Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center www.wildfirelessons.net 2020 Year End Report This brief report summarizes the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center’s important updates and achievements that occurred in 2020. ln May 2020, we welcomed Kelly Woods as the new Director of the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC). “This is the coolest of opportunities,” Kelly said. “I am honored to be joining the amazing folks at the LLC.” Kelly comes to the LLC most directly from the Bureau of Land Management where she spent the last eight years as the Great Basin Training Center Manager. Kelly’s career—which spans nearly 30 years—includes positions on the Mount Hood, Ochoco, Payette, and Boise national forests; the Pacific Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and the Forest Service’s Washington Office. Kelly’s work experience ranges from positions on type 2 crews and hotshot crews to serving as an engine captain and heli-rappeller. She has also worked in fire prevention and mitigation, as well as fire training development and delivery. In addition, Kelly served as lead public information officer on a type 2 incident management team. “With me joining the team and the LLC’s 20-year anniversary coming up, it’s a good time to reflect on what the next iteration of the LLC should prioritize,” Kelly informs. “Our staff is engaged in strategic conversations about our most effective tools and methods for sharing the lessons and what new innovations we should be considering.” Kelly is the third person to fill the director position since the LLC was established in 2002. She replaces former LLC Director Brit Rosso, who retired in 2019 after serving Kelly Woods eight years in this position. 2004-2019 Tree Felling Accident Analysis Report In February 2020, the LLC released its 2004-2019 Tree Felling Accident Analysis Report. This comprehensive analysis was requested by the Chief of the National Park Service Fire and Aviation Management staff and the Director of the U.S. Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management staff. It represents one of nine actions specified in the 2019 Hughes Fatality Joint Corrective Action Plan, that was developed in response to the death of Arrowhead Hotshot Crew Captain Brian Hughes on the 2018 Ferguson Fire. This analysis compares 53 incidents that occurred from 2004-2019 in which firefighters were injured or killed in the process of falling trees. The report aims to inform and improve existing and future efforts related to tree felling in the wildland fire service. Coronavirus Rapid Lesson Sharing Summaries The LLC published two Coronavirus Rapid Lesson Sharing Summaries—one in June and one in September. LLC staff analyzed 43 COVID-19 related reports to identify the most repeated and useful lessons. These reports summarize and highlight the selected lessons for efficient implementation in the field. In addition, at the beginning of June, the LLC launched an online discussion forum “COVID-19 and Fire Season 2020” to provide the greater wildland fire community an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas, information, lessons and solutions regarding COVID-19. 1 One of the main objectives of the LLC is to share the lessons we gather. In some cases we may provide a quick glance at statistics or highlight a particular lesson. In other instances, we provide in depth analysis of lessons or groups of reports. Either way, our goal is to make lessons available. These are some of the methods used and products produced in 2020. The Annual Incident Review Summary The LLC’s popular annual Incident Review Summary is a collection of all the past year’s lessons condensed into manageable excerpts and actionable follow-up exercises. The 2020 Incident Review Summary focused on 118 operational reports. We examined these reports and extracted specific lessons. Our objective is to present the information in a way that empowers us all to improve future operations. The Incident Review Summary helps the reader turn lessons into learning. Numbers and Lessons—Two Infographics Rather than waiting for the Incident Review Summary report to be finalized and distributed at the end of the year, the LLC produced and distributed two “infographics” to ensure the lessons and related information from 2020 would get to the field as soon Top portion of the 2020 Year-End as possible. Infographic. These easy-to-digest reader-friendly infographic products were divided into categories based on the type of incident/accident while also providing important numbers to help inform risk-related decisions in the field. The first Mid-Year Analysis Infographic that featured information from January through June incident reports was distributed in July. Next, the Year-End Infographic that reflected information from all of2020’ s reports was distributed in January of 2021. LLC Emails The LLC reaches more than 7,400 people with the push of a button. Our emails provide access to a variety of learning-focused content. We use our institutional knowledge and constant analysis to highlight specific elements in these communications. In 2020, users opened 211,546 of our emails. Most Viewed Blog Posts of 2020 LLC Blog Is LCES Dead? — The LLC Blog is an important outlet for students of fire. 8,424 Views Our number of user-submitted contributions continues to grow, making our “Independent Action” section an Rocking a Different Helmet — important venue for genuine field-led dialogue. 