By Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center
Learning in the Wildland Fire Service
Kelly Woods and Travis Dotson visit with Riva Duncan and Dr. Patty O’Brien about some considerations when deciding to seek therapy, how to find a therapist, and how to get the most out of the experience when working with a...
Travis Dotson and Kelly Woods talk about lessons the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center received in learning reviews and reports in 2023. Travis highlights some themes and shares his unique insights on data. Throughout the conversation, Travis and Kelly reference...
Erik Apland talks with Erin Phelps and Kat DuBose about wildland fire presumptive illness legislation, some lessons associated with filing a cancer-related claim with the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, and firefighter exposure to environmental hazards. Erin...
Kelly Woods visits with Tyler Doggett in a candid conversation about some of the mental health difficulties that often accompany a career in wildland fire. Tyler openly shares his story which includes a chance search and rescue, a shattered femur,...
Travis Dotson and Erik Apland discuss the most recent issue of the quarterly publication Two More Chains centered on the wildland fire worker. Travis and Erik talk about the history and explore a few of the hot buttons we face...
Kelly Woods and Travis Dotson discuss the latest edition of Data Points that focuses on UTV fires. Data Points is the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center publication designed to highlight a collection of similar events that signal a need for...
Kelly Woods and Travis Dotson discuss incidents featured in the latest issue of Two More Chains, the quarterly publication produced at the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center. Each of the featured incidents involves firing operations. Their lessons are diverse and...
Kelly Woods and Travis Dotson discuss lessons collected at the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center in 2022. The centerpiece of the conversation is recent analysis of incident reports and learning reviews submitted by the field. Listen in to discover new...
Kelly Woods talks with Sarah Fisher and Chad Fisher about what learning in the wildland fire service means to them. Sarah and Chad describe their different experiences landing them both near the top of their respective organizations. They each discuss...
Travis Dotson talks with Brian Crawley about his experience during the entrapment and fire shelter deployment on the Bridger Foothills Fire in Montana in 2020. Brian offers some perspective, not only on surviving as options disappear, but also on supporting...
Kelly Woods talks with Travis Dotson about lessons gathered from wildland fire incidents occurring in the 2021 fire year. This conversation centers around the Annual Incident Review Summary, a yearly publication based on an in-depth review and analysis of accident...
Kelly Woods talks with Beth Lund and her daughter Allison Lund about the dynamics of two generations of the same family forging careers in wildland Fire. They highlight how even though things have changed across the years, that which grounds...
Kelly Woods talks with Erik Apland about his assignment to read all of the entrapment reports housed in the LLC Incident Review Database. Erik provides perspective on the evolution of reports spanning over a century. He highlights how old reports...
In a conversation with Travis Dotson, Chris Fry shares the powerful story of his entrapment and shelter deployment on the 2006 Mudd Fire. We learn several key details about what happened that day. Chris discusses the lessons he has gained...
Travis Dotson and Alex Viktora discuss the Tree Felling Accident Analysis – a report comparing 53 different tree felling accidents. Topics covered include: Predicting Tree Reactions Hung-Up Trees Helmets Two People at the Base Area Control Escape Routes Accidents During Training
A conversation with Monica Morrison on Command Presence. What is it? What does it look and sound like? How do you get it?
Travis Dotson and Brit Rosso have a great discussion about transitions, both on and off the fireline.
Andrew Addey is currently a Forest Training Officer, a position he landed after ten years on the Sawtooth Interagency Hotshot Crew. Travis and Andrew chatted about a ton of important topics, including: Growing our perspective on the job of a Line Officer. Expanding...
Why Talk About Entrapments? In January 2018, as part of work on the 2017 Annual Incident Review Summary, LLC staffers Travis and Alex recorded this discussion about entrapments. Listen to their wide-ranging conversation to find out more about entrapments, what...
In this podcast, Travis Dotson and Brit Rosso introduce the concept of the "Bad Apple" as it applies to the business of wildland fire. To do so, we take a close look at one of our heroes, Paul Gleason, and...
In this podcast, we hear from Travis Dotson--a regular on the podcast--and Brit Rosso, the Director of the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center and podcast newcomer. In the discussion, we try to make sense of the super complex and convoluted topic...
For the 2017 Week of Remembrance, the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center is focusing on a single shift on a single fire from July 2004, the Nuttall Fire, which burned on the Coronado National Forest in southeastern Arizona. In the final episode...
For the 2017 Week of Remembrance, the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center is focusing on a single shift on a single fire from July 2004, the Nuttall Fire, which burned on the Coronado National Forest in southeastern Arizona. In this episode, we...
For the 2017 Week of Remembrance, the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center is focusing on a single shift on a single fire from 2004- the Nuttall Fire, which burned on the Coronado National Forest in southeastern Arizona. Why? Listen in...
What if your UTV caught on fire? Yeah - it happens. In this mini-episode we get right to the point - why you need to take a real close look at the underside of your UTV. Listen to this 5-minute episode...
In this episode Alex and Travis chat about wildland firefighter burn injuries. Why are they a bigger deal than we might think? What can we do to make sure we get the treatment we need? What are the lessons from past incidents? Get the answers...
Unfortunately, when it comes to fuel geysers, there are many popular misconceptions. True or False: "Fuel geysers only happen when it's hot.” “Fuel geysers only happen with chainsaws.” “The recent chainsaw recall will fix the fuel geyser issue." In this Podcast—that features the latest insights...
2016 marked the eighth year in a row that the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center has received at least one report of a serious burn injury on the leg related to drip torch use. This podcast is just 7 minutes...
Do you like scouting? Do you acknowledge the risk involved? Chances are you take on more exposure than you realize whenever you "go take a look". Some super dialed-in folks have died scouting: Sawtooth Rx Entrapment (2003) Devils Den Fatality (2006) Frog Fire...
What is it actually like to "Wag Dodge" it? What does it feel like to realize you are in a bad spot? What are some things you can do to prepare for that moment? In this episode we hear it...
Where do the lessons live? In this episode we discuss the relationship between lessons and data and why it matters. Along the way we wander through the following topics: Clocks & CloudsKnowing where the Medical Incident Report livesThe need for humilityCommunication with...
Where do the lessons live? In this episode we discuss the relationship between lessons and data and why it matters. Along the way we wander through the following topics: Clocks & Clouds Knowing where the Medical Incident Report lives The need for...
In this episode we tackle the "Contractor's Dilemma" - the idea that contract fire resources face different pressures that make some conversations about assignment risk more difficult. Is this an issue? Is it not? Take a listen and share your...
Alex Viktora and Travis Dotson discuss emerging numbers and lessons from the year so far. Topics discussed include early season physical training medical emergencies, equipment burning up (including lessons about parking in the black), and tire failures. Tune in to...
Travis Dotson, Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Analyst, has been crunching the numbers on chainsaw incidents during the 2016 fire season. Listen in to hear his thoughts on chainsaws, and what sawyers and crew leaders might do differently based on...