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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  

 

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 purchase 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 vehicle? 
  • When an Incident Within an Incident occurs, what are key protocols if you are first on scene?

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