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Veteran's Day – November 11

This Day in History is a brief summary of a powerful learning opportunity and is not intended to second guess or be judgmental of decisions and actions. Put yourself in the following situation as if you do not know the outcome. What are the conditions? What are you thinking? What are YOU doing?

Historical Summary:

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as The Great War. Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veteran’s Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

Celebrating this holiday brings to mind the many connections the military has with the mission of firefighting for the land management agencies. This offers an opportunity to learn more about our military coworkers and our interesting and intertwined past.


The use of military resources in wildland fire suppression began August 20, 1886, as the Army led troops into Yellowstone National Park where forest fires had raged for months. The men were ordered to battle the flames, beginning the federal government’s role in forest fire control. It was these Army firefighters and their successors at Yellowstone that developed firefighting strategies and tactics that are still used today. The troops in Yellowstone National Park become the first paid wildland firefighters.

1939 – The newly organized Alaska Fire Control Service and the military suppressed fires in Alaska during World War II. Smoke from these fires was a hindrance to flight and considered a threat to national security.

1940 – US Army Major William H. Lee visits the United States Forest Service (USFS) Region 1 (Northern Region) smokejumper training camp at Seeley Lake, Montana. He later incorporates USFS techniques in the establishment of the U.S. Army Airborne. Major Lee commands the 101st Airborne during World War II and becomes known as the “Father of the Airborne Troops.”

1945 – Continued expansion of the smokejumper program and returning war veterans increase the number of smokejumpers from 110 to 220. During the severe fire season of 1945, smokejumpers prove to be invaluable firefighters. Members of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, the nation’s first African-American parachute infantry battalion, were trained at timber jumping and firefighting to combat Japanese incendiary balloons. Though the balloons did not materialize, the 300 paratroopers of the 555th were used as suppression crews on large fires throughout the west. They responded to 36 fire calls and made a total of 1,200 individual jumps. In addition to the 555th, 14 military pararescue smokejumpers were also trained. By 1946, USFS Region 1 had 146 smokejumpers, 84% of them war veterans. The same year, Region 6 (Pacific NW Region) had smokejumping’s first fatality in the line of duty, Private First Class Brown, a medic and member of the 555th.

1956 The XH-40, the “granddaddy” of the H-1 helicopters, made its first flight. The Bell UH-1 "Huey"  later became the representative helicopter of the Vietnam era and the most successful military aircraft in aviation history.  The influx of combat-trained pilots post-war naturally fit in well with the challenges of flying fire suppression missions. To get firefighters on the ground quickly, fire managers utilized the helicopter for rappel, adopting and adapting the military technique.

 

6mfs-tdih-veterans-day-fire-fighters.png

Yellowstone NP 1988, 
fire suppression efforts are aided by six Army and two Marine battalions, MAFFS, and 57 helicopters.

 

Today – The Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) military program supports firefighting efforts by providing Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units – flying in military C-130 aircraft equipped as airtankers – to support wildland fire suppression activities. Aircrews get annual training and are certified by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). It is the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group’s (NMAC) responsibility to ensure that all civilian resources are committed before placing orders for military resources. Once that decision is made and mobilization begins, Incident Management Teams (IMTs) must be ready to work with these resources.

 

Discussion Question:

There is a very good chance that we will all work with the military on a wildland fire or all-hazard incident sometime in our careers. Identify several hurdles we can expect to encounter that could affect the safety of the operation:
1) for aviation missions.
2) for ground operations.

 

 

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NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Week of Remembrance

Date: June 27, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee

As we approach the 2025 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30–July 6, we dedicate this time to reflect on the past incidents from 2015 and honor the fallen through learning. Since its inception in 2014, WOR has honored wildland firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while encouraging critical discussions that reinforce lessons learned.

Throughout the week, we encourage thoughtful and generative conversations—whether in briefing rooms or at tailgates—that promote a culture of continuous learning and safety.

References:

2025 Week of Remembrance: Letter to Leadership

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003 Flame-Resistant Shirt Survey

Date: June 12, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The U.S. Forest Service National Technology and Development Program (NTDP) is seeking input on the Forest Service-designed flame-resistant (FR) shirt, currently available through the National Interagency Support Cache system and FedMall.

NTDP is conducting a product review to improve future FR shirt designs. As part of this effort, a short survey is now open for federal employees who have worn any of three recent FR shirt models. Feedback will guide design improvements to better meet the needs of wildland firefighters.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act, responses are limited to federal employees. The survey is open through September 12, 2025. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003

NEW! S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended) Now Available

Date: June 10, 2025
If you have questions, please visit our FAQ page. 
If your question is not answered there, you can 
submit your question using our Contact Us form. 
 

The S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended), equips new wildland firefighters with essential skills through a mix of online learning and hands-on training. The course features a required online component and an instructor-led exercise, reinforcing online concepts with practical performance-based training.

The course builds competencies in wildland fire operations, safety, and equipment use, applicable across various operational environments. Both the online component and instructor-led field exercise must be completed to receive a certificate of completion. Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended).

References:

S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

EMC Memo 25-001: Interim Rapid Extraction Module (REMS) Training and Qualification Requirements

Date: June 3, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Emergency Medical Committee

The Emergency Medical Committee has issued interim guidance for Rapid Extraction Module Support (REMS) teams. Until further notice, Type I and II REMS teams must designate a team leader qualified at Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss (FFT1) or higher. This temporary change replaces the Single Resource Boss (SRB) requirement, which is currently not feasible due to administrative barriers.

This memorandum does not include any other changes to the NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552. This interim change takes effect immediately and will remain in place until further notice.

References:

EMC Memo 25-001: Interim Rapid Extraction Module (REMS) Training and Qualification Requirements

NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552