RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)

The Ransom Road Fire

Content Warning: This video contains graphic content.

The Ransom Rd Fire occurred on June 8th 1981 on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. The events of the Ransom Road Fire led to the creation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s professional fire program. Rob Lee, who was second on site at the deployment site, provides a firsthand account of that day. This video uses interview content, reports, and animated maps to provide viewers with an understanding of the event.

Category: Case Studies

Core Component(s):

Fire and Aviation Operational Safety, Human Factors, Communication and Decision Making

Estimated Delivery Time: 40 minutes

Video Length: 21:30

Intent

To provide learners with an understanding of the Ransom Road fire that occurred on June 8th 1981.

Facilitator Preparation

Review the video and module tools. Consider additional activities and discussion questions relevant to the geographic location and your respective agency.

Facilitating the Discussion

Show the video. Facilitate a small or large group discussion using the activity and discussion questions. Present the scenario below and guide students through the exercise.

Scenario

If you are not from Florida: Your crew has been prepositioned to Florida. What are the fuel types that they should be aware of? What are some hazards that they may be unfamiliar with? What firefighting techniques can they expect to encounter? What sorts of weather events are common?

If you are from Florida: You are assigned to give an in briefing to an out of region engine being prepositioned in your area. What are the hazards that they should be aware of? What firefighting techniques are most safe and effective in this area? What weather patterns should they be aware of?

Conduct Activity (Optional)

Divide the class. Give each group the Activity Questions below. Discuss group responses.

Activity Questions

What are some ways we can get stuck?
How do you prepare ahead of time for getting unstuck?
How can we make plans that provide time for getting unstuck?
How prepared are you for treating severely burned coworkers? What measures should be taken to preserve an accident scene?
What factors can lead us from a can-do attitude into a make-do situation? In what ways is firefighting today different than it was in 1981? In what ways is it the same?

Resources

Website: Mental Health Subcommittee Additional Resources

Video/Module: Wildland Fire Mental Health

Video: Invisible Wounds: Living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (7 minutes)

Additional Video Information

We are currently experiencing connection issues with the file server hosting the video. IT is working to resolve this problem quickly. Once resolved, the video will be available as a downloadable zip file (size ### GB), which includes an .srt file for closed captioning (right-click and Save As may be required). For information on adding closed captioning to a video, please refer to this how to page.

Note: For Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, right click the word download and select Save Link As; for IE, right click and select Save Target As.

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Last Modified / Reviewed: October 22, 2025

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NEW! S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended) Available Now

Date: December 22, 2025
Questions about RT-130?
Please contact: Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the new S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended) training is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal.

This third course in the series combines online and instructor-led training components aimed at individuals who are involved in planning, managing, and executing wildland fire and prescribed burn operations; who require a thorough understanding of fire behavior calculations to enhance effectiveness and safety. This includes students who require the knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of a Type 3 Incident Commander (ICT3), Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS), or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2).

Students are required to be qualified as any Single Resource Boss position and complete the prerequisite S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire behavior (Blended) course, before enrolling in S-390.

References:

S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended)

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Date: December 18, 2025
Questions about RT-130?
Please contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams (Blended) is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal!

This blended course combines online learning with instructor-led training, designed for individuals seeking to build leadership skills and gain experience in incident management.

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References:

S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams (Blended)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

New! Ransom Road WFSTAR Module

Date: December 16, 2025
Questions about RT-130?
Please contact: NWCG Audiovisual Specialist

NWCG is excited to announce the release of the new Ransom Road Fire Module to RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR).

This module features a firsthand account from Rob Lee, official reports, and animated maps of the Ransom Road Fire which occurred on June 8, 1981, in Florida's Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

The module is available now in NWCG's RT-130, WFSTAR Catalog.

References:

WFSTAR Catalog

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Call for Nominations: Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award

Date: December 11, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Leadership Committee

Do you know someone working in wildland fire who strives to make positive change and is undeterred by obstacles or setbacks? Now is your chance to give that person the acknowledgment they deserve by nominating them for a Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award.

This award, is presented by the NWCG Leadership Committee to remember Paul Gleason's contributions to the wildland fire community and to recognize individuals or groups that exhibit the same spirit and dedication to leadership – those who lead by example.

Nominations can be submitted via email with an attached Lead by Example Form to BLM_FA_Leadership_Feedback@blm.gov or through the online form.

Tips for successful nominations and more information can be found on the Lead by Example webpage. All nominations must be submitted by December 31, 2025.

References:

Paul Gleason Lead By Example Award

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award Nomination Form 2025

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RT-130 (WFSTAR)

RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)