The Forest Fire Crew is lead by the Forest Fire Warden who is responsible for maintaining a list of people who are called upon to help suppress wildfires.  These people make up the crew and are the backbone of the system.  The Forest Fire Warden is also responsible for fire fighting equipment which is issued to him by the Commonwealth.  The Warden may appoint assistants with the approval of the Chief Forest Fire Warden, in Harrisburg.  These, Special Assistant Forest Fire Wardens share the load with their lead FFW and have the same authority and responsibilities in his or her absence.

    At the fire scene, the crew is under the direction of the local Forest Fire Specialist Supervisor, who is a direct officer of  the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry and by virtue of law, Incident Command at any wildland fire.  By virtue of the same law, in his or her absence, the Forest Fire Warden becomes Incident Command.  FFW's and SAFFW's are trained in the Incident Command System.  ICS was adopted some years ago to better organize suppression efforts on wildfires, especially large fires.

    Wardens and their crews, from time to time, may also take part in Wildfire Prevention Programs; after all, the best way to fight a fire is to keep it form getting started in the first place.  These programs include presentations at schools, daycare centers, civic groups, parades and other community events, hanging Smokey posters, press releases, and even this web site, which I am proud to say is the first of its kind in the state, was started as a prevention program.