LLC Staff Picks 2020

The Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) staff reads lots of reports. In the recent Winter Issue of Two More Chains the LLC staff members shared their favorite reports from 2020. Here's what they recommended for you--and why:

I Suggest: SOG Fire Rock Strike FLA

Why I Liked It: This easy-to-read FLA demonstrates that preparation and training lead to better outcomes when an emergency occurs. The narrative takes the reader through the entire experience of the rock strike and reaction of those involved. The story begins with the pre-event training to prepare for such an accident and clearly describes the actual incident, medical response, and patient transport. It includes the critical and complicated role of the Hospital Liaisons. As a benefit, the FLA thoroughly explores the equipment performance. This FLA is capped off with well-articulated lessons that will prove valuable to all readers.

Recommended By: Kelly Woods, LLC Director

I Suggest: Cell Service Boost RLS

Why I Liked It: I can almost guarantee this is one of the most implemented lessons ever published by the Lessons Learned Center. I have zero data to back that claim up (bad math). I love that this report is about as simple as they come. One picture and 100 words goes a long way when it’s practical and pertinent.

This RLS is the epitome of what Rapid Lesson Sharing is meant to be: a way to quickly share useful information. Most likely, 99 percent of us would encounter this lesson out in the field and be stoked on our good fortune and share it with others when convenient. But this RLS’s author, Mark Adams, is that 1 percent who didn’t just think of himself. He thought of you and me and 10,000 of our closest friends. Be like Mark.

Recommended By: Travis Dotson, LLC Analyst

I Suggest: Pine Gulch Fire Dry Ice Outgassing RLS

Why I Liked It: Among the many COVID-related reports that came to the Lessons Learned Center in 2020, this RLS is among the few that really stands out to me. Why? It highlights a very serious near miss that no one would have seen coming pre-pandemic: Drivers exposed to a low oxygen environment in a vehicle because of dry ice in coolers. Why was the ice in the coolers? It was keeping food cold for folks in spike and other dispersed operations camps. Ops folks love this, but it almost had a tragic outcome for some of our drivers. (For more on the 2020 impacts to our dedicated logisticians, see Stu Rodeffer’s interview in the Fall 2020 issue of Two More Chains.)

Recommended By: Alex Viktora, LLC Assistant Director

I Suggest: Remote Alaska Duty Station COVID-19 Positive RLS

Why I Liked It: You feel perfectly normal but lose your sense of taste and smell for a brief four hours. Do you pursue COVID-19 follow-up and screening?

This RLS showcases the beauty of the RLS tool. How two individuals—in this case, the unit’s Fire Medic and Paramedic—took the time to tell the story of how a well-rehearsed pre-preparation and well-documented plan became instrumental in successfully responding to a positive COVID-19 case on their unit. Via their RLS, they spell out what happened, including their significant lessons—as well as challenges—to share with the rest of us. As detailed in the RLS, for their potential COVID-19 environment, this unit had established a “Lookout” and identified “Safety Zones” and “Trigger Points.” Perhaps most importantly, their RLS spotlights an extremely significant COVID-19 revelation.

Recommended By: Paul Keller, LLC Writer-Editor