All crew personnel mobilized and demobilized outside the local unit through NICC will be 

identified on a crew manifest form. Crew weights will be manifested separate from personal gear 

and equipment weights. The crew supervisor or CREP will ensure compliance with weight 

limitations.

US FOREST SERVICE CONTRACTED CREWS

Type 2IA Crews

NIFC Forest Service has contracted nationally for T-2IA Crews (National Contract Resources

(NCR)). National Contract Resources are hosted by local units (Host Unit Coordination Centers

(HUCC)) which are contractually required to utilize dispatch priorities when mobilizing crews, as 

outlined in section C.7 of the National Type-2IA Firefighter Crew Contract.
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For copies of the T-2IA NCR Contract contact:

U.S. Forest Service, Contracting

National Interagency Fire Center

3833 S. Development Avenue

Boise, Idaho 83705-5354

Phone: (208) 387-5665

Type 2 Crews

NIFC Forest Service has contracted nationally for Type 2 Crews. NICC is the sole provider for 

USFS Contracted Type 2 crews. Type 2 Crews are assigned based on a best value determination 

calculated at the time the NICC receives the order.

For copies of the Type 2 Contract contact:

U.S. Forest Service, Contracting

National Interagency Fire Center

3833 S. Development Avenue

Boise, Idaho 83705-5354

Phone: (208) 387-5665

INTERAGENCY RESOURCE REPRESENTATIVE (IARR)

Anytime a Geographic Area or State has committed four or more crews, an Interagency Resource 

Representative (IARR) can be sent by the sending unit, or the receiving unit can request them. For 

each IARR sent, it is the responsibility of the sending GACC to mobilize, demobilize, and ensure 

proper notification is made to the receiving GACC. An IARR mobilized to incident assignments 

away from their home unit should be self-sufficient.