The National Wildfire Coordinating Group tasked an interagency group to review the current work/rest guidelines and length of assignment policy. The group met and drafted recommendations based on the request. The recommendations have been discussed, edited and are ready for implementation.

The changes provide for opportunities to improve managing fatigue for all resources, as well as offer additional flexibility in assignment length commitments. The work/rest guidelines and assignment length changes will be included in the 2003 publication of the National Interagency Mobilization Guide, as well as amended in the Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook.

The NWCG would like input from the field throughout the fire season to assist in the finalization of these changes. These guidelines and policies will be reviewed in the fall for additional clarification. Upon review, the final guidelines and policy will be included in the full revision of the IIBMH to be published in the spring of 2004, as well as the 2004 edition of the Mob Guide.

Submit your comments no later than Oct. 1 to Stephanie Horton at shorton@fs.fed.us. The comments will be forwarded to the task group leaders. Please do not send comments until the changes have been in place for a period of time to adequately determine if they are meeting the needs in the field.

The revised guidelines are available at www.nifc.gov/safety_study/annual-refresh/index.htm.