Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Risko Earns Lead By Example Award for Initiative and Innovation

Left to Right: Jeff Atwater, Florida Chief Financial Officer/State Fire Marshal; John Fish, FFS, Chief of Forest Protection George Risko, FFS Fire Training Officer; Jim Karels, Florida State Forester/Director of the FFS; Julius Halas, Director, Division of State Fire Marshal; Mike Joyner, Assistant Commissioner and Chief of Staff, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

George Risko
Fire Training Officer
Florida Forest Service
Honored for Initiative and Innovation

George Risko has been selected as one of the recipients for the 2016 Paul Gleason Lead by Example award. Three individuals and two groups from across the wildland fire service have been chosen to receive this national award.

Monday, April 24, 2017

2017 Position Task Book Field Review Needs You!


2017 Task Book Field Review cover

NWCG is updating Position Task Books!  

Help make them the best they can be at https://sites.google.com/site/2017ptbfieldreview/home.

IGNITE: Working Together!

 None of us can accomplish alone what is possible when we are working together! - Chery Gegelman  [Photo credit: Plumas IHC/USFS]
None of us can accomplish alone what is possible when we are working together! - Chery Gegelman
[Photo credit: Plumas IHC/USFS]

Thursday, April 20, 2017

IGNITE: Fear of the Mistake

The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one. – John C. Maxwell Crew walking up a slope
The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one. – John C. Maxwell
IGNITE the Spark for Leadership. LIKE and SHARE throughout your networks.
#fireleadership #fireminis

[Photo: National Park Service]

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Resiliency Through Suffering: Lessons from Wildland Firefighting (After the Fact)

The ultimate team result is resilience: teams that can bounce back when problems or errors threaten cohesion and synergy. - Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, p. 55
I grew up in a city. I had divorced parents and the first time I slept outside (on purpose, without alcohol being a factor) was my first fire on the Roosevelt National Forest. Needless to say, I didn’t really fit the mold of the prototypical wildland firefighter, if there is one. I had a crazy engine captain who came from SoCal, who taught me to be a decent firefighter mainly through sarcasm and hard PT hikes and runs. Although I sucked at pretty much everything in retrospect, I somehow managed to convince myself I was awesome at everything, just like 99% of all other 18-24 year olds do.

Monday, April 17, 2017

IGNITE: Hopes not Fears

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. – Nelson Mandela  Wildland firefighters on a ridge watching an airtanker drop
May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. – Nelson Mandela

IGNITE the Spark for Leadership. LIKE and SHARE throughout your networks.
#fireleadership #fireminis

[Photo: Folsom Lake Veterans' Fire Crew]

Thursday, April 13, 2017

IGNITE: The True Spirit of Conversation

The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another person's observation, not overturning it. - Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton
The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another person's observation, not overturning it. - Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton 
IGNITE the Spark for Leadership. LIKE and SHARE throughout your networks. #fireleadership #fireminis 

[Photo credit: Cedar Fire (2016)]

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Leadership at the Lowest Levels

Leadership is the art of influencing people in order to achieve a result. The most essential element for success in the wildland fire service is good leadership.
Leadership is not about a title. The wildland fire service prides itself on leadership at all levels. In this Smokey Generation video, Lee Miller shares a leadership success story of his transport driver having the courage to lead up.

We challenge you to watch the video and dig a little deeper into leading up.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

IGNITE: Getting and Giving

You can get everything in life you want if you help enough other people get what they want. – Zig Ziglar (wildland firefighters hiking up a hill)
You can get everything in life you want if you help enough other people get what they want. – Zig Ziglar
IGNITE the Spark for Leadership. LIKE and SHARE throughout your networks.
#fireleadership #fireminis

[Photo credit: Feather River Hotshots]

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Have We Done Enough?


 
As a member of the wildland fire service or a friend or family member of someone who is, you know that the Fourth of July weekend is always a busy time of the year for firefighters. This particular holiday is not one many of us get to celebrate. In fact, most of us are supporting fireline operations in one fashion or another.

Monday, April 3, 2017

IGNITE: Beyond the Challenge

Give yourself an even greater challenge than the one you are trying to master and you will develop the powers necessary to overcome the original difficulty. – William Bennett (silhouette of firefighters)
Give yourself an even greater challenge than the one you are trying to master and you will develop the powers necessary to overcome the original difficulty. – William Bennett
IGNITE the Spark for Leadership. LIKE and SHARE throughout your networks.
#fireleadership #fireminis

[Photo credit: Cedar Fire 2016]