Mission Statement

"The Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center actively promotes a learning culture to enhance and sustain safe and effective work practices in the wildland fire community. The Center provides opportunities and resources to foster collaboration among all fire professionals, facilitates their networks, provides access to state-of-the-art learning tools, and links learning to training." 

We Are Pleased to Introduce “Lessons Learned This Day in History”   About once a month, beginning July 3, 2009, the 6 minutes for Safety discussion topic will be a “Lessons Learned This Day in History”. The Lessons Learned will be presented on the anniversary of a historically significant event in wildland fire and aviation, including large fires and fatalities, operational firsts, inventions and developments, policy and law, research, education and public awareness.   “Lessons Learned” serve as brief summaries of powerful learning opportunities. You can use these summaries as a foundation and launch point for further dialogue and discussion. Apply these lessons learned to yourself, your crew, and your unit.

“This Day in History” is a collaborative project between 6 Minutes for Safety and the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center. http://www.nifc.gov/sixminutes/dsp_sixminutes.php!

WEBINAR: International Perspectives on Australia's "Stay or Go" Program
The Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center and the International Association of Wildland Fire hosted a webinar on Prepare, Stay and Defend, or Go Early, bringing together international experts on fire management in the wildland-urban interface to discuss Australia's program and how it might or might not be applied to other fire-prone communities. Dan Bailey of the International Code Council moderated and panelists included: 

Video -  Part 1   |   Part 2   |    Part 3

Scratchline Issue 25 - Liaison Officer Lessons Learned  (1MB pdf posted 6/8/2009)
Liaison Officers play a critical role in IMT operations. All IMT members and others in wildland fire can learn from their lessons. The LLC staff recently interviewed seven Liaison Officers and Liaison Officer Trainees from around the United States regarding their notable successes, difficult challenges, effective safety practices, and training recommendations for Liaison Officers. Special thanks are extended to these Liaison Officers and trainees for sharing their significant lessons and practices with the wildland fire community.

   

  

The 2008 northern California lightning siege was a “surprise” due to this event's size and duration. However, we need look no further than the historical fire regime in northern California to realize that last summer's lightning event could happen again--even within a few years. This region is known for its high frequency of fire, both on CalFire and National Forest administered lands. CalFire statistics from 1933 to 2006 reveal that the five-year average for fire frequency is 5,685 fires a year.