Wildland Fire Workers in America: The Bigger the Us — the Stronger We Are

In looking back, I want most of all to point out that fire management in the United States has never been one thing, nor have fire workers ever looked one particular way. Throughout our history, fires have been managed by indigenous practitioners, by unpaid and coerced labor (either enslaved or in penal servitude), by local volunteers of all kinds, by day workers, by government employees in jobs programs, and most recently, by workers hired fulltime primarily to manage fire. I believe how we understand ourselves now and into the future is inextricably linked to where we came from and why those organizations existed as they did.

Painful Progress

Growth from the ashes of Yarnell occurred on many fronts in many individual lives. In most cases, preceded by dark days and deep despair. Not everyone made it out of the hopelessness. But as a community, can we claim any sort of cultural catharsis? I submit that we can.

Lessons from 2022: Chainsaw Cuts

Looking at 2022’s reported instances of chainsaw injuries, one number jumps out: More than twice as many cuts to swampers as sawyers.

Lessons from 2022: Entrapments

In 2022, the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center recorded 12 different events that meet the NWCG definition of “Entrapment”.

Opening a Space for Dialogue that has Never Closed

Knowing the kind of firefighter and leader I was at that time, and who I strive to be now, what I believe most strongly is that I struggled, and still struggle, to initiate and sustain dialogue.

The Conditions We Create

If we as a workforce don’t consciously identify and exploit opportunities for learning as part of everyday work, we are failing to foster the constant growth required to navigate the dynamic environment in which we operate

The Illusion of Control — Ready to tip some sacred cows?

We are not in control of the elements influencing fire, we are not in control of the other humans influencing our situation, and we are not even in control of our own perception of what the situation is. In spite of all this uncertainty, as we step into this dynamic and complex environment, we convince ourselves we are in control of our own safety.

The Balancing Act

Finding a mentor, both on the job and in your life, is a great way to make your plan for a healthy work/life balance as you move through both life and career.

Traumatic Transitions

[This article originally appeared in the fall 2018 issue of Two More Chains.] By Travis Dotson Brit Rosso is the Director of the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center—but not for long. Brit is retiring in January 2019, and not by choice. This winter Brit gets the old “golden boot”—the federal wildland fire mandatory retirement. This …

Stories: Why We Need Them and Why They are Never Over

[This article was originally featured in the 2021 Summer Issue of Two More Chains.] By Erik Apland, Field Operations Specialist (Acting), Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Mark Twain supposedly said: “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Whether he said this or not, it nevertheless seems absolutely true. I’ve been working on a special …