SW Area 

Wildfire 

Response 

Plan

Appendix A: All Fire Personnel Best Practices address:

General Information

Best Practices

Practice Social Distancing

Work under the “Module as One” concept

Face coverings

Practice personal hygiene

PPE laundry – regular basis

Workplace/equipment/cleaning procedures

Other steps to reduce personal risk

Travel/transportation

Symptom monitoring

Testing

Positive Infection

Contingency planning

Definitions

- SW Area Wildland Fire Response Plan

All Fire Personnel Best 

Practices

See also:

Interagency Mobilization 

Checklist during COVID-19

MPHAT Screening Tool
SW Area 

Wildfire 

Response 

Plan

“Consider national and geographic direction on Information releases 

regarding COVID-19 specific issues at wildland fire incidents managed 

by IMTs (type 1-3). All releases must be consistent and follow the IMT’s 

Delegation of Authority. Local unit(s) who delegated the incident to the 

team approve all releases of information. Local unit Public Affairs 

offices will maintain close contact with Regional, National and 

Department Office directives and be able to guide Public Information 

Officers (PIOs) on what can/cannot be released. 

Many remote communities are not well-served by virtual information 

dissemination and social media in general. Agencies have traditionally 

relied on community meetings and staffed information boards to allow 

personal dialogue in impacted communities. This plan foresees that in 

almost every case, these tools are no longer available to PIOs in areas 

impacted by COVID-19. These communities should be identified and be 

briefed in advance of fire season to manage expectations and explore 

alternatives. 

The PIO BMP in Appendix B provides new and existing information 

dissemination methods to maximize social distancing. Host units should 

evaluate and update contact lists and e-traplines in advance, providing 

them to PIOs within in-briefing packages.”

- SW Area Wildland Fire Response Plan

Strategic Public Info 

Considerations
Moving to Virtual 

Platforms “Identify opportunities for personnel to work 

remotely/virtually...have the technology, training, and 

coordination to be effective and proficient. Practice and 

prepare to enhance knowledge and the skills necessary to 

efficiently conduct work off-site.”

“Be prepared to be self-sufficient for several days, including 

potential remote/spike camp locations.)”

- SW Area Wildland Fire Response Plan

Procedures for Off-Site/Remote Incident Assignments

Suggested resource order language for ordering a virtual PIO

We cannot stress enough the changes that are 

happening.

Think carefully about whether you can adapt to the new environment. There is currently no way in IROC to indicate your status as being available for 

field assignments vs. virtual assignments. There 

may be opportunities for both this season.

Do not accept an assignment that you are not 

comfortable with. Know that resource orders may come with specific technology and skill needs.

Much of the work will be done via computers and 

media platforms, including Facebook, Teams, 

Inciweb, FireNet and potentially other programs.

Consider how you can adapt to the new 

environment. If you decide to go available in IROC, 

we encourage you to reach out to your host unit 

PAO and/or IMT leads to help us identify who may 

be available virtually this year.

Expect computer issues to happen. Do you 

have the adaptability to help be part of finding the solution?

For current information on COVID-19 and 

Agency Plans and response go to the NIFC PIO 

Bulletin Board.
Pre-Season 

to 

Getting 

the Call

1. Make sure you have a current red card. 

◦ FMB memo regarding Adjustments to Wildland Fire Preparedness 

Activities for the 2020 Fire Year (RT-130 fire refresher)

2. Contact dispatch to update your availability/getting IROC self- status access

◦ Requesting self-status in the new Interagency Resource Ordering Capability (IROC) dispatch system.

3. Make sure your Inciweb password works – reset it or request access if needed. Instructions 

4. Keep up with Wildland Fire COVID-19 Related Info

5. Bookmark the NIFC PIO Bulletin Board including Info for 

Public Affairs Officers

6. Prepare for an Incident-Within-An-Incident

7. Add Key Contacts to Your Address Book

8. Network With Colleagues

9. Refresh Your Skills

10. Learn Some New Skills

Things To Do To Get 

Ready For Fire Season
VIRTUAL PIO ORGANIZATION
Internal & 

External 

Communication 

Platforms

How will we communicate in this remote environment?

 Firenet/Teams

 Messages/Texts/Chats

 Phone Calls

 Zoom

Other information that we normally have on walls in the Information 

shop will be posted on TEAMs.

We will have one person assigned to update Firenet boards to reflect the 

most current information.

Everyone assigned will need to have access to Firenet so they can have 

access to internal documents.

Our biggest obstacle will be the 

transfer of complex important 

information.

We've also learned to expect the 

unexpected and know there will be 

connectivity challenges we will need 

to adapt to as well.

The Information Liaison and Assistant 

will be the Point of Contact and 

disseminate the updates to the leads 

through different methods. 
Mobilization to Operations “Implement a strategy that utilizes a “skeleton” staff physically located at the incident, 

with support staff off-site. On-site PIO would coordinate with other functions and 

resources, funneling current information to rest of Info staff for dissemination.

“Leverage resources with cooperators and partners when looking outside the agencies 

for PIO skills to support efforts (coordinate with AZ Department of Emergency and 

Military Affairs).”

“Utilize existing systems like Inciweb, Fire EGP, websites and social media platforms (AZ 

Fire Info, AZEIN, NM Fire Info, and SWCC Fire Info) to the fullest extent.”

“Utilize non-traditional media (newspapers, radio) and consider staffing call centers to 

serve more rural populations, especially if connectivity is limited.”

“Conduct daily COVID-19 Screening Tool.”

“Limit media visits to ICP and the fire line; visitors should be medically screened 

according to approved protocols and equipped with appropriate PPE. Maximize remote 

interview options.”

“Use email lists and/or email subscription services to distribute daily incident updates, 

maps and other information as an “electronic trapline.”

“Utilize ‘portable’ info boards, in the form of an electronic community newsletter for 

dissemination of information to affected entities; enlist the cooperation of businesses 

or other establishments to ‘adopt’ an information bulletin board to post maps and 

information (distributed by PIO via electronic means).”

“Conduct video/virtual community information meetings using available technology. 

Ensure a consistent feedback loop for two-way communication with the community.”

- SW Area Wildland Fire Response Plan

The SW Area Wildland Fire 

Response Plan document is 

intended to be used as a tool for 

extended attack/complex wildland 

fire response for Fire Information 

Section during the ongoing COVID19 Pandemic.

The following guidelines were 

developed in response to the 

current COVID-19 conditions.

Availability of training 

opportunities and Position Task 

Books (PTBs).
Requesting Feedback on NWCG PIO Positions

The NWCG PIO Subcommittee is proposing adding a PIO3 position and 

changing PIOF to PIO4.

Review the comparison table with descriptions for proposed NWCG PIO 

positions.

They are soliciting feedback on the addition of the new position as well as 

the roles and responsibilities of all four positions. Please provide feedback 

through your agency PIO Subcommittee member by May 31, 2020.

*FEMA is looking at moving to a 4-tier system. They are currently working with members of 

the NWCG subcommittee for what that could look like. FEMA currently does not have 

updates available to reference on their website. This change would allow us to be in line with 

FEMA.

Position Task Books

(PTBs)

While efforts will be made to work on PTBs, 

understand that new procedures may limit 

what tasks you can complete on an incident

PTBs will be addressed on an incident-byincident basis. Communicate with your 

designated point of contact for more 

information once assigned
Camp 

Assignment

If you are assigned to ICP or remote (within 20 minutes) 

from the Incident Camp, make sure you are ready to be selfsustaining for 72 hours. This includes food, shelter, PIO 

supplies, computers, chargers for phones, and your own 

sanitizing wipes and gels.

Depending on complexity of assignments, special crews may 

not be in place to support the cleaning and safety of the camp 

and equipment. Please be prepared to decontaminate your 

equipment and vehicle as needed.

Protocols are in-place for how we will safely interface with 

personnel, media and public if staged at ICP.

Considerations include masks, social distancing, and 

constant use of hand washing or hand sanitizers.

Conduct daily COVID-19 Screening, as per the Southwest 

Wildfire Response Plan Appendix C – Wildland Fire COVID-19 

Screening Tool.
Working at 

Home as a 

Virtual PIO

ØCheck-in will be done virtually.

ØWorking at home as a PIO you have a responsibility to be as 

productive as when you were in fire camp. Our expectations 

are that you will be as accessible during the time while on 

assignment shift through computer or phone. With the 

exception of breaks and lunch/dinner.

ØTime will be documented on CTRs and approved by section 

leads virtually. (Community, Media, Info Center, Digital 

Media)

ØHow to scan documents on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

ØHow To scan documents with Google Drive - Android

ØUnit logs and incident documentation will be completed online

ØLeads in the different function areas have been identified 

and notified. You will be assigned into a virtual area and wait 

for instructions from your lead.

ØAll communication will go through your lead unless 

otherwise discussed during incident and adjusted.
PREPARING FOR 

AN INCIDENT 

WITHIN AN 

INCIDENT

“Direct all media questions and reactions to the potential exposure to 

the incident PIO or to the local or state public health official, following all 

agency protocols and HIPAA regulations to protect personal privacy.

Follow the most current direction from the CDC, state, and local health 

authorities including jurisdictional/responsible agency direction. 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus 

Implement team or local unit exposure response plan. 

Implement specific agency response protocols for the affected 

individual(s). 

Ensure local health officials are involved. 

Determine reporting process for COVID-19 related exposure (local level, home unit, 209, etc.). “

- SW Area Wildland Fire Response Plan

If there is an Incident Within an Incident (IWI) each PIO team Cadre 

Lead will have protocols as to how they will identify and implement their 

response.

Review and be up to date with IWI responsibilities (PIO Incident 

Organizer)

Coordinate with Information Liaison to coordinate with Leads and 

provide updates as they become available

NIFC Critical Incident 

Resources

Preparedness Guide for

Firefighters and their Families

U.S. Forest Service 

Supplement
Stress First Aid

Disaster Distress Hotline

SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline 

provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis 

counseling and support to people 

experiencing emotional distress 

related to natural or human-caused 

disasters.

Includes support for Deaf/Hard of 

Hearing & Spanish Speakers

Call or Text

Callers to the hotline can also connect 

with counselors in over 100 other 

languages via 3rd-party interpretation 

services

The following is an excerpt from the peer support class Stress First Aid (SFA)+. It highlights seven actions 

to help identify and address stress reactions in yourself and others. 

The Stress Continuum The Stress Continuum Model is a visual tool to assess stress responses. Stress 

responses vary in severity and type. There is no “normal” response to stress, and stress responses are not 

signs of mental illness. Every person reacts to stressful stimuli, but individual responses depend on how 

well a person is prepared to confront the stressor, along with their individual interpretation of the 

stressor. A person’s stress response can rapidly change from Green to Yellow to Orange to Red and back 

again. SFA falls in the middle of the care spectrum somewhere between training, stress management, 

prevention, and clinical treatments from healthcare providers. It offers a set of procedures to help 

manage stress reactions when someone is moving from Yellow to Orange or even Red. Mitigation actions 

can and should be applied by anyone, anywhere. - Preparedness Guide for Firefighters and their Families
Demob

oDemob will look different this season.

oFlexibility and patience with new processes will be key to 

assuring a successful assignment.

oAs season progresses processes may change in this nontraditional season.

oAll efforts will be made to accommodate task books and 

signatures.