Focusing on TriData Study: Continuing Challenges

So how have we done? In part 3 of the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Centers series on the Wildland Fire Safety Awareness study, we look at the challenges we have had addressing the 86 goals and implementing the 200 recommendations from the study.



Here are some of the challenges identified by our fire leaders:

• We continue to have bad things happen. (Bequi Livingston)
• Safety doesn't stop once you go home from a fire. (Paul Browles)
• The physical fire environment has changed dramatically over the last 15 years. (Mike DeGrosky)
• Climate change and fuels are affecting operations. (Chad Fisher and David Aldrich)
• Decline in "militia" (non-fire personnel) involvement in the fire program. (John Glenn)
• Proliferation of fire in the wildland urban interface.
• Workforce retention has declined. (Cook, DeGrosky, Mark Boche)
• A centralized focus on the TriData study has waned. 
• Driving safety was not recognized in the study. (Sutton)
• SmartCards were never acted upon. (DeGrosky)
• Changes are needed with our review and investigation processes. (DeGrosky and Aldrich)

Wildland Firefighter Safety Awareness Study

• Phase I - Identifying the Organizational Culture, Leadership, Human Factors, and Other Issues Impacting Firefighter Safety (October 1996)
• Phase II - Setting New Goals for the Organizational Culture, Leadership, Human Factors, and Other Areas Impacting Firefighter Safety (February 1997)
• Phase III - Implementing Cultural Changes for Safety (1998)