Every spring, firefighters can be found in various trainings all over the country. It is part of the pre-season preparedness to ensure they are not only mentally preparing for the fire season, but enhancing and refining their skills from year to year.
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) recently hosted an interagency L-280 course titled Followership to Leadership. This course was part of the Southwest Idaho Fire Training week, implemented each year by the U.S. Forest Service and the BLM. This two-day course consisted of one day in the classroom and a second day in the field. Students especially love the second day, as they're put together into teams and challenged with activities that test their problem-solving skills. Most of the challenges revolve around communication and using the varying styles of leadership.
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) recently hosted an interagency L-280 course titled Followership to Leadership. This course was part of the Southwest Idaho Fire Training week, implemented each year by the U.S. Forest Service and the BLM. This two-day course consisted of one day in the classroom and a second day in the field. Students especially love the second day, as they're put together into teams and challenged with activities that test their problem-solving skills. Most of the challenges revolve around communication and using the varying styles of leadership.
 |
| Damian Martinez, Boise BLM Firefighter, briefs his crew of interagency firefighters on the situation they face. |
One such activity, nicknamed "Spider Web", tests the capabilities of the students to think outside the box. The Problem: the crew is faced with an imaginary oncoming fire. They have 20 minutes to get to the other side of the "electric fence" (large tarp with large holes in it, tied to a soccer goal) without touching the fence AND hamstrung by only being able to use each hole once. One group leader, Boise BLM Firefighter Damian Martinez, obtained a briefing from the station leader before briefing his crew of three. Working creatively, Martinez's crew put their minds together and moved themselves and their gear through the electric fence successfully in record time.
 |
| On the right, Boise BLMer Carl Bernardi passes his teammate Damian Martinez through the "electric fence" to two USFS employees – without sizzling him on the tarp. |
 |
| In the middle of a blindfolded walk, USFS and BLM firefighters are guided only by a whistle to stay between the lines and step over obstacles. |
Said one student, "I love the L-courses because there's no death by PowerPoint!"
Story and photos by Kari Boyd-Peak, NIFC External Affairs
Story reprinted from The BLM Daily, June 13, 2016.
No comments:
Post a Comment
********
The WFLDP seeks to build and support an online community in which wildland fire professionals can interact.
We invite respectful discussion; however, the realities of online culture is such that anonymous posts and posts from children under the age of 13 are not accepted.
All comments are monitored by our editorial staff for appropriateness in meeting the mission of the WFLDP prior to posting to the blog. We do not discriminate against any views, but we reserve the right not to post comments.
Individuals posting comments are fully responsible for everything that they submit.
Comments submitted after hours and on holidays/weekends will be reviewed as early as possible the next business day.
Our complete blog policy can be found at http://www.fireleadership.gov/committee/reports/Blog_Policy_Jan2010.pdf.
A yellow box will appear after you submit your comment notifying you that your comment will be reviewed.