Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Episode 46 - Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

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 c

Episode 45 - Incident Review Summary

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 s

Episode 40 - Humble Accountability

Crew Captain Ben McLane describes what values-based leadership in the wildland fire service can look like in 2025. Listen in for some tangible tips on leading in a way th

Episode 41 - Lessons on Structure Protection Operations

Structure Protection Specialist Hunter Bell III discusses his unusual career trajectory into wildland fire, and shares lessons on structure protection principles and the

Episode 42 - Outliers

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 eve

Episode 43 - How to Use Next Gen Task Books

Travis Dotson and Erik Apland share crucial information on how to be successful and use all the support material that comes along with NWCG Next Generation Task Books.   

Episode 44 - Training, Humility, and Learning from Others

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

Episode 39 - The Importance of New Perspectives

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.

Episode 38 - Lessons from 2024

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 h

Episode 37 - Unplanned Leadership Moments

Travis Dotson, Erik Apland, and Rebecca Sorensen discuss “unplanned leadership moments;” decisions that need to be made when the boss isn’t there. 

Episode 36 - 30 Years of Growth: The Wildland Fire Service After 1994

Kelly Woods visits with Larry Sutton, Jim Cook, and Chris Wilcox to capture their reflections on the 30 years that have passed since the watershed 1994 fire season when t

Episode 35 - Mental Health: First Steps to Getting Help

Kelly Woods and Travis Dotson visit with Riva Duncan and Dr. Patty O’Brien about some considerations when deciding to seek therapy, how to find a therapist, and how to ge

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

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

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 s

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

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 des

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 C

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 inc

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 la