6,577 Views In 2020, the LLC Blog had 53 posts which generated Thinking Outside the Stratosphere — 112,495 views from 71,820 visitors and inspired 168 5,784 Views comments collectively. LLC Podcasts The LLC Podcast has become one of the most requested methods by which we share lessons. Individuals and crews have reported listening to the podcast while mobilizing to fires. Regardless of when they listen, people are listening. In 2020, LLC podcasts were downloaded a total of 18,000 times. “Still one of the most raw, truthful and impactful conversations I’ve ever heard. The humility and honest reflection makes it something you don’t find much when these accounts are shared. Great conversation with endless relevant nuggets that anyone can apply to when the plan goes sideways. Thank you all for sharing a story that so many others would have buried inside forever.” - Comment received in 2020 about an LLC Podcast 2 Social Media Platforms Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have proven to be crucial venues for disseminating lessons to our workforce. In these platforms we often condense lessons for immediate application. The posts often receive comments, creating a field-led dialogue opportunity. 2020 LLC Social Media Statistics: Facebook: Our average post reached more than 2,000 users. Twitter: We averaged 15,000 “impressions” each month. Instagram: We reached more than 1,300 different users each month. Two More Chains The LLC’s quarterly publication Two More Chains continued to be popular with the wildland fire community. In each issue, our staff worked to highlight thought-provoking topics ranging from the lessons of 2019, to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, to featuring a harrowing story of survival, to an examination of our culture and how we grow. Check out any issues you missed! 2020 Issues of Two More Chains Winter Issue Spring Issue Summer Issue Fall Issue Nuts and Bolts. Things you can Orienting and navigating A true story of survival. Reflecting on the 2020 fire do. Actions you can take. through the coronavirus This is how we grow. year. What innovations do we pandemic. maintain? Just like every other staff in wildland fire, the LLC seeks opportunities to stay connected to the field, to get connected to new entities, to experience personal growth or simply to help the cause. In the list that starts below, we have attempted to capture those things that were a bit outside our normal duties but were noteworthy. Remember, the LLC staff is always available to provide consultation for teams building incident reviews or other learning-focused projects . Project Development and Assistance • Produced RT130 lesson summary • 6 Minutes for Safety contribution: sheet Experience/Wisdom • Collaborated with USFS’s National • Worked with NWCG to develop Technology and Development “LLC Resources for COVID-19 Program to feature articles on Education” video equipment and firefighter nutrition • Facilitated HPIOL Focus Group • • Writer Editor support to: Discussions for USFS Region 3 • Polles Fire Helicopter • Participated as a member of the Accident and Fatality FLA FLA Steering Committee • White River Helicopter Photo taken by the LLC’s Travis Dotson of Accident and Fatality FLA hazard trees on a type 4 fire on the Olympic National Forest. 3 LLC Presentations • National IHC Steering Committee • Statewide Conference, Wisconsin DNR, DOF: • Horse Park Entrapment Case Study • Turning Lessons into Action • Speaking Risk • University Guest Lectures: • COVID-19 and Fire Season 2020 Photo taken by Kelly Woods of assigned equipment in the morning on a type 4 fire on the • History of Federal Fire Policy Twin Falls District BLM. • “Sharing Science and Lessons • ENGB—Whidbey Institute RX • S330 Strike Team/Task Force Learned: COVID-19 and Wildfire” — Leader instructor • FIRB—Prescribed Fire Training Southwest Fire Science Consortia Center • Local Learning Model—Wildland Fire Webinar Apprenticeship Program instructor • TFLD/ICT4—Twin Falls BLM • Prescribed Fire Training Center • M581 Fire Program Management • Two-week assignment with Entiat • Various school presentations instructor IHC Incident Support • Learning from Unintended Out- • Colorado COVID-19 RLS Team comes Workshop instructor • Hospital Liaison—Verde Fire • Cameron Peak Fire FLA Team • Hospital Liaison instructor • ICT4—Olympic National Forest Instruction • Participated as a coach for the Dude • SOF1(t)—Beachie Creek Fire • S130 Firefighter Training instructor Fire and Yarnell Hill Fire virtual staff rides Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Goals for 2021 In 2021, the LLC will be busy! We will seek to maintain and enhance the solid products the wildland fire community has come to expect from us while we focus on innovation and consider other possibilities for organizational growth.