You’ve been engaged in mobile attack on the left flank of a fire for over an hour. Every time you come close to hooking the head of the fire, a wind pulse pushes it out of your reach. It seems the Incident Commander (IC) is asking for progress reports every five minutes. Ahead the fire is burning onto a steep rocky slope, looks like it’s hose packs from here…

Today is the twenty-seventh anniversary of a single shift on the South Canyon Fire that took the lives of 14 firefighters. We use this solemn day to remember that instance as we culminate a week of reflection to honor all our sisters and brothers who have perished in the line of duty. We honor them through learning.

Thirtymile Fire – The Days After

Thirtymile Fire – July 10^th, After the Shelter Deployment

Watch Learning from the Thirtymile Fire video from 1:19:00 minutes to the end

Leadership Level 3 Leader of People (Develop Intent)

Leaders of people accept responsibility, not only for their own actions, but for those of their team. Leaders of people act to develop credibility as leaders: placing the team ahead of themselves, demonstrating trustworthiness, mastering essential technical skills, and instilling the values of the organization in their teams.

Leadership Level 2 New Leader (Convey Intent)

A New Leader begins transitioning from a follower to a leader of small groups to achieve a common goal. They begin to implement team cohesion, accept responsibility for self and team, and apply effective communications.

Leadership Level 1, Follower (Provide Action)

Followers have several responsibilities: to become competent in basic job skills, take initiative, learn from others, ask questions, and develop communication skills.

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.

The job of wildland firefighting can often be stressful and sometimes traumatic. In the wildland fire environment, conditions can take a toll on mental health. It is vital to mental fitness to address feeling overwhelmed by stress and trauma before they become a mental health issue. Mental fitness is just as essential as physical fitness for duty.

Wildland fire smoke is a complex mix of chemicals and particles, which varies depending on the fuels, soil, weather, fire intensity, and the burning phase of the fire. Some of the chemicals and particles that are present can pose a health risk particularly with higher exposures or long duration exposures. Wildland fire smoke can cause irritating respiratory symptoms and, over time, could possibly increase the risk of developing long-term illnesses.

While the makeup of smoke varies, here are just a few of the ways smoke could impact your health: