The 2023 Year End Infographic is out, distilling common themes and lessons from the nearly 150 incidents the Lessons Learned Center received in 2023. Over the next two weeks this blog will feature sections of the Infographic and provide links to many of the incidents that are referenced in it.

This first post focuses on the lives lost among wildland fire first responders all over the country.

Those we lost this year represent the wide variety of individuals who work in wildland fire management. These fatalities took place in Alabama, California, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia and West Virginia. These individuals worked or volunteered for all sorts of emergency response organizations: federal land management agencies, state forestry agencies, and local fire departments. They ranged in age from 21 to 70 years old.

For more information about each of these incidents, click on the links below, presented in chronological order.

Pebble Volunteer Fire Department Vehicle Accident Fatality

Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department Hit by Tree Fatality

Virginia Department of Forestry ATV Accident Fatality

West Virginia Division of Forestry Hit by Tree Fatality

Frederick County Fire and Rescue Department Medical Emergency Fatality

Georgia Forestry Commission Medical Emergency Fatality

Rogue River – Siskiyou Vehicle Accident Fatality

Broadway Fire Helicopter Accident Fatality

Ionia Fire Department UTV Accident Fatality

Ballardsville Fire and Rescue Fatality

Clinton-Warren Joint Fire and Rescue District Medical Emergency Fatality

At the Lessons Learned Center, we emphasize that among the many ways we honor these firefighters, we honor through learning.

To look through the entire Infographic at one time, and to print a copy to post for you and your colleagues, click here.