Supervisor for wildfire communications center. Positions at this level report to a program coordinator and have assigned responsibility for directing operations, developing training schedules, and assisting fire personnel with regulation and training.

This is the supervisor level of this series. Positions at this level work under general direction and are primarily responsible for determining staffing and resource needs, and serve as primary contact for law enforcement.

Supervises workload, duties, schedules and essential functions for Wildland Fire Dispatchers 1-3;
Responsible for making decisions regarding frequency management, dispatch staffing, directs and delegates work;

Functions as WildCAD administrator;

Assists in the coordination with mobilization and demobilization activities related to wildland fire suppression. Evaluates operations and assists in plan development.
Evaluates, plans, and coordinates wildland fire and other daily operational situations to ensure adequate quantities of resources and machinery are dispatched to incidents;

Implements and maintains mobilization plans, emergency disaster plans, dispatch policies, and procedures;

Serves a primary point of contact of law enforcement and other public safety responders ensuring protocols are established for incident tracking and notifications. Broadcasts significant advisories and records all radio transmissions;

Provides training to Wildland Fire Dispatchers 1-3;

Troubleshoots basic radio system issues;

Assures that current resource availability and use information is exchanged, daily, with the appropriate geographic area coordination center, adjoining forests, state, and local agencies;

Ensures complete, accurate, timely documentation of wildfire and emergency incidents for all agencies, maintains region fire book spreadsheet and ensures all fire reports are filed according to NEWICC policies and procedures. Performs routine audits to verify accuracy, consistency of documentation, and cost summaries;

In cooperation with center management, works with agency law enforcement and fire fiscal staff to develop and implement SOPs for cost recovery. Processes fire investigations and initiates cost recovery procedures;

Explains and interprets complex rules, polices and operating procedures to vendor cooperators regarding fire dispatch protocol and fire procurement procedures.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

High School diploma or GED equivalent


One seasons as Wildland Fire Dispatcher 3, other dispatch experience, or wildland fire suppression experience.


Three seasons as Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2, other dispatch experience, or wildland fire suppression experience.
One year supervisory experience.
National Wildfire Coordinating Group qualified as an Initial Attack Dispatcher (IADP), Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher Trainee (EDSD-T), or Aircraft Dispatcher Trainee (ACDP-T).

NOTE: Some positions may require keyboarding or typing accurately at a net speed of 35 words per minute or faster.

New class adopted June 22, 2023, effective July 1, 2023.