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Week of Remembrance

2024 WOR: Communication

 Day 1  |  Day 2  |  Day 3  |  Day 4  |  Day 5  |  Day 6  |  Day 7  |  Letter to Leadership

 

Communication

Have you ever been talking with someone and had the feeling that you just aren’t understanding each other? Maybe you were trying to deliver a message and it didn’t land well, or there was no reply, and you were left to interpret body language? Or you were receiving a message and distractions were present like a noisy environment, a sense of urgency, or position rank? If that instance lingered in your mind, you experienced a breakdown in communication and the natural human desire to communicate effectively. 

The challenges of communication were numerous on the Mendocino Complex. As a part of the Facilitated Learning Analysis (FLA) following the entrapment on August 19th, interviews were conducted with numerous key personnel involved. The lessons they shared were broken into the categories of Aviation, Intercrew, Fireline, and Overhead. Each category of lessons learned contained takeaways about communication. Upon review of the airtanker drop that resulted in one firefighter fatality and multiple firefighter injuries days earlier, the notification and acknowledgement of impending aerial drops was documented as a safety issue for review. 

There’s no question that for our craft to evolve, as wildland fire professionals we must work to continually improve our communication skills, habits, and protocols. But where do we start? 

The Mendocino Entrapment FLA Team posed numerous communication questions for discussion. Think of your own experiences and consider some of these questions that came out of the fire. 

Discussion Questions:

  • When you give a message, how do you obtain confirmation that it has been understood? When you receive a message, how do you confirm that you are understanding it correctly? 
  • What is the difference between briefings given to a group of people who commonly work together and a briefing between a group of people who just met?
  • In your experience, what difficulties and benefits have you found working with other agencies? How might you put added effort into ensuring smooth communication with resources from other agencies?
  • Have you ever been given a compressed or abbreviated briefing? What essential information needs to be included in a compressed briefing? 
  • In today’s environment of large fires and minimal logistical support (especially during PL 5), what can you do to compensate for communications issues? 
     

Resources:

 

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Week of Remembrance

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Updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200 Now Includes Off-Highway Vehicle Typing Standards

Date: May 13, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee 

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200 has been updated to include newly developed Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) typing standards. These standards organize OHV information into logical categories and outline key safety requirements for occupants.

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200 establishes minimum typing standards for aircraft, crews, and equipment used in national mobilization to wildland fire incidents. Typing designations are assigned based on measurable capability and performance criteria.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200

NEW! S-204, Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills for Safety Officers Now Available

Date: May 12, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Risk Management Committee

The S-204, Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills for Safety Officers self-directed online course is now available! Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Safety Officer, Field (SOFF) incident qualifications.

S-204, Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills for Safety Officers focuses on facilitating hazard mitigation conversations and building trust to influence safety-related decisions. Individuals can self-enroll through the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP).

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

References:

S-204, Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills for Safety Officers 

NWCG Safety Officer, Field (SOFF) Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Great Basin Cache Upgrading to New Inventory System

Date: May 7, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Great Basin Cache
Phone: (208) 387-5104
Fax: (208) 387-5573

The Great Basin Cache (GBK) is transitioning to a new inventory system to better serve the wildland fire community. During this upgrade, GBK will be unable to process standard orders from Part 1: Fire Supplies and Equipment and Part 2: Publications between May 8-20, 2025, with exceptions made for emergency fire orders. Orders will be accepted through close of business May 7.

To browse the latest available items, please refer to the National Fire Equipment System (NFES) catalogs. 

References:

NWCG NFES Catalog-Part 1: Fire Supplies and Equipment, PMS 449-1

NWCG NFES Catalog-Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2

NEW! Air Operations Summary (ICS 220 WF) Now Available

Date: May 2, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
National Interagency Aviation Committee

The Air Operations Summary (ICS 220 WF) provides the Air Operations Branch with the number, type, location, and specific assignments of helicopters and air resources. The new ICS 220 WF also includes medical extraction capabilities and air resources tracking.

Understanding the capabilities of aviation assets is critical for effective medical and extraction responses. Coordination with the Medical Unit Leader is essential to ensure alignment and consistency between the ICS 220 WF and the Medical Plan (ICS 206 WF). 

References:

Air Operations Summary (ICS 220 WF)

National Interagency Aviation Committee

Incident Command System (ICS) Forms