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Inattentive Blindness

 

It’s logical to think that you can see when your eyes are open but are you noticing everything in your field of view? Attention plays a crucial role in our ability to see what is happening around us.

Inattentive blindness is a failure to notice unexpected things in a visual field because focus is on something else in that same field of view. This blindness can visually distract us from what else is happening in our environment. Inattentive blindness can cause you to see what you expect, rather than what is actually there.

Inattentive blindness can occur in any setting. Have you ever been so focused on cutting fireline that you failed to see a plane make a retardant drop nearby? Has an unresolved issue at home distracted you from a routine morning task like engine inspections?

The fire environment is full of distractions that require proactive engagement to maintain focus. A core competency of emergency responders is the ability to direct attention on a deliberately chosen target and sustain that attention even when it’s unpleasant.

Noisy chainsaws, helicopters performing bucket operations, dozers clanking around the hillside, and the constant chatter over the radio create distractions within our fire environment. As leaders it’s our responsibility to maintain awareness of our area of operation. The nature of our dynamic environment requires a collective effort of engagement and the repeated actions of situational awareness (SA) and communication.

To increase our odds of processing our environment, we need to empower those around us. Whether you’re the Division Supervisor, Single Resource Boss, Squad Boss, or Firefighter Type 2, foster a healthy command climate that allows for open communication both up and down the chain of command.

Span of control is another tool that helps in the battle of inattentiveness. Being able to delegate tasks helps our mental capacity and provides us with different viewpoints within the fire environment.

Discuss these questions:

  • What situations in your daily work are likely to result in inattentive blindness?
  • What situations on a fire are likely to result in inattentive blindness?
  • How can you prepare for and mitigate this condition?
  • How do you maintain awareness of your own attention?

References:

Category
Leadership

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2025/2026 Leadership Campaign Quarter 2 Now Available!

Date: February 13, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the Quarter Two materials for the 2025/2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign are now available! This annual initiative invites all leadership and wildland fire management students to engage with essential skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

This quarter focuses on Leadership Level 2: New Leader (Conveying Intent). Conveying intent is a crucial leadership competency in the high-risk, dynamic environment of wildland firefighting. Months 4 - 6 will concentrate on how successfully conveying intent enhances situational awareness, promotes shared understanding, and empowers firefighters to exercise initiative and adapt to changing conditions.

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Leadership Committee

Opportunity to Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date: February 10, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

NWCG is seeking experienced wildland firefighters and support personnel to serve as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) initiative. The intent of IPTM is to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model through updated position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and updates to training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the following positions:

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Projects begin April/May 2026 and require 15–20 hours per month for 6–8 months, including a five-day workshop in Boise, Idaho this May. Apply by February 27, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for details.

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

NEW! M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led) Course Available Now

Date: January 29, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Resource Advisor Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led) course is now available. This training supports individuals working towards Resource Advisor, Fireline (REAF) incident qualifications.

M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led) training prepares students to serve as a Resource Advisor, Fireline (REAF) as defined in NWCG Incident Position Standards for Resource Advisor, Fireline, PMS 350-112. This course presents scenarios that reflect the diverse challenges a REAF may encounter during an incident. Through these scenarios, participants gain hands-on experience and an understanding of REAF responsibilities in a controlled learning environment.

References:

Resource Advisor, Fireline Position Page

NWCG Position Standards for Resource Advisor, Fireline, PMS 350-112

M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led)

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2026 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

Date: January 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

The Incident and Position Standards Committee has updated the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

These updates address changes to incident position names and requirements for qualification, training, and experience. Updates related to the implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) and Incident Performance Training Modernization (IPTM) are also included.

The NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308 has also been updated to reflect the recent changes.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308

IPSC Memo 26-01: January 2026 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Positions Qualifications, PMS 310-1