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2026 WOR: Denio Engine Rollover – Jacob O’Malley and Will Hawkins

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

 

Today we honor Jacob O’Malley and Will Hawkins. Jake served as a wildland firefighter for six seasons, and Will served for four seasons. On Sunday July 10, 2016, Engine 2410 was returning from patrol in the Denio, Nevada area with two other wildland fire engines and a chase vehicle from the Boise BLM District. The engine was in a rollover accident when a degraded tire failed, seriously injuring a crewmember and tragically killing both Jacob and Will.

Jacob O'Malley and Will Hawkins, July 10, 2016

Incident Summary:

On return to Winnemucca, Nevada the group was traveling at approximately 60 mph with E-2410 in the lead. At 17:03 PDT, E-2410 experienced a sudden failure of the right rear tire. When the wheel rim contacted the pavement, the vehicle pulled to the right, which the driver tried to correct by counter-steering to the left. The right rear rim continued to cut into the pavement for approximately 320 feet and then hopped or skipped off the pavement. Upon re-contact with the pavement, the vehicle gained enough traction to tip to the right side and start rolling over. The vehicle rolled several times and came to rest upright off the highway, facing in the opposite direction it had been traveling. During the rollover, the upper structure of the engine’s cab was badly damaged.

Evidence indicates all three occupants were wearing seat belts. The restraint systems for both the driver, Jacob O’Malley, and the right-side passenger, Will Hawkins, were compromised when the upper structure of the cab separated from the truck’s body. Despite having his seat belt on, Will was ejected from the engine.

Firefighters Jacob O’Malley and Will Hawkins were declared deceased at the scene by a Humbolt County Deputy Coroner. Jacob and Will leave a legacy of hard work, compassion, and engaging in their duties with full hearts.

Discussion:

  • As a result of this accident, new tire inspection protocols were developed. How does your unit record tire inspection information during preventative maintenance checks?
  • What is the proper inflation pressure for different speeds, conditions, and load weights of your unit’s vehicles? 
  • How often do tires need to be replaced (regardless of how much tread life remains)?
  • What color indicates that a dangerous level of heat has been exceeded on the heat sensor stickers of your unit’s vehicles? 
  • When an Incident Within an Incident occurs, what are key protocols if you are first on scene?

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