Overhead
In wildland fire, “overhead” refers to supervisory, management, and specialized positions assigned to wildfires or other emergency incidents. These roles keep operations organized, resources moving, and safety at the forefront. Most overhead personnel work on the fireline or at the incident command post, but many contribute in support roles away from the flames.
Overview
Most overhead positions include roles like operations section chief, helitack manager, strike team leader, and finance section chief. While many in overhead have firefighting experience, it’s not required, there are many ways to be part of the mission. The following are examples of the hundreds of overhead positions in wildland fire management.
Overhead positions
Coordinating crews, aircraft, and equipment in real time
Dispatchers coordinate resources like crews, helicopters, and airtankers; relay weather updates; track locations; and keep communication flowing between the fireline and managers.
- Specialties include initial attack, expanded operations, aircraft, and intelligence.
- Skills: multitasking, prioritization, and working under pressure.
Keeping the public and media informed when it matters most
PIOs handle communication with both internal and external audiences. They may:
- Manage media relations, social media, and public meetings
- Staff information centers
- Provide timely, accurate updates during incidents
Building skills, knowledge, and readiness for the fireline
Training specialists ensure firefighters and support staff have the skills and knowledge they need. They:
- Develop and update curriculum
- Organize and deliver training sessions
- Evaluate training effectiveness
Finding the when, where, and why behind the flames
Investigators determine how and where a fire started. In areas with high numbers of human-caused fires, they work with law enforcement and fire crews. Their findings may lead to:
- Cost recovery
- Prevention campaigns
- Civil or criminal legal action
Critical support roles beyond the fireline
Overhead also includes specialists in:
- Prevention and education
- Fire ecology
- Safety
- Fire business management
- Incident technology support
- Meteorologist
