Each year the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center analyzes and summarizes reported incidents to create an Incident Review Summary. Each summary includes exercises to aid crew leaders and instructors with facilitation. (Pro-tip: Do the exercises.)
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Ground Ignition Equipment Standards?
By Paul Keller You now have an excellent, super-comprehensive “one-stop shopping” resource for insights and information on all ground ignition equipment standards and procedures. Released this February, the 134-page “NWCG Standards for Ground Ignition Equipment” publication (https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/443) discusses everything from the advantages and disadvantages of using ATV/UTV torches to how to best transport flares and … Continue reading Ground Ignition Equipment Standards?
Fuel Geyser Awareness Project Updates
By Paul Keller There’s updated news on the “Fuel Geyser Project” front. The U.S. Forest Service National Technology and Development Program’s National Fuel Geyser Project’s ongoing efforts to minimize injury to employees from fuel geysering recently posted a range of insightful information on their activities. The “National Fuel Geyser Awareness” program is a function of … Continue reading Fuel Geyser Awareness Project Updates
Sorting the Lumps
As our work on the 2017 Annual Incident Review Summary continues, we've got some more analysis to share with you. Read this. Do the Exercise and give us some feedback. The final version of the 2017 Annual Incident Review Summary will be out soon! By Travis Dotson There it is - the 2017 season boiled … Continue reading Sorting the Lumps
This Hotshot Was Burned When His Saw Geysered – Listen to His Lessons.
By Travis Dotson Nic bucked up the tree he had just put on the ground. Then he shut the saw off and sat with his saw partner for 15-20 minutes. Nic got up to cut another tree. The saw wouldn't start. He had heard all the stories. He had talked about geysering in training. He … Continue reading This Hotshot Was Burned When His Saw Geysered – Listen to His Lessons.
This Has Happened Before…UTV Floorboard Fire.
By Travis Dotson OK - super simple deal here. Go look under your UTV, specifically look between the skid plate and the floorboard. Chances are there is a bunch of grass and sticks and stuff packed in that little space. It's probably all dried out and primed to ignite - all it needs is a … Continue reading This Has Happened Before…UTV Floorboard Fire.
Burn Injuries – Wrong Hurts
By Alex Viktora Wildland Firefighters receive burn injuries every season. Often times some sort of flammable liquid ignites resulting in a burn, like the rather common drip torch leg burn scenario mentioned in this NWCG memo. Other times we fall in stump holes and ash pits—sometimes up to our waist! And then there is the … Continue reading Burn Injuries – Wrong Hurts
Socks Matter
By Alex Viktora I used to work for the National Park Service. One of the sweetest things about working for the NPS was the official socks. That’s right. Socks. As a member of a wildland fire crew, I rarely had much need to be in official NPS uniform, so my annual uniform allowance was spent … Continue reading Socks Matter
Fuel Geysers: Take the Quiz, Hear the Latest
You've heard the term "fuel geyser," right? If you haven't, watch this: That's a fuel geyser. Even if you're familiar with the term, there's a high likelihood you've fallen victim to some falsehoods, myths or half-truths surrounding what a fuel geyser is and what it isn't. Think you know fuel geysers? Prove it! Take the … Continue reading Fuel Geysers: Take the Quiz, Hear the Latest