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2026 WOR: Redmond Smokejumper Fatality – Ray Rubio

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

 

Today we honor Ray Rubio, an Army veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division and a 25-year federal wildland firefighter. Ray spent 22 of those years as a Redmond Smokejumper. 

Ray Rubio, December 19, 2016

Incident Summary: 

The Redmond Smokejumper Base often sent firefighters to the Southern Area during the late fall to assist with prescribed fire and wildland fire response. 2016 had been a punishing wildfire season in the Southern Area, so the smokejumpers had spent their assignment fighting fires, not lighting prescribed fires. On November 23rd, Ray Rubio and a group of Redmond Smokejumpers spent their last night in Alabama before heading home to Oregon for Thanksgiving. Late that night, someone found Ray unconscious with a serious head injury from an apparent fall. An ambulance brought Ray to the hospital in Birmingham, AL, where he underwent emergency surgery to relieve pressure in his skull. A Care Team of smokejumper colleagues and others was established to support Ray’s family and to liaise between medical professionals and agency officials. Despite continuous care, Ray passed away in the hospital in Birmingham on December 19, 2016.

Discussion:

  1. Accidents, illnesses, and emergencies don’t only happen on the fireline. When a tragedy occurs during travel status, what is the process to initiate notifications and coordinate a response? What else is different? How can we prepare for such an event? 
  2. The prolonged injury and death of a friend or colleague causes immense emotional distress and takes a physical toll. The person injured is not the only one affected. Our coworkers and community will bend over backwards to care for us and our families in situations like these. How can we support each other in these difficult times? How can we balance caring for ourselves as well as others during these situations? How do we manage compassion fatigue and recognize it in others?
  3. In the event of a tragic accident like Ray’s, are your final wishes known? Do you have beneficiaries, and have they been made known legally? Is your emergency-notification documentation up to date, including multiple emergency contacts, significant medical history, and allergies?

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