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Week of Remembrance

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2025 WOR: Sierra Fire Tree Strike – August 8, 2015

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

 

Incident Summary:

The Sierra Fire was ignited by lightning on August 8, 2015, on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit of the Forest Service in California. During the initial attack response, an organized crew (OC) was mobilized to the fire to assist finishing handline and mopping up the fire. Numerous hazard trees were identified within the fire perimeter. They were discussed at length and steps were taken to assess and mitigate these hazards while working the fire. While finishing the last piece of line for the shift, a weakened hemlock tree, a known hazard tree, fell and struck two firefighters.

Wildland firefighter smiles at camera.

 Michael "Mikey" Hallenbeck died from injuries sustained in the accident. The second firefighter was treated at the ER and released. Mikey was very proud that he had taken the initiative to train to become a firefighter. It was his first season as an OC-36 crew member and crew members recalled his enthusiasm for this opportunity to gain firsthand experience.

Because hazard trees are so common, exposure to them feels normal. However, the Sierra Fire and many other similar tragic incidents reveal that our exposure to them should be anything but normal. Normalization of exposure to these hazards can foster a bias for action. During the Week of Remembrance, we owe it to Mikey and all the firefighters who have gone before us to have open and honest conversations about how and when we engage.

Discussion:

  • What environmental, fire, and human conditions influence normalization of exposure to hazard trees? How can we better acknowledge and talk about these conditions before engaging?
  • Who is informally or formally empowered to challenge what is “normal?"
  • As a leader, how do you create space for everyone to share their perspective?
  • What tools can you use to help you stop, think, talk, and re-evaluate your options?
  • What are all the options you have to safely mitigate a hazard tree?

References:

Category
Week of Remembrance

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NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Emergency Medical Committee

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2025 Wildland Fire Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Awards. EMC annually recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated outstanding actions or accomplishments that are above and beyond the expectation of one’s normal mission or job duties.

Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Emergency Medical Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for RAMP

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Airtanker Base Operations Unit

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Ramp Manager (RAMP).

The Performance Support Package for this position was 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 release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Ramp Manager Position Page

National Interagency Aviation Committee

Make an Impact: Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date:  June 11, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

Note: Positions with an * will last approximately 6 months.
Positions with ** will last 12 - 18 months.

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. IPTM aims to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model by updating position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the Fall 2026 positions listed below:

  • Equipment Manager (EQPM)*
  • Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT)**
  • Mixmaster (MXMS)*
  • Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC)*
  • Retardant Crewmember (RTCM)*
  • Strike Team Leader Crew (STCR)*
  • Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN)*
  • Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ)*
  • Task Force Leader (TFLD)**
  • Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF)** 

Projects begin October 2026. Sign up by July 10, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for additional details. 

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

Date:  May 28, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has issued Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters. Research from 2016 to 2025 shows that 88 cases of rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) were reported. Analysis of reports from eSafety, the Safety Management Information System (SMIS), and the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) indicates that rhabdo is common during this time of year due to Work Capacity Tests and contributing factors such as weather, hydration, nutrition, and medication or supplement use.

RMC issued this safety bulletin to raise awareness in the Wildland Fire Community, and to provide research findings and educational resources that support reducing future cases of rhabdo.

References:

NWCG Alerts

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters