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The Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center and the International Association of Wildland Fire will host a webinar on Prepare, Stay and Defend, or Go Early on June 30 at 4 PM MST, bringing together international experts on fire management in the wildland-urban interface to discuss Australia's program and how it might or might not be applied to other fire-prone communities. Dan Bailey of the International Code Council will moderate and panelists will include Gary Morgan of Australia's Bushfire Cooperative Research Center, Jack Cohen of the Rocky Mountain Research Station, Tara McGee of the University of Alberta, Bob Roper, Fire Chief for Ventura County, CA, and Domingo Molina of the University of Lleida, Spain. Click here to find out more about this event and to register.
In the decade following the Mann Gulch fire that killed twelve smoke jumpers and one recreational guard in Montana in 1949, the U. S. Forest Service created technical and research centers in Montana and California dedicated to developing equipment to help protect firefighters from a multitude of dangers on the fire line. Probably the most dramatic invention was the metal-coated, pup tent-like fire shelter that reflects radiant heat and gives a firefighter a better chance at surviving an entrapment. Today, the centers also study a myriad of health and safety issues--from the long-term effects of smoke inhalation on firefighters, to driver safety in and around large fire camps.
 Two years ago, I caught a CNN report on the Zaca Fire outside of Santa Barbara. There were the normal dramatic shots of crown fires, retardant drops, and evacuations, but I was struck by the content of the report. The CNN reporter explained that the fire managers on the Zaca were taking different strategies on different flanks of the fire, essentially allowing one of the flanks to burn into wilderness and aggressively suppressing a flank that was threatening smaller communities. CNN got it right! More...
Questoning Mann Gulch
On August 5, 1949, a surging wildfire trapped fifteen smoke jumpers and one fireguard in a chimney-shaped canyon called Mann Gulch, whose mouth opened onto the banks of the Missouri River outside Great Falls, Mont. The fire instantaneously killed eleven men; another two died in the hospital the next day. A total of 450 men fought Mann Gulch fire before it was controlled on August 10. By that time it had covered 5,000 acres. Around noon on August 6, 1949, a Bell 47-D helicopter flew the last of the bodies out of Mann Gulch.
The nature of fire remains unpredictable. Staying out of harm’s way may be the best advice—but what if fate and the elements don’t cooperate? Dr. Marty Alexander, a Senior Fire Behavior Research Officer with the Canadian Forestry Service, based in Edmonton, Alberta, wants to make sure firefighters and others are prepared for the worst—especially those who don’t carry fire shelters. More...
Wildfire and the Carbon “Leakage” Problem
Forests absorb billions of tons of CO2 globally per year, amounting to about 30% of all CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning. And so far, forests provide this service mostly for free. However, now that the creation of a mandatory carbon emissions cap-and-trade system has become more likely under the Obama administration, this freebie economic subsidy may be coming to an end. Matt Hurteau, a forest ecologist with Northern Arizona University, thinks that may be good for forests. Hurteau believes that the increased interest in managing forests for carbon sequestration may actually help drive a new approach to managing forests by giving forest owners economic incentives to reduce fire risk and create healthier, more resilient forests. More...
The last 25 postings on the Lessons Learned Center Web site are listed below:
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Mindfulness - Managing our Expectations
( pdf posted 7/2/2009)
A HRO (high reliability organizing) topic.
Mindfulness and Managing Our Expectations
( pdf posted 7/2/2009)
IMTs bring order to chaos on incidents. We believe that order is a good thing. But when does order create blindspots for us?
72 Hour Report - Freeman Reservoir Fatality
(25KB doc posted 6/30/2009)
"On June 26, 2009, Bureau of Land Management engine crews from Northwest Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit were conducting a chainsaw training field exercise. The field exercise was at the Freeman Reservoir Campground on the Hahns Peak/Bear Ear Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest."
This Day in History - South Canyon pt 1
(394KB jpg posted 6/29/2009)
Facilitated Learning Analysis Implementation Guide
( pdf posted 6/22/2009)
This is a revised edition of the Facilitated Learning Analysis Guide created by Paul Chamberlin in October of 2007.
"The Facilitated Learning Analysis—FLA—process realizes that none of us are immune from making errors. The intent is to create a culture in which errors are openly identified and discussed. Without placing blame on anyone, the FLA provides firefighters—and, in turn, the entire wildland fire community—the necessary vehicle to perform this proactive learning process."
NTSB Report from Krassel Helicopter Crash
(231KB pdf posted 6/19/2009)
"The helicopter collided with a tree as it flew over a mountain ridgeline. The helicopter was under contract to the U.S. Forest Service
and was assigned to Krassel Helibase (24K), Idaho. The pilot was requested to fly a relief Fire Lookout to a lookout tower on Williams
Peak, which was 4 nautical miles (nm) and a 2,844 feet elevation gain away. There were several forest fires in the area and visibility
in the lower valley was approximately 1 nm. The relief Fire Lookout, who was dropped off, said that as the helicopter flew up the ridge,
visibility got much better."
Suggested Wildland Fire Safety Topics - IAFC Safety Week 2009
(36KB doc posted 6/15/2009)
A listing of suggested safety topics for the 2009 IAFC Safety Week, June 14-20, 2009.
Wildland Fire Safety Featured in Wilderness Medicine Book
(132KB pdf posted 6/10/2009)
Wilderness medicine is the practice of providing medical attention when definitive care is further than 1 hour’s travel time to provide medical treatment. In very remote locations, it can take days or weeks for rescuers to reach victims."
Proceedings Of The Wildland Fire Safety Summit
(119KB pdf posted 6/10/2009)
"The International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) is a nonprofit,
professional association representing members of the global wildland fire community. The purpose of the association is to facilitate communication and leadership for the wildland fire community."
Eric Reynolds on Smokejumping
( WMA posted 6/10/2009)
Eric shares some of his 20 year experience as a smokejumper and explains the role smokejumpers play in fire management today.
Scratchline Issue 25 - Liaison Officer Lessons Learned
( pdf posted 6/8/2009)
Liaison Officers play a critical role in IMT operations. All IMT members and others in wildland fire can learn from their lessons. The LLC staff recently interviewed seven Liaison Officers and Liaison Officer Trainees from around the United States regarding their notable successes, difficult challenges, effective safety practices, and training recommendations for Liaison Officers. Special thanks are extended to these Liaison Officers and trainees for sharing their significant lessons and practices with the wildland fire community.
HRO Stories - Bunnell
(31MB wmv posted 6/8/2009)
Dave Bunnell talks about the Gates Park Fire of 1988.
Accident Investigation: Factual Report - Pine Fire
( pdf posted 6/3/2009)
"On September 12, 2007, at 1233 hours the Pine Fire, caused by an illegal campfire, started near Corte Madera Road in Oak Valley, in southeastern San Diego County, on the Cleveland National Forest. A CAL FIRE dozer was dispatched to the fire and assigned to Division “B”. The Dozer Operator was briefed at 1410 hours and began work at a starting point off Corte Madera Road. The dozer was soon moved up an unnamed 4-Wheel Drive (4-WD) road to the east to begin work. The Operator began constructing a line toward the west to the original starting point at 1430 hours."
Angora Fire – Entrapment & Fire Shelter Deployment APA Report
( pdf posted 6/3/2009)
"n June 26, 2007, two Forest Service firefighters assigned to the Angora Fire were entrapped by fire and forced into their fire shelters. Fortunately, they were uninjured. This report tells what happened and examines the social and organizational causes that led to this outcome. In conducting an investigation, the review team learned of another story—that of a near-catastrophic tragedy for dozens of other firefighters who were within minutes of also being entrapped."
Principles of Hazard Tree Risk Management
(481KB pdf posted 6/3/2009)
"Falling dead (snags) and green trees remain a persistent threat to wildland firefighter safety. The severity of this risk is potentially catastrophic as documented in a recently published study on “Deaths on
Wildfire from 1990 to 2006” (Mangan). Moreover, hazard trees account for a high percentage of serious/disabling injuries on fires."
France-USA HRO in IMT Research Project
(500KB pdf posted 6/2/2009)
"Just like NYPD detective "Popeye" Doyle, who traveled to Marseilles in the 1970s hit movie “the French Connection” so too, did a Forest Service NIMO team this past December. Only it wasn’t for crime busting this time. It was a landmark match-up between two French and American Incident Management Teams to capture what makes these teams so successful in complex, rapidly changing, stressful situations. It is hypothesized that they exhibit many of the behaviors that directly align with high reliability organizing (HRO) concepts and principles."
Northern California Fire Behavior Assessment ONC Support 2008
(3MB doc posted 6/1/2009)
"On June 21st wide spread lightning started hundreds of fires in northern California. The magnitude of ignitions outpaced initial attack capabilities of firefighting resources. Accessible fires with low resistance to suppression were easily contained while unstaffed fires in remote and difficult terrain burned freely for several days. The focus of this analysis is to look ahead into the emerging 2008 fire season and identify synoptic fire behavior issues. This information will be used by fire managers to identify broad scale values at risk and assist in resource allocation associated with temporal and spatial changes in fire behavior."
Initial Impressions from the Northern California 2008 Lightning Siege
( pdf posted 6/1/2009)
"The 2008 lightning siege was a “surprise” due to its size and duration. However, we need look no further than the historical fire regime in northern California to realize that the lightning event last summer may happen again, even within a few years."
KDL FAMTEST Instructions for 2009
(1MB doc posted 5/27/2009)
Each Key Decision Log user will need a user ID in 2009. This document gives you illustrated step-by-step instructions on how to set up a user account.
Are We Abusing Our Use of Models and Modeling in Wildand Fire and Fuel Management?
(721KB pdf posted 5/27/2009)
This article, written by Martin Alexander, discusses the use of models and modeling in wildand fire and fuel management and will be published in the Summer 2009 issue of Fire Management Today, Volume 69, number 3.
Wildland Fire Behavior and "The Course of Science" Flow Chart: Is There a Connection?
(296KB pdf posted 5/27/2009)
This article, written by Martin Alexander and covers information on the Course of Science Flow Chart. It will be published in Fire Management Today, volume number 64, number 4.
KDL Managers as of May 19
(44KB doc posted 5/22/2009)
A list of Key Decision Log Managers as of May 19, 2009.
KDL User Account Access
(1MB doc posted 5/22/2009)
Key Decision Log User Account Access.
Border Fires Narrated Presentation Full Screen Mode
( htm posted 5/22/2009)
Bob Orrill, Liaison Officer with the SE AZ T2 IMT, presented this information at the SW Team Meeting in Albuquerque February 19, 2009. If there is any chance that you might be sent to work a project on the border with Mexico, you need this "heads up." 23 MB file, Flash 8.0 or higher required, Full Screen Mode
The Pepper Hill Fire of 1938
( pdf posted 5/18/2009)
In October of 1938, eight men lost their lives while working to suppress a fire burning on the Pepper Hill Mountain in Pennsylvania. Gilbert Mohney 38, Basil Bogush, 19, John Boring, 19, Howard May, 18, and Andrew Stefphanic, 18, all perished in the fire on October 19, 1938. Ross Hollobaugh, 18, and Stephen Jacofsky, 17 died the next day; George Vogel, 16, died November 2. This report provides the details of the fire, information concerning the deaths of the men, and links to the historical documentation that has been safeguarded for over sixty years.
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