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SEAT Accident (Colorado) – August 27, 2008

This Day in History is a brief summary of a powerful learning opportunity and is not intended to second guess or be judgmental of decisions and actions. Put yourself in the following situation as if you do not know the outcome. What are the conditions? What are you thinking? What are YOU doing?

Incident Summary:

A Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) is directed by Air Attack to drop on the right flank of the Flat Bush Fire. During the first retardant drop the SEAT’s flight pattern takes the aircraft in close proximity to staged firefighters and vehicles. During the drop sequence the pilot’s side cockpit door comes open and forces him to abbreviate the drop. The pilot relays to Air Attack that he has a problem with his “door”, and having just seen the abbreviated drop, Air Attack assumes the problem door is the retardant gate. He asks several times about the status of the pilot and aircraft. At no time did Air Attack understand that the problem was actually with the cockpit door. The pilot requests to jettison the remaining retardant. Air Attack assumes the problem is corrected and asks the pilot to reinforce the previous drop. The pilot agrees with this request.

On approach for the second drop, the pilot uses an aggressive turn at low altitude to align the aircraft for the drop. The approach is directly over the top of the firefighters again. As a result of the aggressive maneuver, the aircraft stalls and crashes. Debris from the accident damages two wildland fire engines and narrowly misses the six firefighters. The aircraft’s engine lands just 6 feet from an occupied vehicle. The crew is unharmed, the vehicles receive minor shrapnel damage, and although the aircraft is destroyed, the pilot only receives minor injuries.

Discussion Points:

Aerial photo of the mishap site.Apply the concept of LCES to this incident; not from a fire perspective but an aviation point of view.

(L) Lookouts look for hazards (situations and actions) and communicate them. Aircraft flying directly overhead are a hazard. Helicopters accidentally release longlines, buckets and sling loads multiple times each season. Water and retardant drops often miss intended targets, creating the potential for injury by the drops themselves or debris from vegetation.

  • What are options for mitigation if your lookout or others recognize ground forces in a flight path?

(C) Communication: If you see something wrong…say something!

  • Who should ground forces communicate with in the instance of being in a flight path?​

(E & S) Just as for wildland fire, escape routes and safety zones are needed for aviation operations as well. Keep in mind that if something goes wrong with an aircraft, ground crews may not have time to move to a safer location.

  • How can we prepare for and attempt to avoid being in a flight path?

References:

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This Day in History

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NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Emergency Medical Committee

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2025 Wildland Fire Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Awards. EMC annually recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated outstanding actions or accomplishments that are above and beyond the expectation of one’s normal mission or job duties.

Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Emergency Medical Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for RAMP

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Airtanker Base Operations Unit

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Ramp Manager (RAMP).

The Performance Support Package for this position was developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Ramp Manager Position Page

National Interagency Aviation Committee

Make an Impact: Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date:  June 11, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

Note: Positions with an * will last approximately 6 months.
Positions with ** will last 12 - 18 months.

NWCG is seeking experienced wildland firefighters and support personnel to serve as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) initiative. IPTM aims to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model by updating position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the Fall 2026 positions listed below:

  • Equipment Manager (EQPM)*
  • Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT)**
  • Mixmaster (MXMS)*
  • Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC)*
  • Retardant Crewmember (RTCM)*
  • Strike Team Leader Crew (STCR)*
  • Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN)*
  • Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ)*
  • Task Force Leader (TFLD)**
  • Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF)** 

Projects begin October 2026. Sign up by July 10, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for additional details. 

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

Date:  May 28, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has issued Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters. Research from 2016 to 2025 shows that 88 cases of rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) were reported. Analysis of reports from eSafety, the Safety Management Information System (SMIS), and the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) indicates that rhabdo is common during this time of year due to Work Capacity Tests and contributing factors such as weather, hydration, nutrition, and medication or supplement use.

RMC issued this safety bulletin to raise awareness in the Wildland Fire Community, and to provide research findings and educational resources that support reducing future cases of rhabdo.

References:

NWCG Alerts

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters