Engine Supervisors

March 13, 2019

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

SUPERVISORY FIRE ENGINE OPERATOR (SUPERVISING THREE OR 

FEWER CREW MEMBERS)

1. Basic OPM Requirements for this Position

 Refer to the OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Technical and Medical 

Support positions

2. Specialized Experience

Applicants must have a minimum of one year of creditable specialized wildland fire 

management experience equivalent to the next lower grade level possession of the

particular knowledge, skills, and abilities can be evidenced by:

Commercial Driver’s License Certification for over 26,000 GVW if appropriate.

AND

Assistant Engine Module Supervisor

OR 

Supervisory Fire Engine Operator

3. NWCG Incident Management Qualifications - Currency Required*

Primary Core Requirement Secondary Core Requirement

ENGB ICT5

4. Additional required training as presented in the following courses, or agency 

equivalent:

 S-211 “Portable Pumps and Water Use”

Common grade level: GS-5/6 (Note: Actual grade level will depend on the duties and 

responsibilities of the position.)
Engine Supervisors

March 13, 2019

Selective Factor Justifications

 ENGB is the minimum qualification needed to supervise a wildland engine crew on an 

incident. Without the ENGB qualification, the engine does not meet national standards 

for engine staffing (Redbook).

 The qualification of ENGB allows the incumbent to tactically operate equipment and 

supervise engine personnel.

 ICT5 is the command qualification for the lowest complexity incident. Type 5 incidents 

typically require less than 6 fire fighters to control, and single engine crews are typically 

assigned to these types of incidents.

 S-211 is a prerequisite training course for ENGB in the PMS 310-1, and provides the 

basic understanding of hydraulics and hose-lay applications, critical knowledge to 

operate a wildland engine.

 The combination of ENGB, ICT5, and S-211 provides the incumbent with the knowledge 

of fire behavior, suppression, resources, equipment, tools, methods and techniques 

sufficient to safely, efficiently, and effectively direct the suppression of wildfires.

Employee Development Training - Employee should receive the following developmental 

training, (or agency equivalent) to fully achieve competencies:

 S-215 (formerly S-205) “Fire Operations in the Urban Interface”

 S-212 “Wildfire Powersaws”

 S-234 “Ignition Operations”

 S-260 “Incident Business Management Principles”
Engine Supervisors

March 13, 2019

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

ENGINE MODULE SUPERVISOR (SUPERVISING FOUR OR MORE CREW 

MEMBERS)

1. Basic OPM Requirements for this Position

 Refer to the OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Technical and Medical 

Support positions

2. NWCG Incident Management Qualifications - Currency Required*

Primary Core Requirement Secondary Core Requirement

ENGB ICT4

3. Additional required training as presented in the following courses, or agency 

equivalent:

 None

Common grade level: GS-7/8 (Note: Actual grade level will depend on the duties and 

responsibilities of the position.)

Selective Factor Justifications

 ENGB is the minimum qualification needed to supervise a wildland engine crew on an 

incident. Without the ENGB qualification, the engine does not meet national standards 

for engine staffing (Redbook).

 ICT4 is the command qualification for the second lowest complexity incident. Type 4 

incidents typically require up to a strike team or task force configuration of resources to 

control, and the engine supervisor needs to have this qualification as they are typically 

the initial attack responder for Type 4 incidents.

 The combination of ENGB and ICT4 provides the incumbent with the knowledge of fire 

behavior, suppression, resources, equipment, tools, methods and techniques sufficient to 

safely, efficiently, and effectively direct the suppression of wildfires.

Employee Development Training - Employee should receive the following developmental 

training, (or agency equivalent) to fully achieve competencies:

 S-215 (formerly S-205)“Fire Operations in the Urban Interface”

 S-212 “Wildland Powersaws”

 S-234 “Firing Methods and Procedure”
Engine Supervisors

March 13, 2019

 S-260 “Incident Business Management Principles”

*Currency

The Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard identifies currency as a

requirement for certain IFPM positions. The original intent of the Task Group that developed the 

IFPM Standard was to document that currency was defined as “current and qualified” (i.e. “red 

card” qualified). However, it has since been clarified per Office of Personnel Management

(OPM) standards, that currency cannot be used as a selective factor because it does not meet the 

OPM’s definition of a selective factor

(http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-06.asp).

The following points are intended to provide clarification for Human Resources (HR) and Fire 

Management regarding the term “currency”:

1. “Currency” will now be defined pursuant to the Wildland Fire Qualification System

Guide (PMS 310-1).

2. Federal bureaus cannot use “currency” to screen out applicants. As long as applicants can 

produce documentation that they have obtained the IFPM competencies at some point (as 

validated by the Incident Qualifications and Currency System (IQCS) Master Record or 

equivalent documentation), they will meet the IFPM Selective Factors.

3. The hiring official can use “currency” as justification for selection. However, for

Delegated Examining advertisements, currency cannot be a reason to pass over a person who is a

qualifying veteran.

4. As indicated in the IFPM Standard, certain positions still require the employee to remain 

current and qualified (i.e. “red card” qualified). If an applicant is selected less “currency”, or an 

incumbent loses “currency”, the employee and management must develop a plan for regaining 

currency.