Miles from pavement, the rules change. Field trauma care isn't optional—it's the difference between a recovery and a rescue.

We sat down with Brennen—Army 68W combat medic turned paramedic, REMS lead to unpack how combat medicine principles make wildland firefighting safer, faster, and more self-sufficient when evacuation is uncertain.

What we cover:
Austere Care Fundamentals
Why supraglottic airways often beat intubation in the woods
When a cric might be the right call
Prolonged field care realities when you may sit on a patient for hours

Stop the Bleed for Fire Crews
Tourniquet selection and junctional wound packing
Hemostatics that work and how to use them
Commercial vs improvised tourniquets: time and success rates
Simple SOPs that save minutes under stress

What Every Firefighter Should Carry
Tourniquet
Hemostatic gauze
Epi auto-injector (where protocols allow)
Intranasal naloxone
Crew SOPs for staging gear and self-rescue

Building Your Career
From Army 68W to wildland fire and REMS
Cooperator vs contractor roles and ordering pathways
How to open and complete task books efficiently
Timing USAJOBS applications for federal EMS positions

Medical Support Trailers
Bringing mid-level providers to incidents
Suturing, antibiotics, and expanded ALS capability in camp
Keeping crews in the fight and improving quality of life

Severity Assignments & Behind the Scenes
Patrolling for smokes and IA readiness
Cache work that powers big fires
Day-to-day reality of severity roles

The Bottom Line:
Whether you run a saw, lead a crew, or want to build your medical edge on the fireline, this episode is loaded with field-ready skills you can use tomorrow. Translating TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care) to wildland fire isn't just smart—it's necessary when help is hours away.

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[00:00:00] Combat Medicine Meets Wildland Fire
[00:06:57] Brennen's Path: Army Medic To Paramedic
[00:15:56] Wilderness Versus City Medic: Different Niches
[00:24:20] What To Carry: TQs, Hemostatics, Epi, Narcan
[00:36:20] Crew SOPs, Pace Plans, And Self‑Rescue
[00:40:00] Red Desert Rescue: Building MST Capability
[00:47:44] Task Books, Qualifications, And Career Strategy
[00:55:10] Training Offers: Stop The Bleed And WFR Skills

Heavy REMS caches slow you down. Lightweight systems save lives.

We sat down with Brian from Prevail Rescue Solutions to break down what actually makes REMS teams effective on wildland fires: minimalist rope systems, anchorcraft under pressure, and prolonged field care that holds up through a cold, sleepless night.

Why train in anchor-poor Utah canyons? No trees. No bolts. You learn to ghost canyons, trust retrievable anchors, and move with intention. When fire wipes a ridge clean and you still need to get down, package, and move—that training pays off.

What we cover:

Level One Fundamentals
Totem rack versatility and VT prusik magic
Compact pulleys where each piece does multiple jobs
Anchorcraft in terrain with nothing to work with
Retrievable anchors and creative rigging

Level Two Reality Check
9-hour night scenario with live patients that reset our understanding of pace
Pain meds, hypothermia prevention, pressure relief, fluids, documentation
Curveballs: canceled air, shifting RV points, systems that held (or didn't)
Patient perspective—every bump in a sked has consequences

Gear That Works
Class two harnesses win in the mountains
Skeds beat Stokes for speed and manpower
Chest rigs and integrated helmets keep radios, maps, and lights accessible
Capability over checklists: meet technician JPRs with tested, interoperable gear

Standards & The Future
NFPA's caveat on mountain and cave rescue matters
Educating divisions early about what REMS can (and can't) do
Hotshot self-rescue potential and early engagement
Where FireScope and NWCG guidance may shift next

The Bottom Line:
Think speed, not bulk. Build REMS teams that move fast, think clearly, and treat the patient like the mission. We're challenging old assumptions with data, principles, and training that rewards results over part counts.

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[00:00:00] Comfort Vs Capability In Real Rescue
[00:05:10] Minimal Kits And Anchorcraft Mindset
[00:12:00] Nine-Hour Night Scenario Lessons
[00:19:05] Totem Rack Philosophy And VT Prusik
[00:26:20] Depriving Gear To Force Problem-Solving
[00:33:20] Helmets, Chest Rigs, And Interop Lessons
[00:40:45] Hotshot Self-Rescue And First-On-Scene
[00:49:20] Skeds Over Stokes And Lightweight Mobility
[00:55:20] Where REMS Is Heading And Policy Shifts
[01:00:20] From Specs To Capability-Based Standards

REMS teams should be medics first, with rope capability second—not the other way around.

