Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center episodes:

• 03.29.2024

  Episode 34 - Lessons From 2023

  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...

  
• 03.15.2024

  Episode 33 - Firefighter Cancer and Wellbeing

  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...

  
• 02.07.2024

  Episode 32 - Chance, Pain, Healing, and Hope

  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,...

  
• 12.15.2023

  Episode 31 - Two More Chains – Fire Workers

  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...

  
• 11.20.2023

  Episode 30 - Data Points – Your UTV is on Fire

  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...

  
• 09.29.2023

  Episode 29 - Two More Chains – Lessons from Firing Operations

  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...

  
• 05.19.2023

  Episode 28 - Lessons from 2022

  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...

  
• 03.08.2023

  Episode 27 - Learning and Leaving a Legacy

  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...

  
• 08.26.2022

  Episode 26 - When Options Run Out: The Human Side of an Entrapment

  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...

  
• 05.26.2022

  Episode 25 - Fireline Lessons - Tangible Take-Aways from Recent Incidents

  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...

  
• 12.16.2021

  Episode 24 - Family Business – Two Generations Talk Fire and What’s Important Through the Years

  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...

  
• 09.16.2021

  Episode 23 - Reading, Reflecting, and Changing Behavior

  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...

  
• 06.17.2021

  Episode 22 - An Entrapment Survival Story: Before, During and After

  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...

  
• 04.22.2021

  Episode 21 - Tree Felling Accidents...What The Numbers Say

  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

  
• 08.03.2020

  Episode 20 - Command Presence

  A conversation with Monica Morrison on Command Presence.  What is it? What does it look and sound like?  How do you get it?

  
• 03.13.2020

  Episode 19 - Transitions

  Travis Dotson and Brit Rosso have a great discussion about transitions, both on and off the fireline.

  
• 05.29.2019

  Episode 18 - Slow and Steady: A Conversation Between Travis Dotson and Andrew Addey

  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...

  
• 07.17.2018

  Episode 17 - Entrapments

  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...

  
• 07.16.2018

  Entrapments

  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...

  
• 05.28.2018

  Episode 16 - Bad Apples

  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...

  
• 12.06.2017

  Episode 15 - The Importance of Identity

  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...

  
• 07.04.2017

  Episode 14 - Nuttall Fire Series: Thomas Taylor, Flagstaff IHC Sawyer

  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...

  
• 07.03.2017

  Episode 13 - Nuttall Fire Series: Jason Virtue, helicopter crewmember

  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...

  
• 07.02.2017

  Episode 12 - Nuttall Fire Series: Dan and Corey from Flagstaff IHC

  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...

  
• 06.29.2017

  Episode 11 - 2017 Week of Remembrance: Why Talk About Nuttall?

  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...

  
• 06.28.2017

  2017 Week of Remembrance: Why talk about Nuttall?

  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...

  
• 06.07.2017

  Episode 10 - How NOT to Catch Your UTV on Fire.

  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...

  
• 05.19.2017

  Episode 9 - Burn Injuries, Why They’re a Big Deal

  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...

  
• 05.19.2017

  Burn Injuries - Why They’re a Big Deal

  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...

  
• 04.07.2017

  Fuel Geysers: A conversation with Ralph Gonzales

  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...

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 8 - Fuel Geysers: A Conversation with Ralph Gonzales

  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...

  
• 02.15.2017

  Episode 7 - Drip Torch Leg Burns

  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...

  
• 12.14.2016

  Scouting…High Risk?

  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...

  
• 12.13.2016

  Episode 6 - Scouting...High Risk?

  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...

  
• 10.26.2016

  The Bull Fire Entrapment

  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...

  
• 10.25.2016

  Episode 5 - The Bull Fire Entrapment

  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...

  
• 10.14.2016

  Lessons and Data

  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...

  
• 10.13.2016

  Episode 4 - Lessons and Data

  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...

  
• 10.07.2016

  The Contractor’s Dilemma

  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...

  
• 10.06.2016

  Episode 3 - The Contractor’s Dilemma

  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...

  
• 09.24.2016

  Emerging Lessons - 2016

  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...

  
• 09.23.2016

  Episode 2 - Emerging Lessons - 2016

  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...

  
• 08.13.2016

  Chainsaws and Fire Season 2016: a chat with Travis Dotson

  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...

  
• 08.12.2016

  Episode 1 - Chainsaws and Fire Season 2016: A Chat with Travis Dotson

  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...