In response to many concerns regarding the escalating cost of large fires, the NWCG tasked the Incident Business Practices and Safety and Health Working Teams with reviewing and making recommendations on supplemental food policy.

Absent a more restrictive agency or geographic area policy, the following supplemental foods may be provided:

1. Fruit or dried fruit or fruit juice and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables should be in season, available locally and reasonably priced to avoid excessive costs and difficulty in procurement.

2. Sports drinks or mixes that provide electrolytes and meet the carbohydrate solution mixes recommended in the NIFC study Feeding the Wildland Firefighter. Bottled water also may be provided.

Candy bars and energy bars may be provided in addition to those in sack lunches. The goal is to provide an average of 1,000 kilocalories of solid supplements per firefighter per day.

• Any supplemental foods provided will require incident commander justification and concurrence from the agency administrator. The only acceptable justification for providing supplemental foods is to meet the expanded nutritional needs of firefighters performing prolonged or arduous work.
• No other supplemental food or drinks shall be authorized. Special or cultural dietary needs will be met through the National Mobile Food Contract or catered meals and not through this policy.

The policy is at www.nwcg.gov/teams/ibpwtnew/ibpwt/ibpwtmin.htm.