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Week of Remembrance

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2026 WOR: Fire Season 2016

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

 

Week of Remembrance 2026 reflects on firefighters who died in the line of duty during the 2016 fire season. Week of Remembrance is a time for honoring through commemoration and learning from unintended outcomes. We begin this week every year in honor of the Granite 19 who perished together on this day in 2013.

On the Yarnell Hill Fire, members of Granite Mountain IHC made their way toward a designated safety zone. As they hiked through an area of unburned fuel, they were overtaken by rapid-moving fire driven by powerful outflow winds. The crew had minutes to improve a deployment site before the fire overran them in deployed shelters. All 19 perished. 

Gone, but never forgotten. We will always remember.

Granit Mountain Hotshots
Contingent of wildland firefighters hiking single file up a hill.

Fire Season – 2016

Nationally, 67,743 wildfires were reported (92% of the 10-year average), burning 5,509,995 acres (79% of the 10-year average), significantly down from the over 10 million acres of the previous year. Despite significantly fewer acres burned, the number of total fires was nearly unchanged from the 2015 season. The setup to this less active season was average or greater precipitation in much of the country, with the exception of the Southwest and south-central states. As the year progressed, areas of drought in the West intensified, but fire season slowed in much of the area from autumn precipitation. The Southern Area, by contrast, experienced 50% of all the significant fires in the country. The wildland fire community lost 15 firefighters during the 2016 season.

This Week of Remembrance, we honor these fallen firefighters:

Wildland Firefighter Foundation Memorial Ribbon

Shawna Lynn Jones (Feb 25, 2016 - CA)
Hit by rock during IA response.
Charles Tucker (Mar 30, 2016 – AL)
Vehicle collision leaving fire scene.
Steven Lapierre (April 27, 2016 – VT)
Heart attack during IA response.
Will P. Hawkins (July 10, 2016 - NV)
Vehicle accident during patrol.
Jacob M. O’Malley (July 10, 2016 - NV)
Vehicle accident during patrol.
Charles Waterbury (July 24, 2016 - NH)
Medical emergency during IA response.
Robert Reagan III  (July 26, 2016 - CA)
Dozer rollover on the Soberanes Fire.
Justin Beebe (Aug 13, 2016 – NV)
Hit by tree on the Strawberry Fire. 

Ian Howard (Aug 21, 2016 – CA)
Medical emergency while in travel status.
Alan Schwartz (Aug 27, 2016 - MN)
Crew carrier rollover traveling to assignment.
James Shelifoe, Jr. (Aug 27, 2016 - MN)
Crew carrier rollover traveling to assignment.
Ryan Osler (Sept 21, 2016 - CA)
Water tender rollover traveling to fire.
Ted Collett (Oct 29, 2016 - KY)
Tree limb struck engine during suppression.
Ray Rubio (Nov 23, 2016 – AL)
Fatal fall while in travel status.
Darryl Vielle (Nov 30, 2016 – NC)
Medical emergency while in travel status.  

Reflections:

Our personal experiences influence how we respond to events. This week can be a challenging time as we remember those lost in 2016, and because this act of reflection may raise our own memories of other tragedies. When we recall those we have lost as real people, not just historical figures, the emotional impact can be significant. Give each other grace and space 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 and what were you doing when you heard the Granite Mountain 19 had perished?
  • What does the Week of Remembrance mean to you, and what are some ways you reflect?
  • How do the tragedies you have experienced affect you or continue to affect you? How do we support each other when the experience of traumatic events in our community is common?

References:

Category
Week of Remembrance

6MFS Suggestion Form


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NWCG Latest Announcements

Quarter Four Materials for the 2025-2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign Now Available

Date:  July 8, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Development Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Fourth Quarter materials for the 2025/2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign are now available. This annual initiative offers all students of leadership and wildland fire management an opportunity to engage with essential leadership skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

Quarter Four materials focus on Leadership Level 4: Leader of Leaders (Provide Direction). Leadership Level 4 is where you are setting the conditions for others to do things well, even when you are not present. This quarter focuses on equipping experienced leaders with skills to provide direction, build trust across teams, and foster strong decision making. 

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Leadership Development Subcommittee

2026 Week of Remembrance

Date:  June 30, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: 6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee

As we approach the 2026 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30–July 6, we dedicate this time to reflect on past incidents from 2016 and honor the fallen through learning. Since its inception in 2014, WOR has honored wildland firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while encouraging critical discussions that reinforce lessons learned.

Throughout the week, we encourage thoughtful and generative conversations that promote a culture of continuous learning and safety.

References:

2026 Week of Remembrance: Letter to Leadership

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

RMC Memorandum 26-02: SAFENET Modernization and SafeNetX Launch

Date:  June 25, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) is pleased to announce the launch of SafeNetX, the modernized safety reporting system now available to the wildland fire community. Effective June 15, 2026, SafeNetX enables reporting of unsafe, unhealthy, near-miss, and high-risk operations across wildland fire, all-hazard incidents, training, and related work environments.

SafeNetX is the result of a multi-agency modernization effort led by RMC, which began evaluating improvements to the legacy SAFENET system in 2021. To learn more, read the full RMC memorandum in the links provided.

References:

SafeNetX

RMC Safety Memorandum 26-02: SAFENET Modernization and SafeNet X Launch

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