Skip to main content

6MFS

6MFS Committee

All 6MFS Topics

Search All 6MFS Topics by Keyword

6MFS Calendar

Aviation

Airtankers

Felling Safety

Fire Communication

Firefighter Health and First Aid

Leadership

Miscellaneous Fireline Hazards

Operational Engagement

This Day in History

Vehicles - Roads

Weather - Fire Behavior

Week of Remembrance

2025 WOR: Fire Season 2015 – Closing Remarks

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

 

Week of Remembrance 2025 has been spent in reflection of incidents that occurred during the 2015 fire season—10 years ago. Today, on the 31st anniversary of the South Canyon Fire, we also remember the Fallen 14 who lost their lives on Storm King Mountain in 1994. We honor you through our commitment to learning. You are not forgotten.
 

Memorial banner of fallen Storm King firefighters.

It should come as no surprise that many of the lessons from the 2015 fire year sound familiar and feel relevant in today’s fireground. There is a well of value in studying the past to build “slides” that help inform our actions today. On a daily basis, we gather intelligence of current conditions to make safe, sound decisions on the best available information. A parallel intelligence-gathering process can occur when learning from past events.

As we build historical fire knowledge, it turns into awareness. We may recognize a familiar situation, not because we lived it ourselves, but because we invested the time to learn from the past and considered how to apply lessons learned. In that spirit, here are critical questions and lessons (slides) to bring forward from this week’s practice of remembrance. Discuss each with your group.

Idaho BLM Physical Training (PT) Fatality:

  • Medical emergencies can occur during routine daily tasks, like during PT. How is your unit prepared to respond to medical emergencies on and off the fireline? Consider skills, equipment, and training.

Sierra Fire:

  • Is our behavior of accepting risk variable? Do we decline a certain level of risk one day and accept it another day? For example: on initial attack vs. when homes are at risk vs. on a slow, remote fire.
  • How do you decide whether "the juice is worth the squeeze?"

Frog Fire:

  • Firefighters cannot always process the raw data coming at them at a given moment. Instead, what a person pays attention to is a function of identity, past experiences, and one’s own understanding of their purpose. These are human factors in the fire environment.
  • There is an expectation and unwritten agreement with the American public that firefighters will put out wildfires as best we can before they cause problems. This adds pressure into our risk calculus.

De Soto Helicopter Crash:

  • In our uncertain operational environment, the measure of any given risk may be unknowable.
  • Acknowledging that helicopter accidents happen requires us to focus equally on response planning as on prevention.

Twisp River Fire:

  • On expanding incidents, crews get asked to provide leadership staffing and fill needed roles. Does your crew have a “draw down” limit? Does capacity to “loan out” positions change based on fire conditions/complexity?

References:

Category
Week of Remembrance

6MFS Suggestion Form


Have an idea or feedback?

Share it with the NWCG 6MFS Subcommittee
 


Follow NWCG on X and Facebook
 


 

Share on Social Media

Last Modified / Reviewed:

Print PDF

NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended) Available Now

Date: December 22, 2025
Questions about RT-130? 
Please contact: Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the new S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended) training is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal.

This third course in the series combines online and instructor-led training components aimed at individuals who are involved in planning, managing, and executing wildland fire and prescribed burn operations; who require a thorough understanding of fire behavior calculations to enhance effectiveness and safety. This includes students who require the knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of a Type 3 Incident Commander (ICT3), Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS), or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2).

Students are required to be qualified as any Single Resource Boss position and complete the prerequisite S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire behavior (Blended) course, before enrolling in S-390.

References:

S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

NEW! S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams (Blended) Available Now

Date: December 18, 2025
Questions about RT-130? 
Please contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams (Blended) is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal!

This blended course combines online learning with instructor-led training, designed for individuals seeking to build leadership skills and gain experience in incident management.

Students are required to complete the prerequisite trainings ICS-100, Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS), ICS-200, Basic ICS for Initial Response, and ICS-700, An Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) prior to attending S-320.

References:

S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams (Blended)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

New! Ransom Road WFSTAR Module

Date: December 16, 2025
Questions about RT-130? 
Please contact: NWCG Audiovisual Specialist

NWCG is excited to announce the release of the new Ransom Road Fire Module to RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR).

This module features a firsthand account from Rob Lee, official reports, and animated maps of the Ransom Road Fire which occurred on June 8, 1981, in Florida's Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

The module is available now in NWCG's RT-130, WFSTAR Catalog.

References:

WFSTAR Catalog

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Call for Nominations: Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award

Date: December 11, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
 Leadership Committee 

Do you know someone working in wildland fire who strives to make positive change and is undeterred by obstacles or setbacks? Now is your chance to give that person the acknowledgment they deserve by nominating them for a Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award.

This award, is presented by the NWCG Leadership Committee to remember Paul Gleason's contributions to the wildland fire community and to recognize individuals or groups that exhibit the same spirit and dedication to leadership – those who lead by example.

Nominations can be submitted via email with an attached Lead by Example Form to BLM_FA_Leadership_Feedback@blm.gov or through the online form. 

Tips for successful nominations and more information can be found on the Lead by Example webpage. All nominations must be submitted by December 31, 2025.

References:

Paul Gleason Lead By Example Award 

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award Nomination Form 2025 

Leadership Committee