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A firefighter receives a medical evacuation after taking a 100-foot fall.

After a year of looking at incident reviews, agency annual reports, and lots and lots of newspapers, I want to share the stories that surprised me the most and, I think, shine a light on the least discussed corners of wildland fire management in the U.S.By Erik Apland, Field Operations SpecialistWildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

On July 18, 2021, the Siskiyou Rappel Crew’s helicopter was on standby for wildland fire support staged at the Sunriver Airport in Oregon. At 2012 hours, they received initial dispatch for a Search and Rescue (SAR) mutual aid request from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office SAR Team. 

[The 2024 Summer Issue of Two More Chains focused on leadership and highlighted incidents in which firefighters who weren’t “in charge” suddenly needed to make leadership decisions and take action.

[This is the “One of Our Own” feature that originally appeared in the 2024 Summer Issue of Two More Chains.]

[The 2024 Summer Issue of Two More Chains focused on leadership and highlighted incidents in which firefighters who weren’t “in charge” suddenly needed to make leadership decisions and take action.

[The 2024 Summer Issue of Two More Chains focused on leadership and highlighted incidents in which firefighters who weren’t “in charge” suddenly needed to make leadership decisions and take action.

[The 2024 Summer Issue of Two More Chains focused on leadership and highlighted incidents in which firefighters who weren’t “in charge” suddenly needed to make leadership decisions and take action.

[The 2024 Summer Issue of Two More Chains focused on leadership and highlighted incidents in which firefighters who weren’t “in charge” suddenly needed to make leadership decisions and take action.

[The 2024 Summer Issue of Two More Chains focused on leadership and highlighted incidents in which firefighters who weren’t “in charge” suddenly needed to make leadership decisions and take action.