We make the case for why medicine must lead when extraction takes hours, air assets are grounded, and patients can't wait for perfect rigging. Lean systems and strong people outperform bulky redundancy when time is tissue.

What we cover:

REMS Philosophy & PACE Planning
Why med-first with rope capability is the right stance
Building PACE planning as a daily habit and team culture
Safe-to-fail testing: blowing anchors, reading soils, logging real loads

Rope Systems That Move Fast
Lightweight, multi-use gear over heavy redundancy
8mm aramid-sheathed ropes and single rope technique tradeoffs
Reducing human error through simpler systems
Meat anchors that get the first rescuer down in minutes

Medicine That Saves Lives
Point-of-injury care and prolonged field care for protracted evacuations
Analgesia, hypothermia prevention, bleeding control, airway strategies
Packaging that actually moves in steep country
Integrating air, ground, UTVs, and dozers for extraction

The Bottom Line:
Turn recoveries into rescues by investing in people, testing until failure, simplifying the system, and putting medicine at the center. We challenge rope dogma with data, principles, and reps—and steal smart practices from canyoneers, cavers, arborists, and tactical medics along the way.

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[00:00:00] Opening Hot Take: Medics First
[00:06:28] ICS Lessons From Wildland Campaigns
[00:12:16] PACE Planning As A Habit
[00:19:50] What Makes REMS Work In Reality
[00:23:08] Prevail Rescue: Origins And Philosophy
[00:27:07] Erasing Dogma With Data And Principles
[00:31:05] Single Rope, Twin Tension, And Tradeoffs
[00:38:50] Meat Anchors, Edges, And Speed
[00:45:20] The Controversy: Medicine Inside REMS
[00:49:10] Prolonged Field Care And Closing

Four lessons from the Dutch Creek incident that every wildland firefighter and medic needs to know:

1. Radio language matters. Say "struck by tree" and "active bleed"—not just "leg injury"
2. Spin up aviation early. You can always cancel if you don't need it
3. Stop the bleed FIRST. Stabilize massive hemorrhage and airway before moving the patient
4. Assign one medical lead. Clear ownership prevents communication drift and keeps everyone aligned on GPS, LZs, and patient status

We revisit the Dutch Creek incident and the loss of Andy Palmer to map the real-world decisions, delays, and coordination breakdowns that forged modern wildland EMS protocols. From the first radio call to the final hoist, we walk through what went wrong: smoke grounding helicopters, county medics hiking in light because "broken leg" sounded minor, the scramble between agency and Coast Guard aircraft, and the brutal reality of carrying a patient down a moondust dozer line.

A calm dispatch can hide a life-threatening bleed—and those first words shape everything that happens next. Better language, earlier activation, and stronger medical leadership could have changed the outcome. We unpack exactly how.

We close with the reforms that followed—NWCG Dutch Creek protocols, required medical resources on incidents, and a shared culture of readiness built on four questions every crew must answer:

What will we do if someone gets hurt?
How will we get them out of here?
How long will it take to get them to a hospital?
Who owns the plan?

Honor Andy Palmer by making readiness non-negotiable: carry the right gear, train for the terrain, call it red when your gut says go, and never let a soft radio call delay a hard response.

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[00:00:00] Why Details Save Lives
[00:06:47] The Incident Unfolds
[00:10:24] Miscommunications And Resource Delays
[00:18:44] Hoist Decision And Outcome
[00:22:46] Reforms, Protocols, And The Three Questions

We break down a real-world pack list for a 14-day wildland fire roll, from boots and blister care to sleep systems, hygiene, and power. The goal is simple: carry what makes you faster, safer, and more self-sufficient at ICP and spike camp.

