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

The video is also available as a download (zip file, size ### GB) with .srt file for closed captioning (you may need to right click and Save As). For information on how to add closed captioning to a video, see 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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NWCG Latest Announcements

2025-2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign: "Leadership Levels" Now Available

Date: October 15, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Leadership Committee

NWCG is excited to announce the release of the Leadership Committee’s 2025–2026 Leadership Campaign, themed “Leadership Levels.” This annual initiative offers all students of leadership and wildland fire management an opportunity to engage with essential leadership skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

The campaign is structured into four quarters and may be completed at any time between October 1, 2025 -December 31, 2026. Leadership levels will be released quarterly.

Quarter One materials are now available on the Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program website and focus on Leadership Level 1, Follower (Self-Leadership).

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Leadership Committee

Updated! L-280, Followership to Leadership (Instructor-led) Course

Date: October 3, 2024
Questions? Please contact:
Leadership Committee

NWCG is pleased to announce the updated L-280, Followership to Leadership (Instructor-led) course is now available. L-280 is intended for operational personnel at the Firefighter Type 1 level, and for individuals pursuing Leadership Level 2, New Leader.

This instructor-led course is a primer on leadership and the second formal course in the Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program. It helps emerging leaders build the confidence, skills, and mindset needed to lead effectively in high-risk environments.

For more information about leadership development and available courses, visit the Leadership Committee Web Portal.

References:

L-280, Followership to Leadership (Instructor-led)

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Equipment Advisory 25-01: Pre-2006 Fire Shelter Degradation and Discontinuation of Use

Date: Sept 26, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Equipment Advisory 25-01: Pre-2006 Fire Shelter Degradation and Discontinuation of Use. This advisory recommends all pre-2006 fire shelters should be removed from service by January 1, 2026.

This advisory recommends firefighters and fire managers to:

Inspect fire shelters immediately
Replace and destroy any pre-2006 shelters (identified by white or pink insert label)
Order replacements as needed

For further details, please refer to the complete advisory.

References:

Equipment Advisory 25-01: Pre-2006 Fire Shelter Degradation and Discontinuation of Use

NWCG Fire Inspection Flowchart, PMS 411-1

NWCG Alerts

NEW! S-219, Firing Operations (Blended) Now Available

Date: Sept 11, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fuels Management Committee

The S-219, Firing Operations (Blended) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB) incident qualifications.

This blended course combines online and instructor-led training to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of the FIRB, as described in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Firing Boss, Single Resource, PMS 350-105.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

S-219, Firing Operations (Blended)

NWCG Firing Boss, Single Resource Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

RT-130 (WFSTAR)

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