Tighten Your Chaps and Talk About Rocks
By Travis DotsonHere are a couple lessons from 2020. These particular lessons are highlighted in our 2020 Infographic. These lessons sound very basic---because they are.Basic lessons are fantastic because you can very easily implement them.Remember where these lessons come from---actual incidents.
Saws, Rocks, and Trees
By Travis DotsonHere are a few more pieces of the 2020 Infographic. This portion simply lists a few numbers we added up based on reports we received. The numbers alone may be enough to generate discussion, but a bit of context is always helpful.
Writing Wrongs
A portion of the 2020 Year End Infographic.By Travis Dotson, Analyst, Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center
Learning from the Bridger Foothills Entrapment and Shelter Deployment
Three members of a helitack crew, overrun by the Bridger Foothills Fire, are entrapped inside the meadow that serves as their helispot, 12 acres of grass and sage that they consider their safety zone. Only two of the firefighters have fire shelters. Before the fire reaches them, they attempt to burn off the meadow vegetation to create the best possible deployment site to survive the approaching flame front.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smug and Satisfied
[This is Travis Dotson's “Ground Truths” column that appeared in the 2020 Fall Issue of Two More Chains.]By Travis DotsonSmug (adjective): Having or showing an excessive pride in oneself or one's achievements.
The Quicksand of Complacency
[This article originally appeared in the 2020 Fall Issue of Two More Chains.]By Peter M. Leschak
Where Do We Go From Here?
[This is the featured article in the 2020 Fall Issue of Two More Chains.]By Bre Orcasitas2020. What a doozie, huh?
The SOG Fire Rock Strike: Lucky? Or Prepared?
“I could see a crack two fingers wide inside his head down to his cracked skull.” Crew Boss, Crew A