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2017 WOR: Wildland Firefighter

Ribbon symbol for survivor next to the Wildland Fire Leadership logoWeek of Remembrance June 30 - July 6, 2017

One of the few acts of free will that tragedy leaves within our control, is the chance to grow.
Our brothers have given us such a precious and hard-won opportunity to learn new knowledge and apply lessons.”

"Honor the Fallen” Member

 

June 30 through July 6 has been designated the NWCG “Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance.” This week serves as an annual opportunity to renew our commitment to the safety of wildland firefighters as we remember those who have fallen in the line of duty. Over many decades, lessons learned from accidents and fatalities that have occurred on wildland fires have led to significant improvements in firefighter education, training, operational practices, and risk management processes. Unfortunately, wildland firefighting remains inherently hazardous, and we continue to experience accidents and fatalities. This “Week of Remembrance” is an opportunity to collectively remember our fallen firefighters as we continue our ongoing effort to enhance the safety of all wildland firefighters.

 

Background:

In 2013 the wildland fire community suffered 34 fatalities over the course of the fire season including the tragic events on June 30th on the Yarnell Hill Fire where 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots lost their lives. That summer it seemed like there was one fatality after another. Each loss affected our lives. However, the loss of 19 members of Granite Mountain felt like it shook the community to our very core.

A small group comprised of Senior Leaders in Fire Management, Superintendents, Fire Management Officers, Scientists and Experts in Human Factors connected in a grassroots movement to understand the events of June 30th and beyond. This group’s single motivation was to honor our fallen brothers and sisters by learning as much as we could. The group eventually became known as “Honor the Fallen” (HTF).

The Call to Action:

The mission of this group was not to judge or assign blame, but to engage in a sense-making journey, trying to understand the conditions, cultural practices, mental models, and examining our own vulnerabilities. The HTF group began several initiatives to engage the field at various levels to facilitate discussions around Yarnell as a springboard to stimulate dialog and influence change. The group facilitated preseason discussions at the national, regional, and local levels the following year. They utilized social media to reach larger audiences through Blogs, articles, and white papers. 

What the Core Group Learned: Reflection is one of the biggest lessons we learned. Much like your own reflection in the mirror that greets you every morning, we kept having to return to look at ourselves. To see both the good and the bad. As we sought to understand, we had to first acknowledge a reflection of our own actions, beliefs, and long-held views in what we saw.

What We are Asking You To Do:

  • Join us in a period of remembrance and take the time to reflect on your own actions, beliefs, and views of fire. Do you see what you want to see?
  • If you could speak to the fallen, what would you say? How would you acknowledge their sacrifice? What has changed for you? How are you leading others to do the same?
  • What is your ultimate responsibility as a leader?
  • What does “Honor the Fallen” mean to you?

 

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NWCG Latest Announcements

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

FAQ Now Available for Archiving Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Positions

Date: Aug 6, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Incident and Position Standards Committee

To support the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), NWCG will archive all Type 1 and Type 2 Command and General Staff (C&G) position qualifications in January 2026, as outlined in NWCG Executive Board Memo 25-002. To assist with this transition, a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is now available.

This resource answers common questions about the status of Type 1 and Type 2 qualifications, impacts to incident qualification management, training requirements, and resource ordering considerations. Review the full FAQ to learn more.

For additional information on CIM and the transition of C&G positions, see NWCG Executive Board Memos 23-005, 24-005, and 25-002, as well as the Incident Workforce and Development Group webpage.

References:

NWCG Type 1 & Type 2 Position Archiving FAQ

NWCG Executive Board Correspondence

Incident Workforce Development Group

Incident and Position Standards Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for UASD, UASM, UASL and UASP

Date: July 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all four Unmanned Aircraft Systems positions:

  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist (UASD)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager (UASM)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader (UASL)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UASP)

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization 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 Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot Position Page

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for RADO and INCM

Date: July 30, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Logistics Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Radio Operator (RADO) and Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization 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 Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Communications Center Manager Position Page