• defining spike camp and planning for self-sufficiency
• boot standards, break-in, socks, and hot-spot treatment
• pro deals, cost-saving tips, and brand trade-offs
• Nomex vs TecaSafe, fit, repairs, and sewing kits
• shirts, belts, eye protection for day and night, headlamps
• gloves, tools, shelters, and what to inspect
• sleep systems: pads vs cots, tents, staking, day-sleep options
• camp etiquette and protecting everyone’s rest
• hygiene without showers, preventing camp crud, basic meds
• food reality at ICP, jetboils, protein, and electrolytes
• hydration setups, filtration, bottles, and bladders
• power and comms: batteries, Starlink, notebooks
• tourniquets, allergies, self-aid, and team readiness
• what not to bring: drugs, guns, alcohol, and noise
• packing extras: footwear, running gear, simple town clothes

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[00:00:00] What "Spiked Out" Really Means
[00:08:06] Buying Smart: Pro Deals and Boot Evolution
[00:18:12] Shirts, Eye Pro, Headlamps, and PPE Basics
[00:23:04] Tools, Fire Shelters, Gloves, and Packs
[00:38:41] Hygiene Without Showers and Avoiding Camp Crud
[00:48:08] Off-Line Clothes, Laundry, and Footwear
[00:52:43] Jetboils, Water Systems, and Electrolytes
[01:02:10] Med Basics: Tourniquets, Allergies, and Self-Reliance
[01:11:00] Final Resources, Community Tips, and Wrap

A good line medic doesn’t wait at the bottom of the hill—they’re already up there, catching their breath before anyone else loses theirs. We pull back the curtain on wildland fire EMS with a blunt, field-tested walkthrough of what actually makes a difference: proximity, planning, and the relationships that shave minutes off response when the terrain and work stack the odds.

We map out the roles you’ll see on incidents—single resource medics and EMTs, ambulances at ICP and on the line, med mods with UTVs, and the ever-misunderstood REMS teams—and explain what each job really demands. You’ll hear why certain state licenses (Arizona, Montana, and often Colorado) decide who deploys, how to build credibility fast by checking kits, teaching stop-the-bleed, and marking LZs, and when to advocate for more coverage or different sequencing to reduce risk. We talk shop on rendezvous vs. full transports, burn center routing, long dirt-road realities, and the simple mechanical and mapping skills that keep you working when the nearest tow is tomorrow.

Then we get honest about REMS. The mission is medical-first with rope capability—not a rope team that remembers medicine later. We cover team training, culture, and the controversial but practical case for splitting 2-and-2 to collapse response times across split divisions, backed by a real incident where proximity changed the outcome. If you’re trying to break into this world, we lay out a clear path: FFT2, reputable Rope Rescue Technician courses, VFD affiliations for task books, and the licenses that unlock regions. Add humility, initiative, and steady communication with crews and MedL, and you’ll be the person operations fights to keep when they start cutting resources.

If this helped you sharpen your plan for the season, follow and subscribe, share with a teammate, and drop a review telling us what topic you want next—REMS deep dive, med mods, or clinic trailers?

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[00:00:00] Intro and welcome
[00:03:44] Roles on Incidents: Ambulance, Single Resource, Med Mods
[00:08:25] Single Resource: Expectations and Best Practices
[00:13:55] Training Crews and Building Rapport
[00:19:59] Ambulances on the Line: Reality vs Myth
[00:28:20] Med Trailers and Camp-Based Care
[00:34:00] REMS: Medical First, Rope Rescue Second
[00:41:05] Splitting REMS Teams and Real-World Outcomes
[00:50:20] Career Path: Task Books, VFDs, and Licenses
[01:10:00] Closing Thoughts and How to Reach Us

Tyler shares his health update after surgery, then dive we into a live demo of how we run a wildland fire company from one platform: people, gear, incidents, and money in one place. The goal is simple—cut chaos, fill orders, get paid, and keep crews moving.

• Why we moved from scattered tools to a single operating system
• How company profiles, verification and dashboards reduce risk
• Finding qualified people with availability, maps and direct outreach
• Using internal notes and teams to speed swaps and relief
• Tracking gear vs equipment for chain of custody and readiness
• Joining incidents and assigning people, vehicles and docs
• Digital shift tickets, receipts and OF286 alignment for AR
• Reporting needs for audits, wages by state and true costs
• Pricing tiers and what each unlocks
• Where we’re building next and how to give feedback

If you’re a business owner and want a deeper demo, reach out and we can do another demo where you can ask questions back and forth

