Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Former Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Assistant Director, Alex Viktora, comes back to the podcast to talk with Travis Dotson, Analyst with the Lessons Learned Center. Alex talks with Travis about his career, his time with the Lessons Learned Center, and the things he has learned along the way. This is Travis Dotson’s farewell podcast episode as he retired in July 2026.

Travis Dotson started his wildland fire career in 1996 as an Administratively Determined (AD) firefighter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on Zuni Southwest Type 2 Crews. He spent the next 11 years on various wildland fire modules including time with the Heber Hotshots, Saguaro Fire Use Module, Manning Camp Fire Crew, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Engine, and McCall Smokejumpers.

Travis joined the Fire Use Training Academy (FUTA) in 2007 where he served as a Training Specialist and rookied as a Smokejumper at McCall. He continued to work for FUTA—detailing to McCall for each summer—until he joined the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center in 2009 as the Center’s Analyst.

Notes:

Christina Anabel talks with Dr. Jennifer Symonds about rhabdomyolysis. They cover what rhabdo is, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and what folks in the wildland fire community can do to reduce their risk.

Links

NWCG Risk Management Committee Safety Bulletin: 26-001—Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters: https://fs-prod-nwcg.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2026-05/rmc-sb-26-001.pdf?VersionId=x6C4MP_7emFc.6W5jlCya7um75f6RzlG

Idaho Panhandle National Forest Rhabdomolysis RLS: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/idaho-panhandle-national-forest-rhabdomyolysis-2026

Arizona Engine Work Capacity Test Rhabdo RLS

Flat Top Mountain Fire Rhabdo RLS: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/flat-top-mountain-fire-rhabdo-case-2017

IHC PT Rhabdo RLS: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/ihc-pt-rhabdo-case-2017

National Technology and Development Program: https://www.fs.usda.gov/t-d/

Rhabdomyolysis: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment flyer— https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/safety/wct

Erik Apland, Travis Dotson, and Travis Touchette discuss stories and insights collected by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center in 2025. This episode focuses on the specific takeaways highlighted by events in the field over the past year.

Structure Protection Specialist Hunter Bell III discusses his unusual career trajectory into wildland fire, and shares lessons on structure protection principles and the use of sprinklers to effectively protect structures without causing water damage.

This discussion is a follow-up to Hunter’s blog post: https://wildfirelessons.wpcomstaging.com/2025/06/02/structures-get-flooded-can-we-rethink-our-tactics/

Download Hunter’s Structure Protection Handy-Dandy: Structure Protection Tactics Guide | Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Sprinklers for Wildland Fire Structure Protection Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QloMXNhsBA0

Erik Apland and Travis Dotson explore “outliers” in wildland fire – unusual incidents that highlight less-discussed hazards and how we prepare ourselves to respond to events we don’t expect.

To read more about each of the incidents mentioned, follow the links below:

Three Creeks Fire Electrical Shock: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/three-creeks-fire-electrical-shock-2025

Oregon Mop Up Electrical Shock: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/oregon-mop-up-electric-shock-2025

Ninetyeight Fire Boating Accident: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/ninetyeight-fire-boating-accident-2025

Controller Bay Airboat Incident: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/controller-bay-airboat-incident-2025

Aggie Creek Fire Spike Camp Hit by Tree: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/aggie-creek-fire-spike-camp-hit-by-tree-2025

Trees Falling on Tents Blog Post: https://wildfirelessons.wpcomstaging.com/2025/08/26/trees-falling-on-tents/

Erik Apland talks with Lindsay Amundson about the importance of a culture of humility and open communication in training and mentorship. They also discuss the challenges of working with interagency qualifications while not being in a fire or land management agency.

Orlando Genao and Erin Hurley discuss their recent multi-month detail experiences at the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) with Travis Dotson, the LLC’s Analyst. Orlando served as the LLC’s Acting Director, and Erin worked as the LLC’s Acting Operations Manager. Listen as they share their expectations, experiences, and takeaways from time spent working at the LLC. 

Erik Apland and Travis Dotson discuss stories and insights collected by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center in 2024. This episode focuses on the specific takeaways highlighted by events in the field over the past year.