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Week of Remembrance

2014 WOR: Honoring Those That Have Been Lost in Aviation Accidents

Ribbon symbol for WOR next to Wildland Fire Lessons Learned logo.Week of Remembrance June 30-July 6, 2014

Almost all firefighters will interact with aircraft on fires…bucket drops, blivets, sling loads of supplies, crew shuttles, reconnaissance, medevac, retardant drops from SEATs and tankers, and air attack. Due to its heavy use for fire logistics and operations, aviation remains one of the highest risk activities that a firefighter will be exposed to. Have we improved? Yes. Are aircraft still crashing? Yes. Are we still killing pilots and firefighters? Yes. Can we do something about it? YES!

Get the right training and maintain currency: Beyond the S-classes and fire aviation qualifications, there are many A-classes offered by IAT (Interagency Aviation Training) that may or may not be required (depends on your agency) and cover content that can be very helpful to someone trying to gain a better understanding of aviation. There are classes on Airspace, Aircraft Radio Use, Automated Flight Following, Water Ditching and much more! Some are taught in the classroom, some by webinar, and some online. Check it out!

Be as informed as possible: Did you know that a recent Accident Prevention Bulletin on rotor strikes states the USFS and DOI had over 60 rotor strikes reported in the past 10 years with 7 fatalities from 4 separate accidents? If you work with helicopters wouldn’t you be interested in why this was happening and how to prevent it? This Office of Aviation Services (OAS) webpage has a long list of safety-related bulletins. You can also query SAFECOM to see what is being reported in your area, type of aircraft or mission or an incident that you are going to. Your IRPG’s blue pages can be very helpful also.

Learn from the Past: There are many aviation lessons that have been learned from “blood and bent metal” that can help us work with aviation more safely. You can learn about DOI and USFS accidents and near misses from annual accident reviews.

Understand the capabilities and limitations of each air resource: For example…should you consider Air Attack an aerial lookout? Why do you want to clear firefighters off the line for a retardant drop? What is the best way to describe a target to an aerial resource?

Limit exposure: Limit the amount of time that a helicopter has to hover and the amount of time you are in, under and around them. Limiting exposure also means asking yourself “is this flight necessary?” and “is there a better way to do it?”

Communicate: Ground crews must assess hazards at the helispot/drop zone and communicate potential hazards to the flight crew/pilot. It is easy to trust the people that work around aviation all the time, but trust your gut feeling also. If it looks wrong or feels wrong it might very well BE wrong. Say something! “Communicate” also means that if you don’t know, ask.

Don’t settle for “well we’ve always done it this way.” For example…just this year, the way some SEATs (single engine air tankers) track flight time was changed. Before, pilots would call roll time which violated sterile cock pit. Now flight time is measured block to block.

 

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NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended) Available Now

Date: Aug 15, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended) training is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. S-290 (Blended) training combines online training and instructor-led training components that support individuals working towards any Single Resource Boss or Fire Effects Monitor incident qualifications.

This second course in the series collectively serves to develop fire behavior prediction knowledge and skills, and provides more detailed information on fuels, weather, and topography that affect wildland fire behavior for safety purposes.

Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended).

References:

S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

NEW! S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) Now Available

Date: Aug 14, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

The S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) is now available. Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) incident qualifications. 

S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) training combines online training and instructor-led training components. This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties of the HECM position, as described in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended)

NWCG Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for FBAN and LTAN

Date: Aug 13, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) and Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Fire Behavior Analyst Position Page

NWCG Long Term Fire Analyst Page

ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 New Guidance on Laundering Wildland Fire Clothing to Reduce Contamination

Date: Aug 8, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 Risk Management Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) and the Risk Management Committee (RMC) have issued Safety Bulletin 25-001: Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing. Recent research revealed that wildland fire flame-resistant pants and shirts can be contaminated with chemicals from combustion byproducts, including carcinogens, and that common laundering practices can effectively remove these harmful contaminants from wildland firefighter clothing more effectively than previously understood. It is recommended to decontaminate wildland fire clothing as frequently as possible. 

Frequently Asked Questions about this new information and how to implement recommendations can be found on the NWCG Alerts page. Read the complete ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Safety Bulletin: 25-001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing

Equipment Technology Committee

Risk Management Committee