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[00:00:00] Health Update After Brain Surgery
[00:01:39] Clarifying Hiring vs. Networking On Platform
[00:03:26] Why We Built An All‑In‑One Wildland Ops Tool
[00:05:10] Company Profiles And Verification
[00:07:48] Company Dashboard: Payments And AR
[00:10:54] Finding Talent: Search, Filters, Availability
[00:13:50] Roster Strategy, Maps, And Internal Notes
[00:18:06] Company Communications And Teams
[00:21:30] Gear vs. Equipment: Tracking And Chain Of Custody
[00:25:56] Incident Management Beta: Days, Dollars, Documents
[00:30:32] Joining Incidents And Assigning Resources
[00:34:30] Shift Tickets, Receipts, And Reporting
[00:38:16] Pricing: Type 3 Freemium To Type 1 Unlimited
[00:41:20] Roadmap, Feedback, And Next Demos

We explore how The Journeyman app revolutionizes wildland firefighting with digital profiles, document management, and incident tracking. From digital shift tickets to location sharing, this platform is transforming how firefighters manage their careers and connect with employers.

• Complete profiles with photos and certifications are essential for visibility to hiring companies
• Digital document management with customizable privacy settings keeps certifications organized
• The availability toggle shows companies when you're ready for work
• Digital shift tickets eliminate repetitive paperwork and provide permanent records
• Incident management features track your fire assignments, locations, and work history
• Location sharing helps companies deploy closest available resources
• In-app messaging creates a "campfire chat" for firefighters on the same incident
• Upcoming features will track earnings and provide annual summaries of deployments

Download The Journeyman app on your app store today and take 15 minutes to complete your profile – it could result in opportunities you never thought possible.

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[00:00:00] Why Profiles Matter
[00:04:12] Navigating The Journeyman App
[00:08:54] Profile Features and Privacy Options
[00:17:40] Digital Shift Tickets Explained
[00:25:39] Incident Management Features
[00:35:08] Fire Maps and Community Features
[00:39:50] Final App Features and Feedback

Getting into wildland firefighting starts with basic certifications and understanding different career paths available in the industry. We break down the steps from complete beginner to working your first fire.

• Start by getting your FFT2 certification through online courses on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal
• Complete S130 (including field day), L180, S190, and ICS courses 100 and 700
• Pass the pack test - walking 3 miles with 45lbs in under 45 minutes
• Consider which role suits you - hand crews hike miles into remote areas while engine crews stay closer to roads
• Agency positions offer more stability while contractor positions may have less certainty during slow seasons
• Prepare for 14-day deployments in vastly different environments and weather conditions
• Know the 10 and 18s (Standard Firefighting Orders and Watch Out Situations) before arriving at your first assignment
• Familiarize yourself with the 8-line medical incident report in the Incident Response Pocket Guide
• Start preparing early - many training opportunities happen in winter/spring before fire season begins
• Keep track of all your certifications - never let anyone else hold your only copy

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[00:00:00] Preparing for Weather Extremes
[00:02:40] Basics of Wildland Certification
[00:08:54] Pack Test and Fitness Requirements
[00:13:26] Different Wildland Fire Roles
[00:18:09] Agency vs Contractor Employment
[00:24:43] Essential First Year Knowledge
[00:27:54] Key Resources and Safety Protocols

The Journeyman platform brings wildland firefighting into the digital age by solving critical problems for both firefighters and companies through streamlined certification management, hiring processes, and incident tracking.

• Creating LinkedIn-style profiles where firefighters can showcase qualifications and experience
• Storing certifications digitally with expiration alerts to prevent hostage certifications by companies
• Providing a centralized job board with emergency hiring capabilities for last-minute resource needs
• Offering digital shift tickets that eliminate paper forms and create permanent documentation
• Organizing crews through roster management with team-specific communications
• Tracking incident data, equipment, and personnel across multiple assignments
• Using location sharing to connect available resources with nearby opportunities
• Consolidating multiple business functions into one platform instead of several costly subscriptions
• Helping both companies and firefighters maximize their seasonal opportunities

If you're interested in seeing The Journeyman platform in action, look for our upcoming episode where we'll demonstrate the features in detail. We're always open to feedback from both firefighters and companies on what you'd like to see added to the platform.

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[00:00:00] Hiring Challenges in Wildland Fire
[00:08:53] Why We Built The Journeyman
[00:15:15] Firefighter Profiles and Certification Management
[00:21:10] Digital Shift Tickets and Incident Tracking
[00:29:10] Company Roster Management Features
[00:39:28] Emergency Hiring and Location Sharing
[00:46:07] Data Collection and Vehicle Management
[00:52:21] Future Features and Episode Wrap-up