Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Blog

[This was the featured article in the 2021 Spring Issue of Two More Chains.] By Erik Apland, Field Operations Specialist (Acting), Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center As the 2021 western fire season begins, have you had the chance zoom out and put 2020 into its full context? Have you been able to revisit what happened, and with some distance, make sense of it? ...

[This article by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center's (LLC) Analyst Travis Dotson was originally featured in the Fall 2013 issue of Two More Chains.] By Travis Dotson Have you ever been through an After Action Review that was a waste of time? Have you been to the AAR where you blaze through the process: “What was the plan?” – ...

by Annie Schmidt This article was originally posted on the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network Blog and is reproduced here with their permission: LINK TO ORIGINAL BLOG POST Editor’s note: This post is part of an important conversation about mental health and practitioner burnout. We hope to help breakdown some of the stigmas surrounding...

Reading through some previous issues of Two More Chains recently, I came across this piece that really struck a chord. This article by Travis Dotson in the Winter 2015 issue stood out to me because its ...

Recently, during a Staff Ride Round Table, my group had a discussion on the significance of “The Lunch Spot”. Lunch spots play a key role in wildland firefighting. They provide a break, a meal, time to reflect, time to analyze, and unfortunately, they also have played pivotal roles in unintended outcomes. How often do we use “The Lunch Spot” as a place to take a tactical pause? Utilizing your lunch spot to analyze what is really going on, just before the peak burning period sets in, will help you make sound decisions. Here is one of my favorite artic...

Listen to a discussion about the Tree Felling Accident Analysis – a report comparing 53 different tree felling accidents.  Topics covered include: Predicting Tree ReactionsHung-Up TreesHelmetsTwo People at the BaseArea ControlEscape RoutesAccidents During TrainingIf you have anything to do with chainsaws on the fireline…tune in. https://youtu.be/-9IBnK2IYKU You can view the report being discussed here:

We recently took a close look at reports involving the Work Capacity Test. We should all properly prepare for our annual walk for work -- whether it involves weight or not. These incidents remind us that this annual endeavor may in fact be a walk in the park -- but that does not mean it is free from danger. Are you prepared to deal with a cardiac event? Do you know the signs and symptoms of Rhabdomyolysis? Who do you want on scene when an incident occurs?

[ This article was originally featured in the Spring 2014 issue of Two More Chains. ] By Mark Rosenthal Air Attack to a Division Supervisor over Command: “I think I’m gonna use ‘Air-to-Ground 2’ ”. Why do we THINK we are going to do something? Is Air Attack changing frequencies here? Suggesting a change in frequencies? Unsure of which frequency to u...

By Peter M. Leschak Are you a hero? Our culture seems to consider you one. In fire service journals and on websites we’re offered swag for sale—clothing, jewelry, posters, patches—that celebrate our calling and afford us opportunity to advertise it to the public. We like that stuff, and it’s certainly appropriate for us to be proud of our work and to enhance fire service cohesion with emblems. But I believe some of those trinkets are dangerous. You can buy belt buckles, T-shirts, and caps that proclaim you are “America’s Brav...

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-t...