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Week of Remembrance

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2019 WOR: Change Blindness

June 30-July 6, 2019

This Week of Remembrance is dedicated to all those who have fallen in the line of duty and is intended to serve as an opportunity to renew our commitment to the health, wellness, and safety of wildland firefighters.

Remember yesterday’s discussion of TJ’s rappel gear? When you looked at the harnesses side by side did you think to yourself “how could they miss that?” Well you wouldn’t be alone if you did but let’s put you in the hot seat and see how you do.

Activity

  • Watch the video: Test Your Awareness: Whodunnit?
  • While watching, be on the lookout for changes.
  • Consider every change you see as a hazard, and make them known to the rest of the group.

Time: 1:54

So, how did you do? Did the rest of your crew see the same hazards? Did you make them known to everyone? Collectively how many of the changes (hazards) did you see?

Any one of those changes represents one of the many changes (hazards) that you are exposed to when you enter into a complex and dynamic environment, whether it’s a wildland fire or driving on an interstate or walking in the woods. Every second the human brain is bombarded with information. Most are so trivial the brain automatically filters them out and you aren’t even aware of them. It has to be this way because every second the brain takes in about 10 million bits of information through the eyes and another one million through the other senses.

Guess how many bits of information the brain can process?  You’re good but you’re not that good. Actually only about 40 bits of information. Most of the time the brain is pretty good at recognizing what is a threat, but sometimes, especially when the change (hazard) is as subtle as one of the changes in the video or perhaps a misconfigured O ring…the brain sees what it expects to see, not always what is actually there.

This is called Change Blindness and while there is a lot you can do to reduce its effects, you can never eliminate it completely. You are human.  You are susceptible to it.

So…..applying what we learned in the video to our day-to-day operations…The hazards that you and your crew saw meant that you were able to avoid them. Good job.

What about the changes (hazards) that you missed? Maybe they were consequential or maybe not. What role does luck play in our operations?  Have you ever had a “near miss” like that snag that doesn’t tip over like we thought it would?  What did you learn from it?  Did you share the experience with others? Why do we tend not to share stories like that? 

But what if one of those changes (hazards) that wasn’t noticed DOES get you?  You are TJ.  Look around you.  Those sitting with you doing this exercise just watched you fall.  Very soon your mother or father, your husband or wife, is going to get a call.  The worst call of their lives.

Action:

Take a moment to think about this. What are you going to do differently?
Purple ribbon symbol

How can YOU Honor through Learning?

The topics, review, and resources for the NWCG “Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance” have been contributed by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center, the NWCG Leadership Committee, and many other field subject matter experts.

 

Category
Week of Remembrance

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NWCG Latest Announcements

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:

  • Aircraft Timekeeper (ATIM)
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  • Crew Representative (CREP)
  • Deck Coordinator (DECK)
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  • Field Observer (FOBS)
  • Geographic Information System Specialist (GISS)
  • Ordering Manager (ORDM)
  • Receiving/Distribution Manager (RCDM)
  • Staging Area Manager (STAM)

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)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

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