[This article originally appeared as the introduction to the 2021 Spring Issue of Two More Chains.] By Kelly Woods, Director, Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center It has been a decade since the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) set out to produce a quarterly publication to highlight thought-provoking topics from and for the field. This … Continue reading The Work Never Ends
Fire Culture
To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?
A Personal Decision on the Fireline - Are You Willing to Roll the Dice? By Dr. Jennifer Symonds Fire and Aviation Management Medical Officer U.S. Forest Service The decision on whether or not to get your COVID-19 vaccine is a personal one; we must all make our own choice. Clearly, we all have different motivators … Continue reading To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?
Insights on Resiliency and Innovation with Advice for New and Older Firefighters
[This article originally appeared as the “One of Our Own” feature in the 2021 Spring Issue of Two More Chains.] --------------------------------------------- For this ten-year anniversary issue of Two More Chains, we thought it would be beneficial to get the perspective and insights from a wildland firefighter who’s been in the wildland fire service business for … Continue reading Insights on Resiliency and Innovation with Advice for New and Older Firefighters
7,305 Days Ago, I Learned How to Fight Fire
We had opportunities to make better decisions and we didn’t. How do we process and transfer these lessons? By Thomas R. Taylor Seven thousand three hundred and five days ago I learned how to fight fire. It occurred on one shift and it also took the lives of four young people, one who was a … Continue reading 7,305 Days Ago, I Learned How to Fight Fire
Masks or No Masks?
Two firefighters wearing their masks during an assignment in 2020. By Dr. Jennifer Symonds Fire and Aviation Management Medical Officer U.S. Forest Service It’s 2021. You are vaccinated. Should you still wear a mask on assignments? How about those of you who have not been vaccinated. What are the rules on wearing masks for the … Continue reading Masks or No Masks?
Dirt Currency
[This is Travis Dotson's “Ground Truths” column that appeared in the 2021 Spring Issue of Two More Chains.] By Travis Dotson Have you recently been part of a who’s gonna get that job discussion? It amazes me how much we love this particular prattle. We spend many minutes gaming out the probable outcome of various … Continue reading Dirt Currency
COMMAND PRESENCE — Looking the Part and Playing the Part
By Peter M. Leschak Part 1 A decade ago I was dispatched as a Division Supervisor to a fire complex in Georgia. As I walked into a bustling ICP to check in, a deep male voice boomed over the hubbub: “Hey, y’all! There walks a Div Supt. I can spot ‘em a mile away.” He … Continue reading COMMAND PRESENCE — Looking the Part and Playing the Part
Siberian Smoke — the Power of Zooming Out
[This was the featured article in the 2021 Spring Issue of Two More Chains.] By Erik Apland, Field Operations Specialist (Acting), Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center As the 2021 western fire season begins, have you had the chance zoom out and put 2020 into its full context? Have you been able to revisit what happened, … Continue reading Siberian Smoke — the Power of Zooming Out
AARs: Why Do We Do Them?
Photo by Kari Greer. [This article by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center's (LLC) Analyst Travis Dotson was originally featured in the Fall 2013 issue of Two More Chains.] By Travis Dotson Have you ever been through an After Action Review that was a waste of time? Have you been to the AAR where you … Continue reading AARs: Why Do We Do Them?
Same as It Ever Was…
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.