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2019 WOR: Muscle Memory

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.

 

Graphic of a brain lifting a barbell of weights.

What does Muscle Memory mean and what does it mean to us as firefighters?

Muscle memory by definition is “the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement. Typing, for instance, relies heavily on muscle memory"

Without conscious thought….let’s look at the benefit of that best of our abilities at all times on the fireline.  This is an example of a positive implementation of muscle memory. The strength of muscle memory in learning the 10 and 18 is that we are implementing those steps throughout the day without conscious thought and these lessons help us to make better decisions on the fireline.

“Over time, with continual practice, actions as complicated as riding a bike, knitting, or even playing a tune on a musical instrument, can be performed almost automatically and without thought.” – Oxford University Publication

Practice develops muscle memory and this can work to our benefit on the fireline.  While we may not be aware of it, the body is implementing muscle memory continually.  While we are repeating actions, which at first we need to think about to execute correctly, our brain is building shortcuts resulting in our ability to do the action much quicker and with less conscious thought. Actions that we train to do, practice repeatedly and implement on the job, become second nature to us. The other benefit of this muscle memory is that once we have it, we can be thinking about other things…like the gorilla (remember that video from a couple of days ago?) for a moment.

The RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher requires each firefighter to practice deploying their fire shelter.  The Jolly Mountain Incident within an Incident Training Rapid Lesson Sharing (RLS) concluded that "Training builds great muscle memory that will be invaluable to performance during periods of high stress" such as the stress we will feel if we are ever in a deployment situation.

Consider the action involved with the E in LCES. Just identifying escape routes isn’t enough, it’s walking that escape route that develops muscle memory making it routine.  Taken from the GAP Fire Tree Strike RLS- "Always have a PLANNED escape route. Make a physical connection to it by walking it out. Put some muscle memory into your efforts.” This practice could be the difference in reaction time and outcomes.

Preventing Complacency
  • ANALYZE small mistakes, not just the serious ones.
  • Think you might be too complacent?
    TRY placing visual reminders in your line of vision such as a photo of a loved one.
  • DISCUSS the hazards of your job with your crewmembers.
  • SHADOW someone in a different job than you as they identify hazards.
  • LOOK for signs of complacency in other people. This will increase your awareness of it.

Can muscle memory result in complacency? An article from the Lessons Learned Center on Complacency discusses how the routine of doing something every day can create blinders.  Muscle memory built from the repetitive action such as doing the same drills several times a week can cause us to miss the subtle changes that can escalate into significant events.   So how do we change our muscle memory? Active effort is required.  The guide on the left “Preventing Complacency” provides some suggestions for how to adjust what we see, how to actively change our muscle memory, and function with more awareness. Exercise your brain daily, alert yourself to the hazards that may have become invisible, and come off the line safely and successfully each shift.

How do you and your crews develop muscle memory? Has muscle memory ever “failed” you at a critical point? What are some examples of negative muscle memory?

 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.

 

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NWCG Latest Announcements

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)
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  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader (UASL)
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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

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004 NEW Aquatic Invasive Species – Golden Mussels

Date: July 29, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) issued Equipment Bulletin: 25-004, notifying the wildland fire community about a newly discovered invasive species and actions to take if found. Golden mussels, a highly invasive species recently identified in California, pose a significant risk to native ecosystems, infrastructure, and fire equipment. These mussels rapidly colonize hard and soft surfaces, including aquatic plants and fire equipment, clogging pipes, fouling motors, disrupting water systems, and impacting native species.

To help prevent their spread, fire personnel must follow the decontamination procedures outlined in the NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444. Additionally, report any sightings immediately to your Lead Resource Advisor and include clear, close-up photos and location details.

Read the complete ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004

NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for ICT5 and FFT1

Date: July 29, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Command Subcommittee
Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5) and Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss (FFT1).

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 Incident Commander Type 5 Position Page

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page