Skip to main content

2019 WOR: Inattentional Blindness

June 30-July 6, 2019

This Week of Remembrance is dedicated to all those who have fallen in the line of duty and is intended to serve as an opportunity to renew our commitment to the health, wellness, and safety of wildland firefighters.

 

It’s logical to think that you can see whenever your eyes are open, but the reality is that attention plays a crucial role in your ability to visually perceive something. Inattentional blindness occurs when our eyes are open to our current environment, but focused on the “shiny object.”

The fire environment is full of shiny objects and takes a proactive level of engagement to try to combat our hefty domes into staying focused. A core competency of emergency responders is the ability to direct and sustain attention on a deliberately chosen target or object, and tolerate sustained attention even when it’s unpleasant. 

Noisy chainsaws, helicopters performing bucket operations, dozers clanking around the hillside and the constant chatter from the radio, all create sources of distractions. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to maintain a big picture perspective of our area of operation, but with the nature of our dynamic environment, it requires a collective effort.

Inattentional blindness can occur in any setting. Have you ever been distracted by an unresolved issue at work or home while doing a routine task like the morning inspection of the engine? Inattentional blindness can cause you to “see” what you expect to see rather than what is actually there.

I’m sure we’ve all heard the analogy, “two heads are better than one” or “four eyes see more than two”.  In order to increase our odds of processing our environment, we need to empower all those around us. Whether you’re the Incident Commander, Division Supervisor, or Firefighter, we need to foster a healthy command climate that allows for open communication.

Span of Control is another tool we have that helps in the battle of inattentional blindness. Being able to delegate particular tasks helps divvy out our mental capacity and provides us with different viewpoints.

Action:

  1. Watch this video (if you have seen this before, don’t give it away!)

    Time: 1:21
  2. Then discuss these questions:
    • What situations in your daily work are likely to result in inattentional blindness?
    • What situations on a fire are likely to result in inattentional blindness?
    • How can you prepare for and mitigate this condition?
    • How will you maintain awareness of your own attention?

 Purple ribbon symbol

How can YOU Honor through Learning?

The topics, review, and resources for the NWCG “Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance” have been contributed by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center, the NWCG Leadership Committee, and many other field subject matter experts.

 

Last Modified / Reviewed:


Have an idea or feedback?

Share it with the NWCG 6MFS Subcommittee
 


Follow NWCG on X and Facebook
 


 

NWCG Latest Announcements

Great Basin Cache Upgrading to New Inventory System

Date: May 7, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Great Basin Cache
Phone: (208) 387-5104
Fax: (208) 387-5573

The Great Basin Cache (GBK) is transitioning to a new inventory system to better serve the wildland fire community. During this upgrade, GBK will be unable to process standard orders from Part 1: Fire Supplies and Equipment and Part 2: Publications between May 8-20, 2025, with exceptions made for emergency fire orders. Orders will be accepted through close of business May 7.

To browse the latest available items, please refer to the National Fire Equipment System (NFES) catalogs. 

References:

NWCG NFES Catalog-Part 1: Fire Supplies and Equipment, PMS 449-1

NWCG NFES Catalog-Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2

NEW! Air Operations Summary (ICS 220 WF) Now Available

Date: May 2, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
National Interagency Aviation Committee

The Air Operations Summary (ICS 220 WF) provides the Air Operations Branch with the number, type, location, and specific assignments of helicopters and air resources. The new ICS 220 WF also includes medical extraction capabilities and air resources tracking.

Understanding the capabilities of aviation assets is critical for effective medical and extraction responses. Coordination with the Medical Unit Leader is essential to ensure alignment and consistency between the ICS 220 WF and the Medical Plan (ICS 206 WF). 

References:

Air Operations Summary (ICS 220 WF)

National Interagency Aviation Committee

Incident Command System (ICS) Forms

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book Available for Firing Boss, Single Resource

Date: April 30, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Fuels Management Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Firing Boss, Single Resource, PMS 350-105, and the NWCG Position Task Book for Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB), PMS 311-105, are now available. 

These resources, part of the Performance Support Package developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators. 

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

 

References:

NWCG Firing Boss, Single Resource Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Firing Boss, Single Resource, PMS 350-105

NWCG Position Task Book for Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB), PMS 311-105

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book Available for Helicopter Crewmember

Date: April 28, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22, and the NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22, are now available.

These resources, part of the Performance Support Package developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22