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Inattentive Blindness

 

It’s logical to think that you can see when your eyes are open but are you noticing everything in your field of view? Attention plays a crucial role in our ability to see what is happening around us.

Inattentive blindness is a failure to notice unexpected things in a visual field because focus is on something else in that same field of view. This blindness can visually distract us from what else is happening in our environment. Inattentive blindness can cause you to see what you expect, rather than what is actually there.

Inattentive blindness can occur in any setting. Have you ever been so focused on cutting fireline that you failed to see a plane make a retardant drop nearby? Has an unresolved issue at home distracted you from a routine morning task like engine inspections?

The fire environment is full of distractions that require proactive engagement to maintain focus. A core competency of emergency responders is the ability to direct attention on a deliberately chosen target and sustain that attention even when it’s unpleasant.

Noisy chainsaws, helicopters performing bucket operations, dozers clanking around the hillside, and the constant chatter over the radio create distractions within our fire environment. As leaders it’s our responsibility to maintain awareness of our area of operation. The nature of our dynamic environment requires a collective effort of engagement and the repeated actions of situational awareness (SA) and communication.

To increase our odds of processing our environment, we need to empower those around us. Whether you’re the Division Supervisor, Single Resource Boss, Squad Boss, or Firefighter Type 2, foster a healthy command climate that allows for open communication both up and down the chain of command.

Span of control is another tool that helps in the battle of inattentiveness. Being able to delegate tasks helps our mental capacity and provides us with different viewpoints within the fire environment.

Discuss these questions:

  • What situations in your daily work are likely to result in inattentive blindness?
  • What situations on a fire are likely to result in inattentive blindness?
  • How can you prepare for and mitigate this condition?
  • How do you maintain awareness of your own attention?
Category
Leadership
References
Selective Attention test (invisible gorilla)
The Invisible Gorilla (more in-depth breakdown)
Whodunnit?
Fancy Car

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NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! S-219, Firing Operations (Blended) Now Available

Date: Sept 11, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fuels Management Committee 

The S-219, Firing Operations (Blended) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB) incident qualifications.

This blended course combines online and instructor-led training to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of the FIRB, as described in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Firing Boss, Single Resource, PMS 350-105.

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 January 2026.

References:

S-219, Firing Operations (Blended)

NWCG Firing Boss, Single Resource Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

NWCG Committees Observe Suicide Prevention Awareness Week: September 7-13, 2025

Date: Sep 5, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Mental Health Subcommittee

The NWCG Mental Health Subcommittee (MHSC) and Risk Management Committee (RMC) recognize the unique challenges and demands faced by the wildland fire community. The MHSC and RMC know that we are all stronger together and believe in fostering a culture of support, understanding, and resilience.

Suicide Prevention Awareness encourages us to actively connect with and support each other. For more information that could make a difference for yourself or someone else please review the materials and resources provided for the 2025 Suicide Prevention Awareness Week.

References:

2025 Suicide Prevention Awareness Week Materials and Resources

NEW! Incident Performance and Training Modernization Story Map Now Available

Date: Aug 26, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
National Wildfire Coordinating Group

NWCG is excited to announce the launch of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) Story Map, a new interactive resource that showcases how NWCG is transforming wildland fire training and qualifications through a performance-based system.

Since its launch in 2023, IPTM has made major strides in updating how we manage incident positions:

  • 36 incident positions now have new Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books available for field use
  • 6 more incident positions are nearing completion
  • 111 total incident positions are being analyzed through the IPTM initiative

The Story Map guides you through the IPTM process, highlights key accomplishments, and outlines what’s ahead. Whether you are a trainer or a trainee, this tool offers valuable insight into the modernization effort shaping the future of wildland fire training and qualifications.

This effort would not be possible without the contributions of NWCG staff, NWCG committees, and hundreds of subject matter experts across the wildland fire community.

References:

IPTM Story Map

Incident Performance and Training Modernization Webpage

NEW! S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended) Available Now

Date: Aug 15, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended) training is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. S-290 (Blended) training combines online training and instructor-led training components that support individuals working towards any Single Resource Boss or Fire Effects Monitor incident qualifications.

This second course in the series collectively serves to develop fire behavior prediction knowledge and skills, and provides more detailed information on fuels, weather, and topography that affect wildland fire behavior for safety purposes.

Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended).

References:

S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Wildland Fire Learning Portal