Wildland Fire Operations Specialist Planning Tool: 

This tool has been developed as a means to identify developmental criteria which will help to meet Position Comand further outlined through the Competency Descriptors, for each position in the IFPM Qualifications StandardIntroduction: The purpose of this planning tool is to provide the current employee or an aspiring employee with suggested dev

to achieve the required competencies for this position. Individual agency requirements, employee’s background initiative may dictate alternate developmental activities to achieve these competencies. The suggested developm

used (a) by the employee and supervisor to customize an Individual Development Plan towards meeting position described in the IFPM Qualifications Standards and Guide; and/or (b) to identify the employee’s future training towards this position as a short or long term goal. For complete competency details, refer to the Competency Descriptors for each key position in the IFPM Qualifiand Guide.Element Element Descriptions Development Elements Program Management 

• Develop, implement and evaluate programs in 

support of mission accomplishments. Implement corrective actions. 

• Develop, implement and evaluate fire management 

budgets. 

• Supervise and develop employees. • Develop and maintain agency and interagency 

partnerships. 

• Identify research needs and apply new technologies. 

• Competency in program manag

Fire Program Management leveEngine or Crew supervisor...). 

• Knowledge of agency financial 

project work plans, expenditure

working knowledge of FPA. 

• Proficiency with PC and Windo

and working knowledge of fire-applications. 

• Suggested Training for future d

o M-581 Fire Program Mao M-580 Ecosystem Manao Supervisory curriculum 

40 hr, 2nd 40 hr, and 3rd 

o Technical Fire Managem

Education Ecosystem M
Element Element Descriptions Development Elements 

curriculum. –oro Natural Resource DegreScience) 

Program Planning 

• Develop plans compliant with environmental laws, 

regulations and policies. 

• Participate in agency interagency planning processes. • Prepare and review plans, and/or plan components, 

including: 

1. Annual Operating Plans 2. Training plans 3. Fire suppression plans 4. Safety plans 5. Individual project plans 

• Involvement with inter-disciplin

provide fire/fuels input. 

• Working knowledge of agency 

HFRA, NFP Implementation Pl

• Working knowledge of unit Fire • Experience with developing or i

Cooperative Fire Protection Ag(State-wide or local) with other state, and county (including VFMunicipal FD). 

• Job experience in writing prescr

(RXBP), and working knowledgmanual or handbook direction. 

• Knowledge and experience of u

program. 

• Job experience as fuels technici

of fuels management projects. 

• Working knowledge of agency 

Implementation Plan (SIP) or m

• Knowledge of smoke modeling 

FOFEM, and SIS) 

• Suggested Training: 

o RX-410 Smoke Manageo NEPA Training (1900-1o S-490 Advanced Wildla

Calculations 

o Fire computer applicatioo Rx-510 Applied Fire Effo Aviation safety, operatio
Element Element Descriptions Development Elements 

training 

o S-580 Advanced Fire U

Operations • Implement unit preparedness programs to include: 

1. Detection 2. Readiness 3. Agreements 4. Fire danger / behavior predictions 5. Severity requests 6. Dispatching 

• Manage wildland fire response program components 

to include: 1. Strategy and tactics 2. Incident management 3. Emergency rehabilitation 4. Logistics / support 5. Priority setting and coordination 6. Reporting 

• Manage prevention programs • Manage fuels and prescribed fire programs. • Manage unit fire aviation programs or operations as 

appropriate including, but not limited to: 1. Tactical application of aircraft 2. Aviation safety management 3. Administration 

• Job experience in suppression p

at next lower Fire Program ManCrew supervisor). 

• Manage and supervise initial att

engines, crews, helitack, preven

• Seek opportunities to develop su

their qualifications and experien

• Knowledge of WIMS, FireFami• Job experience in developing ou

project work plans, tracking exp

• WFSA knowledge and experien

develop and analyze range of apmanagement response. 

• Knowledge of unit specific stan

for fire suppression / manageme

• Working knowledge of agency 

handbooks relating to fire supprpreparedness. 

• Job experience in fire reports an

reporting process. 

• Develop ICS qualifications to m

complexity of incidents. 

• IMT experience as Unit Leader • Job experience in implementing 

RAMS program. 

• Knowledge and experience in p

fuels input to vegetation manag

• Job experience in directing fire 

as burn boss, ignition specialist
Element Element Descriptions Development Elements 

• Job experience in developing sp

mechanical fuels treatments, inccontract inspection. 

• Job experience in fuels impleme

tracking and agency specific acreporting process (ie MAR targ

• Knowledge of fire behavior, eff

modeling (Fire Management AnFVS...) 

• Knowledge of monitoring and p

evaluation. 

• Suggested training: 

o L-380 Fireline Leadersho L-381 Incident Managemo S-491 National Fire Dano I-400 Advanced ICS o FI-220 Wildfire Origin a

Determination 

Safety and Welfare 

• Use applicable laws, policies, and guidelines to 

provide safety leadership and direction. 1. Occupational Safety and Health Act 2. Applicable state safety regulations 3. Department and agency policies and guidelines 4. NWCG guidelines 

• Conduct safety related education programs focusing 

on: 1. Training 2. Certification 

• Prepare hazard, risk, and trend analyses for: 

1. Hazards including, but not limited to: 

a. Fuels 

• Evaluate initial attack and exten

for leadership, competency, quaexperience to provide safe and eand extended attack on the unit. 

• Monitor all initial attack fires th

extended attack. 

• Working knowledge of agency 

safety code handbook. 

• Ensure all fire personnel are tra

prepared for wildland fire operafire implementation. 

• Inspect equipment and facilities 

unsafe working conditions. 
Element Element Descriptions Development Elements 

b. Weather c. Topography 

2. Associated hazards including, but not limited to: 

a. Aviation b. Mechanized equipment c. Hazardous materials 

• Follow up hazards and risks with appropriate 

mitigation actions. 

• Ensure maintenance is conducte

and facilities. 

• Experience in assessing hazards 

projects, and ensuring risk mitigengagement or implementation Mitigation, Complexity AnalysiAssessment...). 

• Adhere to qualification standard

FSH 5109.17 for all ICS positiounit Redcard Review Committe

• Conduct pre-season critical prep

including Annual Fire Fighter Rfor Incident Commanders, helicprescribed fire, HazMat awarendriving, Work Capacity TestingFirst Aid / CPR... etc. 

• Involvement with instructor cad

geographic level training. 

• Involvement with pre-season EE

inspections. 

• Pre-season preparedness plannin

preparedness inspections. 

• Coordinate with local safety coo

reviews and prevention. 

• Ensure all JHA’s are updated ea

reviewed by personnel. Ensure sessions or 6-minutes for Safety conducted. 

• Ensure Physical Training progra

for all fire personnel, and monitsafety.