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:

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

Time: 1:21
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.

References

Useful Resources

6MFS Suggestion Form

Have an idea or feedback?

Share it with the NWCG 6MFS Subcommittee

Follow NWCG on X and Facebook

Share on Social Media

Last Modified / Reviewed: 2025-09-17

Print PDF

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Committees Observe Suicide Prevention Awareness Week: September 7-13, 2026

Date: September 8, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Health and Wellness Subcommittee

The NWCG Health and Wellness Subcommittee (HWSC) and Safety/Risk Management Committee (SRC) recognize the unique challenges and demands faced by the wildland fire community. The HWSC and SRC 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 2026 Suicide Prevention Awareness Week.

References:

2026 Letter from Leadership

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Health and Wellness Subcommittee

Safety and Risk Management Committee

2025 Paul Gleason Award Winners Announced

Date: August 13, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Leadership Development Subcommittee

The NWCG Qualifications Management Committee (QMC) and Leadership Development Subcommittee (LDSC) are proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Paul Gleason "Lead By Example" awards. Award categories include Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision.

Congratulations to the awardees:

Hunter Bell, U.S. Forest Service — Initiative and Innovation
Shannon Deane, U.S. Wildland Fire Service— Initiative and Innovation
Chris Delaney, U.S. Wildland Fire Service — Motivation and Vision
Sean Peterson, U.S. Forest Service — Mentoring and Teamwork

References:

Paul Gleason Lead By Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

Leadership Development Subcommittee

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species – Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

Date: July 30, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics and Equipment Management Committee (LMC) issued Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels, reminding the wildland fire community that aquatic mussels continue to be a problem. Mussels rapidly colonize hard and soft surfaces, including aquatic plants and fire equipment, clogging pipes, fouling motors, disrupting water systems, and impacting native species.

To help prevent their spread, fire personnel must follow the decontamination procedures outlined in the NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444. Additionally, report any sightings immediately to your Lead Resource Advisor and include clear, close-up photos (with a pen or your hand for size reference) and location details.”

Read the complete LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001, to learn more.

References:

NWCG Alerts

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Task Book Update

Date: July 24, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG Operations Management Committee (OMC) has issued an update to the NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91. To ensure clarity for both trainees and evaluators, the updated FAL2 Position Task Book (PTB) explicitly states who is authorized to sign off on your tasks:

“Evaluators must be qualified as a FAL2, or an Advanced Faller (FAL1).”

If you are currently working out of a previously published version of the FAL2 PTB, you do not need to restart. However, OMC highly encourages you to take the following step to prevent any confusion in the field:

Print and replace the updated evaluator information page (page 2) in your current physical PTB.

References:

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

RMC Memo 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementing Updates to Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Qualifications

NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91

6MFS

Topics Categories

2019 WOR: Inattentional Blindness

June 30-July 6, 2019