Dispatch Centers and Coordination
The National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC)
The National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) is the focal point for coordinating the mobilization of resources for wildland fire and other incidents throughout the United States. Within its functions are five primary components that support the dispatching community: Incident Information; Predictive Services; Logistics/ Dispatch; Administrative and Other Links.
Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) Portal
There are 11 Geographic Coordination centers to assist Federal and state resources with incident management coordination and mobilization of resources. The portal website is a central location that provides Intelligence Reports, logistical resource availability, predictive service information, weather and fuels and outlooks and maps and imagery data from each of the 11 centers.
ROSS – Resource Ordering Status System
Ross is a computer software program that automates the resource ordering, status and reporting processes. As a tool for the dispatch community, it enables dispatch offices to electronically exchange and track information near real-time and tracks all tactical, logistical, service and support resources mobilized by the incident dispatch community.
FEMA Information
Looking for other emergency or disaster information, look to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for guidance.
Dispatch Reference Materials
There is a large network of resources and guides needed to support the dispatch community. The National Mobilization Guide, ROSS Standards and Operations Guide, Expanded Dispatchers Job Aid, mobilization forms, NWCG Glossary of Terms, aircraft contract lists and pilot qualifications as well as Unit Identifiers and the latest edition of the NFES catalog can be found here.