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2025 WOR: Fire Season 2015 – Opening Remarks

Letter to Leadership |  Day 1  |  Day 2  |  Day 3  |  Day 4  |  Day 5  |  Day 6  |  Day 7  

 

This Week of Remembrance (WOR) reflects on firefighters who have died in the line of duty during the 2015 fire season. WOR is a time for honoring through remembrance and learning from unintended outcomes. While we look back on those lost 10 years ago, we also remember the Granite 19 who perished together on this day in 2013.

Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) was entrapped by rapidly moving fire driven by powerful outflow winds when traveling through an unburned area towards a designated safety zone on the Yarnell Hill Fire. Communication was lost for a duration of time while they were on the hill before their escape route was cut off. Granite Mountain had minutes to improve a deployment site before the fire overran them in deployed shelters. 19 perished together and one crewmember serving as lookout survived. 

Gone, but never forgotten. We will always remember. 

poster of the nineteen fallen firefighters.

Fire Season – 2015

Nationally, 68,151 wildfires were reported (93% of the 10-year average), burning 10,125,149 acres (145% of the 10-year average), breaking the earlier record for total acres burned. It was the worst fire season in history since the 1960s and the first time that 10 million acres burned had been recorded. The season was preceded by a dry winter and followed by higher temperatures. It was a year marked with intense drought that contributed to the increase in fire activity. The year appears to have preempted an overall and continued increase to year-round fire seasons. The wildland fire community lost 13 firefighters during the 2015 season.

This Week of Remembrance, we honor these fallen firefighters:

Clifford “Cliff” Sanders 
(January 29, 2015 – KS) 
Collapsed during IA response, stroke.
Jerold “Jerry” Bonner 
(Mar 6, 2015 – CA) 
Pilot, Alma Helitack Base, heart attack.
Brandon Ricks 
(Mar 30, 2015 – MS) 
DeSoto RX, helicopter crash.
Steve Cobb 
(Mar 30, 2015 – MS) 
DeSoto RX, helicopter crash.
Matthew C. Miller, Sr. 
(April 7, 2015 – OR) 
WCT, heart attack.
Raymond Araujo 
(April 13, 2015 – CA) 
PT, heart attack.
Ian Haxton 
(June 6, 2015 – AZ) 
WCT, collapsed.

Terry K. Sonner 
(June 10, 2015 – ID) 
PT, medical emergency.
David “Dave” Ruhl 
(July 30, 2015 – CA) 
Frog Fire entrapment.
Michael “Mikey” Hallenbeck 
(Aug 8, 2015 – CA) 
Sierra Fire, tree strike.
Richard Wheeler 
(Aug 19, 2015 – WA) 
Twisp River Fire, entrapment.
Andrew Zajac 
(Aug 19, 2015 – WA) 
Twisp River Fire, entrapment.
Tom Zbyszewski 
(Aug 19, 2015 – WA) 
Twisp River Fire, entrapment.

Reflections:

Our personal experiences influence how we respond to events. WOR can be a challenging time for all of us as we remember those lost. Give each other space and grace to process and do not be afraid to ask for help. Check in with your people. Remember, it is okay to not be okay.

Discussion:

  • Where were you/what were you doing when you heard the 19 had perished?
  • What does the WOR mean to you and what are some ways you reflect?
  • How do the tragedies you have experienced or learned about affect you and continue to affect you? 

References:

Category
Week of Remembrance

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NWCG Latest Announcements

WFSTAR 2026 Core Components Module Package and 2025 Fire Year in Review Now Available

Date:  March 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Joe Schindel

The 2026 Core Components Module Package for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) and the 2025 Fire Year in Review are now available on the NWCG website. The 2026 Core Components Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

References:

2026 Core Components Module Package

2025 Fire Year in Review Module

NEW! S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended) Available Now

Date:  March 17, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended), 2026 course is now available.

This training includes performance-based activities that allow students to apply the knowledge and concepts required for the Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN), Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN), and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1) positions. It supports individuals working towards these incident qualifications.

This blended course begins with a self-paced online training (OLT) in the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP), followed by an in-person instructor-led training (ILT).

References:

S-490, Advanced Fire Calculations (Blended)

NWCG Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) Position Page

NWCG Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN) Position Page

NWCG Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1) Position Page

2024 Paul Gleason Award Winners Announced

Date:  March 13, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Paul Gleason "Lead By Example" awards. Award categories include Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Justin Baxter, National Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Operations Specialist, with the U.S. Forest Service — Initiative and Innovation
  • Kelly Woods, Director of the Wildland Firefighting Lessons Learned Center — Mentoring and Teamwork
  • Doug Booster, Instructor, ProHealth Net, Inc. — Motivation and Vision
  • Pam McDonald, Writer-Editor for the National Interagency Fire Center — Lifetime Achievement Award

References:

Paul Gleason Lead By Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

Leadership Committee

NEW! S-231, Engine Boss Course Available Now

Date:  March 6, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new S-231, Engine Boss (Single Resource) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB) incident qualifications. 

This is a performance-based instructor-led training (ILT) that focuses on the application of ENGB responsibilities during wildland fire operations, emphasizing readiness, information gathering, risk management, engine tactics, and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) operations. Trainees apply these skills through scenario-based group work and an optional field day that reinforces hands-on engine operation tasks. 

References:

S-231, Engine Boss (Single Resource) (Instructor-led)

NWCG Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB) Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal