Monday, October 31, 2016

50 Years Ago - Loop Fire

Loop fire 1966

On November 1, 1966, the El Cariso Hotshots, a U.S. Forest Service Interregional Wildland Firefighting Crew, was trapped by flames as they worked on a steep hillside in Pacoima Canyon on the Angeles National Forest.

The crew was constructing fireline downhill into a chimney canyon and were within 200 feet of completing their assignment when a sudden shift of winds caused a spot fire directly below where they were working. Within seconds flames raced uphill, engulfing the firefighters in temperatures estimated to reach 2500 degrees F. The fire flashed through the 2,200 foot long chimney canyon in less than one minute, catching the crew while they attempted to reach their safety zones.


Hearld Examiner photo "Fire Just Blew Up"
(Photo Credit: Herald Examiner)
Ten members of the crew perished on the Loop Fire that day. Another two members succumbed from burn injuries in the following days. Most of the nineteen members who survived were critically burned and remained hospitalized for some time.

Much of the knowledge gained about wildland fire has come through the high cost of firefighter lives. Lessons learned from the Loop Fire resulted in improved firefighting equipment, better fire behavior training, and the implementation of new firefighter safety protocols.


(Note: The Loop fire ends at 11:41)

(Interviews with Gordon King and Chuck Hartley)



We Will Never Forget
We will never forget the 12 firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty on November 1, 1966.
  • Kenneth Barnhill - 19
  • Raymond Chee - 23
  • Fredrick Danner - 18
  • John P. Figlo - 18
  • Joel A. Hill - 19
  • Daniel J. Moore - 21
  • James A. Moreland - 22
  • Carl J. Shilcutt - 26
  • John D. Verdugo - 19
  • William J. Waller - 21
  • Michael R. White - 20
  • Stephen White - 18
Loop Fire Resources

IGNITE: Passing the Torch Forward

"Old fire carry embers that can turn to flame and teach new lessons to later generations." John Maclean (Children dressed as wildland firefighters and spraying water)
"Old fire carry embers that can turn to flame and teach new lessons to later generations." John Maclean
Do your part and share the word.

[Photo credit: BIA Forestry & Wildland Fire Management/Rosebud Agency]

Thursday, October 27, 2016

IGNITE: Timing Your Decision

The timing of your decision is just as important as the decision you make. - John C. Maxwell (Firefighter silhouettes)
The timing of your decision is just as important as the decision you make. - John C. Maxwell
Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit: Prineville IHC]

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Can Vulnerability Make Us Safer?

Burning stump

A coworker recently shared a podcast with me that sparked some interesting thoughts.  The podcast was titled “The New Norm,” and was an episode of the NPR “Invisibilia” series. (link to the written story here and the full podcast here)

As I listened to it, I was skeptical of how it might apply to wildland fire organizations and operations. After all, smiling Russians and teary-eyed oil rig workers aren’t normally associated with fire leadership. But then I heard something that stopped my thought process dead in its tracks: by going through an admittedly rough and unpopular process, the group of oil workers reduced their accident rate by 85%.  All of the “fluff” aside, that’s remarkable, and sparked my interest.

Monday, October 24, 2016

IGNITE: Apply and Do

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. –Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Wildland firefighters walking on a trail, tools in-hand)
Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit:Plumas IHC]

Thursday, October 20, 2016

IGNITE: Adapting to Change

Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. –Stephen Hawking (Wildland firefighter watching a helicopter drop water on a fire)
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. – Stephen Hawking

Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit: Redding IHC, Soberanes fire (2016)]

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Blacksheep VFD Makes an International Impact

Training on Lake Ladoga (on the Finnish border with Russia). Photo credit: Maria Vasilieva
(Training on Lake Ladoga, located on the Finnish border with Russia. Photo credit: Maria Vasilieva.)
Background

  • In 2015, the area around the city of Chita suffered what they call a "firestorm" that consumed 110,000 acres and 400 homes. 
  • The local government in the region often denies and under reports the size of fires.
  • The federal forest service is underfunded and understaffed; so they cannot fight all fires that pop up, especially in Siberia.
  • In 2016, the Irkutsk region experienced timber fires that consumed over 2,000,000 acres unchecked.

Monday, October 17, 2016

IGNITE: Leadership is a Choice

You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless the person is willing to climb. – Andrew Carnegie
Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit:Rob Powell, Hayden fire (2016)]

Thursday, October 13, 2016

IGNITE: Obligations and Responsibilities

The freedom to do your own thing ends when you have obligations and responsibilities. –Lou Holtz (line of fire vehicles; one with a flag in the back)
The freedom to do your own thing ends when you have obligations and responsibilities. - Lou Holtz
Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit: State of Alaska, Pioneer Peak IHC]

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

The Value of the Work


The Value of the Work from The Smokey Generation on Vimeo.

Why do you work? Do you get value from what you do?

The answers to these question vary among fire personnel. Adam Hernandez shares his reflections on the values he has experienced as a hotshot.

Kudos to Adam for applying lessons and the core values of duty, respect, and integrity well beyond the fireline and into his personal life.


What is your story? We challenge you to become a part of this amazing project and share your leadership stories. Bethany Hannah began The Smokey Generation: A Wildland Fire Oral History and Digital Storytelling Project for her master's thesis. All members of the wildland fire service, not just hotshots, can share their stories by following her example. Click here for potential leadership questions. Visit The Smokey Generation website for complete information.

The Smokey Generation logo

Monday, October 10, 2016

IGNITE: Resiliency

Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again. –Nelson Mandela  (Wildland firefighters walking into the sunset
Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again. – Nelson Mandela
Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]

Thursday, October 6, 2016

IGNITE: The Art of Leadership

The art of leadership requires a constant interchange of theory and application. The art also includes being able to view the larger picture—discerning how to turn a weakness into a strength, gauging what is and is not within our control. –Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, page 9 (Fire with sun shining through smoke, producing an orange hue.)
The art of leadership requires a constant interchange of theory and application. The art also includes being able to view the larger picture—discerning how to turn a weakness into a strength, gauging what is and is not within our control. – Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, page 9
Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit: Kari Greer/USFS]

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

FirstNet - Coming to an Area Near You

The tragedy of 9/11 and technological advancements are influencing the way we respond to and engage emergency operations. The First Responder Network (FirstNet) provides the mechanism to provide emergency responders with real-time information and connections to enhance response efforts.

Monday, October 3, 2016

IGNITE: Power for Purpose

You are the one with the power to contribute meaning to your work. –Karissa Thacker (Wildland firefighters standing at rest)

You are the one with the power to contribute meaning to your work. – Karissa Thacker

Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit: National Park Service]