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]

IGNITE: Influence through Presence

Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.– Sheryl Sandberg

Share through your spheres of influence.

[Photo: Wyoming Interagency Hotshots]

To Suppress, Or Not Suppress, That Is The Question

At about this time a year ago, when I first started this Student of Fire blog, I attended our forests’ IC Refresher. Today, attending this years IC Refresher, was sort of like a Student of Fire anniversary for me. My perspective has changed during that time. I’ve committed many hours to reading, site visits, researching, and, well, actively performing my job as a Forestry Technician. Today I expected your run-of-the-mill delegation of authority, same old thing I’ve heard for the last couple years as an IC5 trainee. What I didn’t expect was to be sitting in my chair having the feeling that I was part of something, something on the verge of some serious change. I’m talking about not suppressing every fire. I’m talking about a fundamental shift that has been talked about and forgotten, talked about but never acted on.

IGNITE: What Leaders Provide

Leaders provide purpose, direction, and motivation to those they lead. - Leading in the Widlland Fire Service, page 22

[Photo credit: Gregg Boydston]

IGNITE: Leadership and Learning Go Together

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. – John F. Kennedy

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS, Pioneer Fire (2016)]

Responding to Your Own Mental Health

The trauma that we see as firefighters on a daily basis will take a toll on people. Understanding how to deal with your body’s reactions to trauma may put you ahead of the game. Taking advantage of simple ways to recognize that we’re starting to struggle mentally with what we see on the job may be as important as life or death.

IGNITE: Building a Solid Team

A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together. – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

[Photo credit: BIA Uintah and Ouray Agency]

IGNITE: Leadership Excellence

True leadership lies in guiding others to success--in ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are pledged to do and doing it well. – Bill Owens

[Photo credit: Folsom Lake Veterans' Fire Crew]