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Week of Remembrance

2023 Week of Remembrance Day 3

 Day 1  |  Day 2  |  Day 3  |  Day 4  |  Day 5  |  Day 6  |  Day 7

 

Esperanza Fire (California) – October 26, 2006

Today’s topic is dedicated to all fallen firefighters and their families.
May we honor them through learning.

 

Early in the morning of Thursday, October 26, 2006, The Esperanza Fire was reported burning at the base of the hill in the town of Cabazon. A red flag warning was in effect due to high temperatures, low humidity, and Santa Ana winds. At approximately 7:15 a.m., five wildland firefighters from Forest Service Fire Engine 57 were overrun by the fire, while they were positioned near an isolated, vacant residential structure. All five firefighters were fatally burned by a sudden, intense fire run, up a steep drainage below their location.

 

We strive toward zero injuries and zero deaths while recognizing we can never eliminate risk. In honor of the five fallen members of Engine 57, we acknowledge that wildland firefighting remains inherently dangerous, which requires continued conversations with our loved ones and reevaluation of our risk tolerance. Despite our inability to eliminate tragedy we can preplan and prepare for the worst-case scenario while also choosing actions that reduce the chances of a tragic incident. While heartbroken, the people who experienced devastating loss from the Esperanza fire saw the need for change and inspired the resources and support programs for critical incidents that we have throughout our agencies today.

Discussion Questions:

  • How can we preplan with our families and coworkers to create a support network in the event of a tragedy?
    • Consider whom you would want to talk to your family if you were involved in an incident.
  • When was the last time you had a conversation with your family and friends about your wishes in the event of your injury or death?
  • Do you have a critical incident response plan for your home unit? Does your unit have trained Family and Hospital Liaisons?

Suggested Actions:

Resources:

Esperanza Reports:

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Week of Remembrance

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NWCG Training Catalog now on Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Date: April 25, 2023
Contact: NWCG Training  

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has migrated the training catalog from the NWCG website to the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline processes and improve efficiency. To facilitate this transition, the training catalog remains available on www.nwcg.gov through April 2024.

Starting May 2024, the training catalog will no longer be accessible on www.nwcg.gov. However, you can still access the complete training catalog by logging in as a guest to the WFLP.

References:

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

 

NWCG Website Migration

Date: April 01, 2024
Contact: NWCG Webmaster

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group is thrilled to announce a significant upgrade to https://www.nwcg.gov, involving a comprehensive redesign of over 7,000 web pages. This enhancement is focused on improving user experience. The migration to the new NWCG website will commence on April 2, 2024, starting at noon EST and is expected to take a few hours. 

During the migration period, as the www.nwcg.gov domain-name-location updates across the Internet, you might encounter either the current or the new site depending on your location. We request your patience during this transition. If you are not redirected to the new site by April 3, 2024, we recommend clearing your browser’s cache and refreshing the page.

Please note that while navigating the revamped website, there may be instances of broken links or errors. Our dedicated web migration team has made significant efforts to minimize such issues prior to launch and will promptly address any that arise via use of analytic reports. We value your patience and understanding as we work towards enhancing your overall website experience.

WFSTAR 2023 Year in Review and 2024 Core Component Module Packages Available

Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: Joe Schindel 

The 2023 Fire Year in Review module and 2024 Core Component Module Packages for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) are now available on the NWCG website. The 2024 Core Component Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

 

References:

WFSTAR 2023 Fire Year in Review module

WFSTAR 2024 Core Component Module Packages

2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter

Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: NWCG

The NWCG Executive Board is privileged to share with you the 2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter. As we look into the future and navigate an incredibly complex and dynamic environment, we must remain focused on our mission while actively engaging in national conversations regarding numerous wildland fire initiatives. In 2024, we prioritize building upon our successes and committing to continuous improvement. Key priorities and considerations for this year include: 

  • Determining Core Workload
  • Ensuring Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) Success
  • Improving Efficiencies
  • Firefighter Health and Wellness
  • Engagement in National Conversations

Together we will continue to make significant strides in the challenging and vital work that lies ahead. 

 

References:

2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter