What Is Your Trigger Point?

(Zacharie Grossen - Own work)

Author: Pam McDonald, BLM Wildland Fire Training and Workforce Development

I recently listened to Wondery's Against The Odds podcast "K2: The Savage Mountain" about one of the worst climbing disasters of modern times. In 2008, 11 people died and 3 were injured attempting to reach the summit. "Summit fever" leads to one in five climbers losing their life on the summit. Knowing when enough is enough may very well be a successful operation. The very same should be said about wildland fire suppression operations. Every wildland firefighter should know when to disengage. As Fredrik Sträng's behavioral therapist said, "It doesn't matter how high the goals are set/achieved unless you have decided what is enough."

Before we conduct wildland fire operations, we need to determine if the assignment we are given is worth the risk to our people and a benefit to the resource. If the risk is worth the action, we make a plan for engagement. Within that plan, we establish trigger points for disengagement. We must know when enough is enough and be willing to cease operations for safety and resource benefit.

One of the interesting discussions in the podcast was how culture affects decision making. Sträng contends that different cultures/approaches are likely to have different risk tolerances which create different foundations for decision making. We have seen this time and time again on the fireline. One crew feels an assignment is too risky while another is willing to take the assignment. The whole decision comes down to what each team feels is enough. "If there is doubt, there is no doubt." (Dalai Lama) Most importantly, disengaging should be an ego-free decision.

Does your team set trigger points? Do you know when enough is enough or does your "can-do" attitude subject you to unnecessary risk. 

Wildland Fire Leadership Challenge - Digging a Little Deeper

• Listen to K2: The Savage Mountain.
• In self-reflection or with your team, consider the following:
• Is there risk in not risking?
• How does culture affect decision making?
• Is there an equivalent in wildland fire to "summit fever"? How do you as a leader mitigate this behavior on /with your team?
• Read K2: The 1939 Tragedy (2023 Professional Reading Program recommended read)

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About the Author: Pam McDonald is a writer/editor for BLM Wildland Fire Training and Workforce Development. The expressions are those of the author.