Same Story, Different Chapter—The Great Chicago Fire

(By Currier and Ives - Chicago Historical Society (ICHi-23436), Public Domain/Wikipedia)

We continue our "Same Story, Different Chapter" series showcasing the Great Chicago which started the same day as the Phestigo fire on October 8, 1871. Regardless of how the fire started (the rumor of a cow), the Great Chicago fire would become one of the most devastating and famous fires in U.S. history. So much so that few would ever hear about the Phestigo fire with nearly three times the loss of life.

Final Challenge - The Art of Leadership

Final Challenge: The Art of Leadership
Approach each day with a blank canvas.

• Write and paint a new page in our life story.

#artofleadership

IGNITE: The Possible Out of Impossible

“Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." ♦ Louis D. Brandeis, lawyer/associate justice, U.S. Supreme Court ♦

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]

#fireleadership

Challenge #88: The Art of Leadership

Challenge #88: The Art of Leadership 

In your journal, reflect upon the following:

• What shifts in your leadership have you experienced over the last year?
• What do you still need to work on? 

#artofleadership

IGNITE: The Key to the Past

“The key to deciphering the past might just lie in the technologies of the future." ♦ Katherine J. Wu, NOVA ♦

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]

#fireleadership

Same Story, Different Chapter—The Great Peshtigo Fire

G. J. Tisdale - Peshtigo Fire museum
The Peshtigo Fire showing people seeking refuge in the Peshtigo River, 1871. taken from Harper's Weekly, 1871 Page 1037.

The year is 1871. The month is October. The day was the 8th.

The night of October 8, 1871, would go down as one of the worst in fire history. A fire started in a barn and nearly destroyed Chicago. Between 250 and 3,000 people died in the days that followed.

Challenge #87: The Art of Leadership

Challenge #87: The Art of Leadership
Being an agent of change is a leader’s job. In your journal, respond to the following:

• How do I feel about leading change?
• List one area of change you intend to lead in 2020.

#artofleadership

IGNITE: Empowerment through Mentoring

"A mentor empowers a person to see a possible future and believe it can be obtained." ♦ Shawn Hitchcock ♦

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]
#fireleadership

Challenge #86: The Art of Leadership

Challenge #86: The Art of Leadership
Effective leaders benchmark other leaders.

• Who are the leaders you follow?
• Keep yourself relevant and informed by switching up your list from time to time.

#artofleadership

Bringing the Darkness Into the Light

Is your organization fostering a proactive approach to self-care and mental health and wellness?

May we never forget Cory Iverson's contribution to the wildland fire service. Cory died fighting the Thomas fire in 2017. 

Ruderman White Paper: Mental Health and Suicide of First Responders
Bringing the Darkness Into the Light from Story & Pixel on Vimeo.

#selfcare #mentalhealth

IGNITE: Teach What You Learn

Teach what you learn as soon as you learn it. - The Daily Coach

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]

#fireleadership

Same Story, Different Chapter

(Photo: Kincade Fire 2019 by Kari Greer/USFS)

The year is 1871, or was it  1872, 1894, 1910, 1947, 2003, 2016, 2018, or 2019? The month was  October, or was it November, September? It was Peshtigo, or was it Chicago, Boston, Hinkley, Northern Idaho/Montana, Bar Harbor, San Diego, Gatlinburg, Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, Paradise, or plainly California.

Challenge #85: The Art of Leadership

Challenge #85: The Art of Leadership
Good leaders hone their critical thinking skills.

• Read the INC article “7 Mental Exercises to Make You a Better Critical Thinker” by Larry Alton. [http://bit.ly/2ImfVpk]
• Practice. Practice. Practice

#artofleadership

IGNITE: Wrong Choices, Right Places

"Sometimes the wrong choices bring us to the right places." ♦ LollyDaskal ♦

[Photo credit: Kari Greer/USFS]

#fireleadership

Challenge #84: The Art of Leadership

Challenge #84: The Art of Leadership
You have had nearly a year to work on your leadership art. In your journal, respond to the following:

• What five words describe you at your best?
• What five words describe you at your worst?
• What is your plan to maintain the best and mitigate the worst?

#artofleadership

IGNITE: Seeing What Others Don't See

“Most people are good at evaluating the obvious. The exceptional leaders will look beneath the surface and see what others don't see.” ♦ The Daily Coach ♦

[Photo credit: Union IHC]

#fireleadership

A Look Back at Our History

Members of the NWCG Leadership Committee got a unique look into the formation of the Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program at their fall meeting on December 4, 2019. Early contributors to the wildland fire leadership initiative that began over 20 years ago were on hand to share a unique historical perspective.

Panel members included:

• Paul Hannemann, (NASF), L-480 Steering Group
• Mark Linane (USFS-retired), IHC representative
• Jim Cook (USFS-retired), Leadership Sub/Committee co-chair
• Bill Molumby (USFS-retired), L-480/580 Steering Group
• Dan Buckley (NPS), Leadership Task Group member
• Randy Skelton (USFS), Eyes Forward, L-280 Train-the-Trainer, L-380 CMUL
• Mark Smith, Mission-Centered Solutions
• Anthony Escobar (USFS-retired), Moderator and early contributor

We would like to thank Orange County Fire Authority for sponsoring the discussion and capturing the video so it could be viewed by all students of fire.
NWCG Panel Discussion from Orange County Fire Authority on Vimeo.

Challenge 83: The Art of Leadership

Challenge 83: The Art of Leadership

Effective leaders get involved with their operations without micromanaging.

• Make it a habit to be visible during operations.
• Lend a helping hand on occasion.
• Share the joys and hardships with your team.

#artofleadership

IGNITE: Be Familiar

“The more familiar you are with things that are unfamiliar, the more familiar with them you will become." ♦ Jacko Willink ♦

[Photo: Tallac IHC]

#fireleadership

Challenge 82: The Art of Leadership

Challenge 82: The Art of Leadership
Effective leaders promote a culture where morale and retention is high, people are committed and performance well.

• In your journal, list what items create this type of environment for you.
• What type of environment do your team members need?

#artofleadership

IGNITE: Leadership Is a Gift

“Leadership is a gift. It's given by those who follow. You have to be worthy of it." ♦ General Mark Welsh ♦

[Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]

#fireleadership

Read the Book - See the Movie

Image by Mystic Art Design from Pixabay 

For 15 seasons, I was a dispatcher. My "view" of the fire situation was much different than those of you on the fire ground. I experienced the course of events more like reading a book, whereas those on the front lines were watching the movie. Much of my experience was made up (rightly or wrongly so) in my mind. The storylines included things like plane crashes with bodies still in the cockpit, fires threatening homes and communities, a dead body in a garbage bag found on a dirt road in the middle of the desert, and scanner communications with agents practicing for upcoming operations (maybe even Ruby Ridge). Each and every time, I made up the imagery. Whoever says dispatching is easy never did it.

Challenge 81: The Art of Leadership

Challenge 81: The Art of Leadership

Leaders set the example.

• In your journal, write down how you want to be seen by your team members.
• Conduct an evaluation (could be a 360-degree assessment) to see if your perception matches reality.

#artofleadership

IGNITE: The Undoing of One's Self

Doing nothing for others is the undoing of one's self. - Horace Mann

[Photo: Justin Vernon]

#fireleadership