IGNITE: Happy 2018!

Fire leaders bring order to chaos, improve our people’s lives, and strengthen our organizations.

~ Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, p. 6 ~

IGNITE: Without Followers

Without leaders, there are no followers.

You’re a leader.

We need you.

~ Seth Godin, “Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us” ~

[Photo credit: Redding IHC]

2018 Leadership Campaign Theme Announced

The NWCG Leadership Subcommittee is pleased to announce the 2018 National Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign - Leading Through Relationships. The campaign will run throughout the calendar year.


There are a few changes coming to the campaign this year.

• Delivery - The campaign will move from a publication format and website delivery to a social media campaign. All materials will be delivered via blog and Facebook posts and tweets.

• Contest - The From the Field for the Field Contest will no longer be a campaign element. Social media followers may see occasional challenges and incentives.

If you aren't following our blog or social media platforms, please follow us soon.

• Facebook
• Twitter

Wildland Fire Leadership Challenge

"A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea. For millions of years, human beings have been part of one tribe or another. A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate." - Seth Godin

• Read Seth Godin's book "Tribes - We Need You to Lead Us"

IGNITE: Building Credibility

Your credibility can only be built over time...from the history of your words and actions. - Maria Razumich-Zec

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]

Wing It, Wang It, Wung It

(Pixabay/Memory Catcher)

What are you doing to prepare for your next roll? 

The season continues for many wildland firefighters, but the next assignment comes quickly. Students of fire continually prepared themselves for next steps.

Thanks to Student of Fire for allowing us to share his perspective with our readers.

Lead well, followers!

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Less Than a Month Away: East Coast Detail

by Student of Fire

My son, the holidays, getting married, a month off work, the family dinners and the Christmas tree...

Taking a detail in January leaves me with 21 days left until starting all over again. I’m not complaining. I was told to be glad to be working when there is work to do. True. But to conjure up the enthusiasm while sitting in a warm house with Christmas decorations and silence while the kid takes a nap, that’s not for everyone.

IGNITE: Season's Greetings

As we reflect on 2017, we take a moment to thank you for your support. 

We are thankful for such faithful followers.

[Photo: Nicole Oke]

The Rules for Being Human

(Photo: Dynamic Graphics/Thinkstock)

There seems to be a lot of discontent in society, in our workplaces, and our homes right now. I know I have experienced my share of distress in the last few months. I find myself trying to make sense of situations that are either nonsensical or way outside my control and influence.

IGNITE: Our Greatest Asset and Investment

As leaders, we have to understand that people are our greatest asset and therefore our greatest investment. ~ Perry Noble

[Photo: Jay Kurth/CIIMT4, Thomas fire, Ventura Co, 2017]

Increasing and Sustaining Diversity

Ten members of the USFWS Branch of Fire Management, including regional representatives, attended the 2017 Women and Leadership Conference in September as one step in the work of the Diversity and Inclusion Team, established in early 2017.

Coordinated by Team Leader, Gillian Fay, the team seeks to identify and evaluate the challenges and barriers faced by underrepresented people seeking to enter or advance in the wildland fire program. The team also works to enhance career opportunities and empower employees to stand up to harassment.

The conference was presented by the Andrus Center for Public Policy at the Boise State University and featured keynote presentations from accomplished women leaders, skill-based training that focused on professional development and opportunities to network with peers. "Increasing and sustaining diversity is important to the fire management program,” said Branch Chief Chris Wilcox. “To be successful in our conservation mission, we first have to understand the barriers to increasing workforce diversity, and we have to act on that knowledge.”

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Thank you to the USFWS Branch of Fire Management for sharing their experience.

IGNITE: To Grow and Contribute

Leadership provides us with unique and powerful challenges to grow and contribute. - Brendon Burchard

[Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]