2014 WOR Day 4: Towards Better Decisions on the Fireline

Week of Remembrance June 30-July 6, 2014

It’s not uncommon to find some element of human factors being discussed in a training venue these days. We talk often, on and off the line, about situational awareness, decision making, slides and leadership concepts. This was not always the case; this shift in our culture was inspired by the tragic events of July 6^th 1994 and the loss of 14 firefighters on the South Canyon Fire. 

The foundation for this movement towards introspection and the increased emphasis on the individual firefighter was brought about greatly by the Wildland Firefighter Human Factors Workshop in 1995. “The goal of the workshop was not to come up with quick solutions, rather to explore the human issues of wildland firefighting and make recommendations to management for corrective actions that would have lasting effects.”  The findings from the workshop became the single most culturally influential document of the time.

With a focus on the psychological, cultural, and organizational aspects of firefighting, experts introduced new models such as Highly Reliable Organizations (HRO), Recognition Primed Decision Making (RPD), and Crew Resource Management (CRM). These models would become the foundation for the Wildland Fire Leadership curriculum and set in motion a cultural paradigm shift.  The following are excerpts from the CRM adapted for fire:

Discussion Questions: 

1. What from the above information can you apply today? 
2. How can you make this information relevant in every operation?

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