WEEK OF REMEMBRANCE - Day 4: Getting Real About Complexity

Sometimes our plans don’t work out. We know this, that is why we have contingency plans—but how many contingency plans should you have? How do you prepare for the complexity we face?

What if you were dealing with…

Discuss the following questions:

Want context from a real-life event? Watch and discuss Episode 3 of the Nuttall Fire Story video series.

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Thanks to the Wildland LLC for this great resource.

Week of Remembrance - Day 3: Getting Real About Expected Fire Behavior

Fire Order #3

Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire.

• Has a fire ever done something you didn’t expect it to do? It happens often.

Week of Remembrance - Day 2: Engage or Not Engage?

We all lead on the fireline, whether we are conscious of it or not. Decisions are rarely made in a vacuum. We all contribute to how decisions get made. One of the most important decisions made regarding wildland fire is whether or not we “engage.” How is this decision really made?
Look at pages 1 and 2 in the IRPG—they are intended to aid us with this crucial decision.

WEEK OF REMEMBRANCE - Day One

“One of the few acts of free will that tragedy leaves within our control, is the chance to grow. Our brothers have given us such a precious and hard-won opportunity to learn new knowledge and apply lessons.” - “Honor the Fallen” Member

June 30 through July 6 has been designated the NWCG “Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance.” This week serves as an annual opportunity to renew our commitment to the safety of wildland firefighters as we remember those who have fallen in the line of duty. Over many decades, lessons learned from accidents and fatalities that have occurred on wildland fires have led to significant improvements in firefighter education, training, operational practices, and risk management processes. Unfortunately, wildland firefighting remains inherently hazardous, and we continue to experience accidents and fatalities. This “Week of Remembrance” is an opportunity to collectively remember our fallen firefighters as we continue our ongoing effort to enhance the safety of all wildland firefighters.

IGNITE: Loving What You Do

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. – Rumi

[Photo: Tatanka IHC]

Turning Concepts into "Ways of Being"

(Photo credit: Pixabay.com)

The leadership concepts we share when working to develop our professional/career skills and abilities might best be conveyed in the lessons we learn in our lives more broadly. Consider turning our concepts into “ways of being.” Internalize them; make them personal and meaningful and connecting them in ways that resonate and manifest in the how, not what, we think about stuff.

IGNITE: Take Care of Your People

Always take care of the people who are trying to make you look good (make it as easy as possible for them to do so). – Unknown

[Photo: Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Mile Marker 14 Fire (2016)]

Leadership is Action - "You Can't Force Leadership"

It is of this writer’s belief that one can’t force leadership. We can just plant the seed. Your flower will blossom when it is ready. Flowers bloom all the time.

ALERT: Increase in Heat-Related Illnesses in Wildland Firefighting

NMAC Correspondence 2017-12

June 19, 2017

To: Geographic Area Coordination Group Chairs
From: National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group
Subject: Wildland Firefighter Heat Related Injury Prevention, Awareness, and Rhabdomyolysis

The wildland firefighter community has experienced an alarming increase in heat related and other physiological injuries in the last few days. Heat related injuries and Rhabdomyolysis are not the same, but can occur at the same time. Extreme weather conditions are predicted to continue across western states for the next week. The National Weather Service is issuing Heat Warnings for the SWCC, GBCC, RMCC, OSCC, and ONCC (http://www.weather.gov/).

IGNITE: What is courage?

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen - W. Churchill

[Photo credit: Kari Greer/USFS]