INTRODUCTION 

INTERAGENCY FIRE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT QUALIFICATIONS 

STANDARDS AND GUIDE 

BACKGROUND

As a result of the South Canyon fire and subsequent South Canyon Fire Investigation Report 

(August 17, 1994) the Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management, and the Chief, Forest 

Service, established the Interagency Management Review Team (IMRT) to serve as a steering 

group, study the findings and conclusions of the Investigation Team, and propose a plan for 

corrective action. 

On October 17, 1994, the Report of the IMRT was published. It included, among others, these 

recommendations (IMRT Topic 3.6): 

1. “Establish minimum qualifications for fire managers and agency administrators who are 

required to make fire management decisions.” 

2. “Agency Administrators should ensure that personnel holding, or selected for, fire 

management or agency administrator positions are qualified for the level of wildland fire 

complexity involved in the position or are able to obtain these qualifications within an 

acceptable time period.” 

On December 18, 1995, the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

published the final report of the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and Program Review 

(Federal Fire Policy). Signed by both Department Secretaries, it directed the federal agencies to: 

 “establish fire management qualifications based on program complexity, and staff existing 

and future agency administrator and fire management vacancies with individuals who meet 

these qualifications and who are committed to accomplishing the total fire management 

program.” 

On May 23, 1996, the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

published the Implementation Action Plan Report outlining action items which must be 

accomplished by the signatory agencies to fully implement the Federal Fire Policy. Several 

action items are specific to the development of qualifications for agency administrators and 

personnel assigned fire management duties including: 

Action Item 27, “establish fire management qualifications based on program complexity, and 

staff existing and future agency administrator and fire management vacancies with 

individuals who meet these qualifications and who are committed to accomplishing the total 

fire management program.” 

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Introduction 

Action Item 62, “Develop and utilize consistent fire management qualification standards and 

specific selection criteria for fire program managers.” 

Action Item 63, “Establish job performance standards for Agency Administrators and fire 

managers that clearly reflect the complexity and scope of fire management responsibilities.” 

To accomplish these action items, the former Federal Fire and Aviation Leadership Council 

(FFALC) formed an Interagency Fire Program Management Qualifications task group. The 

objective of the Task Group was to complete staff work, acceptable to all federal agencies with 

wildland fire management responsibilities and to the Office of Personnel Management, sufficient 

for the establishment of minimum qualifications standards for key fire management positions. 

The resulting Interagency Fire Program Management Qualification Standards and Guide (IFPM 

Standard) was approved by FFALC in January 2000. The IFPM Standard defined 14 key fire 

management positions as well as minimum qualification standards for those 14 key positions. 

The 14 key positions can be broken down into three categories: 

First Line Supervisor (Those that implement fire projects) 

Interagency Hotshot Crew Superintendent (IHCS) 

Helicopter Manager (HMGR) 

Senior Firefighter (SFF) 

Engine Module Supervisor (EMLS) 

Supervisor Engine Operator (SEOP) 

Initial Attack Dispatcher (IADP) 

Fire Project Specialist (Those that plan fire projects) 

Wildland Fire Operations Specialist (WFOS) 

Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist (PFFS) 

Prevention and Mitigation Specialist (PAMS) 

Initial Attack Lead Dispatcher/Assistant Center Manager (ACMG) 

Center Manager (CMGR) 

Fire Program Manager (Those that manage the overall fire program) 

Unit Fire Program Manager (UFPM) 

Geographic Area Fire Program Manager (GFPM) 

National Fire Program Manager (NFPM) 

In June 2004 Dale Bosworth, Chief, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service 

(USDA-FS) and Department of Interior (DOI) Assistant Secretary P. Lynn Scarlett issued 

memorandums establishing October 1, 2004 as the date to officially begin implementing the 

IFPM Standard with a 5 year implementation time frame. 

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Introduction 

The Interagency Fire Program Management Qualifications Standards and Guide is broken into 

four sections: 

♦ Introduction 

♦ Individual Position Standard and Guide 

♦ Common Competencies 

♦ Program Complexities. 

INDIVIDUAL POSITION STANDARD AND GUIDE

The individual position standard and guide includes the following components: 

♦ Minimum Qualifications Standards 

♦ Employee Development Training 

♦ Position Specific Competencies 

Minimum Qualification Standards consists of:

♦ Basic Requirements for GS-0455, GS-0462 or GS-0401 positions 

♦ Specialized Experience Requirements 

♦ National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Incident Management Qualifications 

♦ Additional Required Training 

These Minimum Qualifications Standards were established to meet the direction outlined in 

the Implementation Action Plan Report of the 1995 Federal Fire Policy Review. 

To meet these minimum standards, all identified “Minimum Qualifications Standards” 

components (“OPM Standard Requirements,” “Specialized Experiences,” “Additional 

Required Training” and “NWCG Incident Management Qualifications”) must be met. 

These “Minimum Qualification Standards” must be used when recruiting for vacant 

positions. 

Where NWCG Incident Management Qualifications are shown, they relate to minimum 

incident management skills required to manage the local program on the unit. The 

assumption is made that if higher incident management skills are needed to manage an 

incident, they would be ordered through the standard resource ordering process. 

Each Minimum Qualification Standard is identified by the fire organizational title. The 

formal classification title will be based on the appropriate job series. 

Employee Development Training – identifies training that assists an employee in meeting 

position competencies, in addition to training that is required. It is recognized that training is 

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Introduction 

not the only way of obtaining competencies, but the identified courses do provide many, though 

not necessarily all, of the knowledge and skills needed to meet position competencies. 

Position Specific Competencies – constitute the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities which, 

when acquired, allow a person to perform a task or function at a defined level of proficiency 

based on complexity. 

COMMON COMPETENCIES

The Common Competency Descriptors for All Positions is intended to supplement the Position 

Specific Competency Descriptors. They are competencies needed for most positions. 

Employees obtain these “Common Competencies” through personal education and experiences, 

through agency orientation and mission renewal programs, and through interaction with peers, 

teams, and supervisors. These Common Competency Descriptors are used in a variety of ways 

including constructing Employee Development Plans and evaluating employee performance. 

PROGRAM COMPLEXITIES

The Rating Guide for Evaluating Fire Program Complexity is used to determine the overall 

complexity of a fire management program at the unit level. A rating of low, moderate or high is 

assigned. The series and competency level of some of the key fire management positions is tied 

directly to the complexity rating. Grade is not tied to the complexity level that is determined 

through the classification process.

Changes to a unit’s complexity rating can be made at any time. The need for re-analysis may be 

generated at the local unit level, or from regional or state-level direction. Possible reasons for a 

re-analysis include, but are not limited to: 

♦ Changes in protection area that increase or decrease a unit’s responsibility for providing 

fire protection. 

♦ The combining of multiple units into an interagency zone or organization 

♦ Addition or subtraction of key components to a unit’s fire management program. 

Changes to key elements of a fire management program should be “programmatic” and long 

term, and not adjustments to respond to a temporary arrangement. 

TRAINING FOR AGENCY ADMINISTRATORS 

In addition to common qualification standards for fire management personnel job performance 

standards for agency administrators and fire managers were developed. The Interagency 

Standards for Fire and Aviation Operations (Red Book) identifies the requisite training and 

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Introduction 

competencies for various levels of agency administrators, fire program managers and other 

agency managers of the five federal wildland fire management agencies. For the most current 

policy refer to the Red Book at http://www.nifc.gov/policies/red_book.htm. 

EARLY CHANGES TO THE IFPM STANDARDS AND GUIDE

Since October 1, 2004 some of the NWCG Incident Management Qualifications for certain 

positions have changed to address concerns from the field and more accurately reflect current 

fire management organization needs. The following is a list of the changes that occurred, prior 

to the comprehensive 2008 Position Analysis (Page 6). Some of these historical changes are no 

longer relevant following the 2008 Position Analysis. 

Unit Fire Program Manager, High Complexity – Prescribed fire qualification was 

changed from Prescribed Fire Manager, Type 2 (RXM2) to Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, 

Type 2 (RXB2). 

 

Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist, High Complexity – Prescribed fire qualification was 

changed from Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 1 (RXB1) to Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, 

Type 2 (RXB2). 

Center Manager - The additional required training of “40-HR Supervisory Training, 

Basic dispatch computer skills, and Training to provide intermediate computer skills and 

working knowledge of various fire management computer programs” was removed. 

Senior Firefighter – The NWCG Incident Management qualifications requirement of 

Incident Commander, Type 5 (ICT5) and Firefighter, Type 1 (FFT1) or Helicopter 

Crewmember (HECM), as appropriate was changed to ICT5 or FFT1 or HECM, as 

appropriate. 

More information on these changes can be found on the IFPM website at www.ifpm.nifc.gov. 

IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD EXTENSION

In an August 15, 2008 memo from the Associate Deputy Secretary of the Interior, the deadline to 

meet IFPM requirements was extended to October 1, 2010, providing incumbents an additional 

year to meet both “position specific IFPM Standards” (NWCG qualifications and additional 

required training) as well as positive education requirements for GS-0401 positions. A similar 

extension letter will be forthcoming for Forest Service employees.

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Introduction 

2008 POSITION ANALYSIS

At the request of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) the IFPM Implementation 

Team completed a position analysis of the 14 key fire management positions. The analysis 

focused on two areas; is the position still appropriate for inclusion as one of the 14 key positions; 

and the NWCG incident management qualification requirements associated with the position. 

As a result of that analysis and subsequent meetings between the Implementation Team and 

NWCG, the following changes were implemented: 

A. Prevention and Mitigation Specialist: The Prevention and Mitigation Specialist 

position was removed from the IFPM Standard. It was determined that the competencies 

associated with these positions did not necessitate prescription of minimum NWCG 

incident qualification requirements or additional required training. 

B. Driving for the Fire Service (S-216): This course was removed as additional required 

training for the Supervisory Engine Operator position. It was determined that agencyspecific driver safety training or engine academies were currently sufficient to meet or 

exceed this training requirement. 

C. Delegation of National and Geographic Area Fire Program Manager IFPM Role: 

Due to organizational complexities, there may be instances in national and geographic 

organizations where the senior fire program manager delegates the IFPM requirements to 

a senior officer, other than the employee who holds the title of National or Geographic 

Fire Program Manager. The primary intent of this delegation is to place the appropriate 

individual who meets IFPM minimum qualification standards in the position of authority 

to support safe operations in the field. 

D. Adjustment of Minimum NWCG Incident Qualifications: Adjustments were made to 

several IFPM positions as a result of the Analysis. Four categories of NWCG incident 

qualifications were presented in the original IFPM standards. These categories were 

replaced as follows: 

Old Position Categories New Categories 

Command 

Operations 

Prescribed Fire 

Dispatch 

Primary Core Requirements 

Secondary Core Requirements 

The analysis determined that Operations qualifications would serve as the fundamental 

building block for each position (the “Primary Core Requirement”), with the exception 

being the High and Moderate Complexity Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist positions 

in which RXB2 is the Primary Core Requirement. 

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Introduction 

The distinction between Primary and Secondary Core Requirements is based on a 

position competency ranking conducted during the analysis process. Both Primary and 

Secondary Core Requirements are weighted equally from a selective placement factor 

standpoint. 

Primary Core Requirements, Secondary Core Requirements, and Additional Required 

Training are all mandatory and will be used as selective placement factors in vacancy 

announcements beginning October 1, 2010. Prior to October 1, 2010 (the 

“implementation period”) vacancy announcement language will reference the 

requirement that these qualifications be obtained prior to October 1, 2010. 

Where an “OR” option is indicated, any NWCG position listed can be chosen to meet the 

qualification standard. For example, the Secondary Core Requirement for the position of 

Geographic Area Fire Program Manager can be achieved if the employee has been 

qualified in one of three position options: Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3) or, Type 

2 Command and General Staff (see C&GS list) or, Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 2 

(RXB2). 

NWCG incident qualification requirements were changed for the following positions as a 

result of the 2008 Position Analysis. This list contains qualification requirements both 

before and after the position analysis adjustment: 

1. National Fire Program Manager: 

Before: TFLD and ICT3 and T2 C&G and RXB2. 

After: TFLD and (ICT3 or T2 C&G or RXB2). 

2. Geographic Area Fire Program Manager: 

Before: TFLD and ICT3 and T2 C&G and RXB2. 

After: TFLD and (ICT3 or T2 C&G or RXB2). 

3. Unit Fire Program Manager, High Complexity: 

Before: DIVS and ICT3 and RXB2. 

After: DIVS and (ICT3 or RXB2). 

4. Unit Fire Program Manager, Moderate Complexity: 

Before: TFLD and ICT3 and RXB2. 

After: TFLD and (ICT3 or RXB2). 

5. Unit Fire Program Manager, Low Complexity: 

Before: (CRWB or ENGB) and ICT4 and RXB2. 

After: (CRWB or ENGB) and (ICT4 or RXB2). 

6. Wildland Fire Operations Specialist, High Complexity: 

Before: DIVS and ICT3 and RXB2. 

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Introduction 

 1-8 September, 2008 

After: DIVS and (ICT3 or RXB2). 

7. Wildland Fire Operations Specialist, Moderate Complexity: 

Before: TFLD and ICT3 and RXB2. 

After: TFLD and (ICT3 or RXB2). 

8. Wildland Fire Operations Specialist, Low Complexity: 

Before: (ENGB or CRWB) and ICT4 and FIRB. 

After: (ENGB or CRWB) and ICT4. 

9. Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist, High Complexity: 

Before: RXB2 and ICT3 and TFLD. 

After: RXB2 and (ICT3 or TFLD). 

10. Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist, Moderate Complexity: 

Before: RXB2 and (ENGB or CRWB) and ICT4. 

After: RXB2 and (ENGB or CRWB). 

11. Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist, Low Complexity: 

Before: (ENGB or CRWB) and FIRB and ICT4. 

After: (ENGB or CRWB or FIRB) and ICT4. 

. 

12. Supervisory Fire Engine Operator: 

Before: ENOP and ICT5. 

After: ENGB and ICT5. 

13. Senior Firefighter: 

Before: FFT1 or ICT5 or HECM. 

After: FFT1. 

E. Command and General Staff Positions: One of the qualification pathways for the 

Secondary Core Requirement for National and Geographic Area Fire Program Managers 

is a Command and General Staff qualification. The following is the official list of 

qualifying C&GS positions and replaces all previous versions: 

ICT1/2 Incident Commander Type 1 or Type 2 

PIO1/2 Public Information Officer Type 1 or Type 2 

SOF1/2 Safety Officer Type 1 or Type 2 

OSC1/2 Operations Section Chief Type 1 or Type 2 

PSC1/2 Planning Section Chief Type 1 or Type 2 

LSC1/2 Logistics Section Chief Type 1 or Type 2 

FSC1/2 Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 1 or Type 2