This document summarizes all the wildland fire incident and accident reports from last year. It highlights some of the most useful lessons and points out the type of incidents that have occurred multiple times. It also has prompts for action you can take to implement the lessons.
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Turning the Truck Around – A Story Map of the Horse Park Fire Entrapment
While scouting a road for a potential burnout operation, a Hotshot Crew Superintendent and Foreman encounter a wall of flames and attempt to retreat. Their truck becomes stuck, forcing them to flee on foot, narrowly escaping the rapidly advancing fire front. Just as they reach safety, they learn that their crew lookout is missing. After … Continue reading Turning the Truck Around – A Story Map of the Horse Park Fire Entrapment
Podcast: Command Presence with Monica Morrison
New Podcast:
Fire Operations Specialist Monica Morrison shares wisdom you want about Command Presence.
Throwing Us a Monkey Wrench of Historic Proportions
[This article is featured in the Spring 2020 Issue of Two More Chains.] By Bre Orcasitas The Era Before COVID-19 If you stop and think about it, normal annual preparation and implementation of wildland fire resources is akin to a well-rehearsed orchestra whose members all know their part and come in on cue. An orchestra … Continue reading Throwing Us a Monkey Wrench of Historic Proportions
Who Uses Lessons?
By Travis Dotson If you haven't seen it yet, please look at the 2018 Incident Review Summary. We compile this 10-page report every year. It's kind of a big deal to us here at the Lessons Learned Center because, well, it's the lessons (pretty much what we do). It for damn sure is not ALL … Continue reading Who Uses Lessons?
Tree Trauma
By Travis Dotson "Hit by Tree" events are a difficult topic. We have had a series of tragedies in recent years. We’ve endured eight fatalities in the last four years. We’ve had one hotshot die in "Hit by Tree" incidents each summer for the past three years. Each instance is heartbreaking. These events are sometimes … Continue reading Tree Trauma
PTSD
What are some of the specific challenges in the Wildland Fire Service?
Insights from a Dispatcher: The Incident that Changed Me
[This is the fourth of four Blog Posts written by Dispatchers that focus on Dispatching that we are featuring this week (beginning Aug. 27, 2018).] By Dolores Garcia We prepare, we brief, have our 10’s and 18’s, our “9-Lines,” our emergency response guides on our desks as either part of a larger binder or pinned … Continue reading Insights from a Dispatcher: The Incident that Changed Me
Nobody Gets Hurt on My Watch. I Naively Lived By that Motto.
[This is the third of four Blog Posts written by Dispatchers that focus on Dispatching that we are featuring this week (beginning Aug. 27, 2018).] By Renae Crippen, Center Manager, Blue Mountain Interagency Fire Center It was late July. I was sitting in a hot Communications trailer in the middle of a field watching a … Continue reading Nobody Gets Hurt on My Watch. I Naively Lived By that Motto.
Are Dispatchers Exposed to Trauma?
[This is the second of four Blog Posts written by Dispatchers that focus on Dispatching that we are featuring this week (beginning Aug. 27, 2018).] By Tracey Kern, Center Manager, Fort Collins Interagency Dispatch Center When I first started in Dispatch in July 2003, my answer to “Are dispatchers exposed to Trauma?” would have been: … Continue reading Are Dispatchers Exposed to Trauma?