Have we as the wildland fire service ever really changed? I would argue there is a difference between change and adjustment. I think we have made fantastic adjustments and very little change.
Fire Culture
The Lunch Spot
The physical location of the Lunch Spot often coincides with a decision point. It’s commonly a spot offering a safe place to take a tactical pause.
Do You Use ‘Hedge Words’? (“So, Do You Kinda Know What I Mean?”) It’s Time to Stop!
Hedge words make statements less forceful or assertive. While they are sometimes intended for politeness, they often end up "softening" the message. This can undermine our credibility and make us appear less confident.
Heroes and Dragon Slayers
You can buy belt buckles, T-shirts, and caps that proclaim you are “America’s Bravest” or that you are a “Dragon Slayer.” Are you?
The Repeats
Please resist the urge to use Bad Math, which goes like this: “This one thing happened and then this other thing happened, so I will make a random correlation and spout some overused catchphrase (‘They lost SA’) as if it were an actual solution and expect people to listen because I have a belt buckle.”
Who Studies Fire Shelters? This Guy
This is an interview with Tony Petrilli, who has served on more than 35 fire entrapment safety review/investigation team assignments.
Where are the Lessons?
Where are the lessons? Sometimes it's complicated. But not always. This post breaks down how to get the lessons.
Leading the Learning
Learning is not always easy. In fact, sometimes it is hard. We know that the wildland fire service has specific cultural values and some unique challenges that influence how we go about learning. This publication addresses all of that. The learning that follows is up to you.
When Lightning Strikes
Two Helitack members are struck by lightning on a remote fire. What are the lessons?
Rethinking When, Where, and Why We Carry Fire Shelters
While I am not an advocate for eliminating the use of fire shelters, when we understand and train for their proper application and importance, we will be able to move beyond our reliance on shelters when their presence is either unnecessary or dangerous.