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Week of Remembrance

2023 WOR: Yarnell Hill Fire 10-Year Anniversary

 Day 1  |  Day 2  |  Day 3  |  Day 4  |  Day 5  |  Day 6  |  Day 7

 

Yarnell Hill Fire 10-Year Anniversary

Today’s topic is dedicated to all fallen wildland firefighters. 
May we never stop learning.

On June 30, 2013, at 4:42 p.m., nineteen firefighters were killed on the Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona. The Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) from the Prescott Fire Department was working on the south end of the fire, west of Yarnell, Arizona, when they were overrun.

“Yeah, I’m here with Granite Mountain Hotshots. Our escape route has been cut off. We are preparing a deployment site, and we are burning out around ourselves in the brush, and I’ll give you a call when we are under the ...shelters.”
—Eric Marsh, Granite Mountain Superintendent

The fire had a spread rate of 10 to 12 mph and cut off their escape route as the crew transitioned through unburned fuel from their lunch spot in the black to a local ranch that needed protection.

After quickly improving their deployment site and deploying their shelters close together, the fire overtook them. Unfortunately, the deployment site, located in a box canyon with heavy brush, caused direct flame contact to the shelters with temperatures of approximately 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. One crewmember, the lookout, was not with the crew at the time of their entrapment and was safely transported out of the area by another IHC.

Collaboration with several committees and agencies occurred following the accident to develop a Yarnell Hill Fire Serious Accident Investigation Team (SAIT) and a subsequent report. The report concentrated on helping wildland firefighters of the present and future learn from the tragedy through sense-making, reviewing decision points, and a video. This helped firefighters visualize what happened and how to best learn from the loss of the Granite Mountain IHC members. One recommendation from the report was that the State of Arizona lead an interagency effort to develop a Yarnell Hill Fire staff ride. The first staff ride of this incident began in 2017 and continues to provide lessons for upcoming firefighters while also remembering the members of Granite Mountain Hotshots.

 
This is our history. Learn from it today. Use it tomorrow.

Action and Discussion Items:

  • Watch the Yarnell Hill Fire briefing video provided in the resources section. After watching the video, discuss the events and ideas relayed in the video as a group. Discuss where you were when this incident occurred. Do you remember your initial feelings after hearing about the 19 fatalities? How has this incident changed your perspective after 10 years? Have you changed how you engage in tactics because of Yarnell Hill?
  • Look for staff rides near you that you can attend. They don’t need to be on a fire, (e.g., Gettysburg, Little Bighorn).
  • If you have been on a staff ride, discuss what it was like and the impact it had on you. If you participated in a staff ride outside of fire, how can you apply these lessons to wildland fire?
  • Honor and remember the lives of fallen firefighters throughout this week. Keep talking about these events and what has happened to bring change. Keep moving forward by implementing and learning these lessons.

Resources:

 

Category
Week of Remembrance

6MFS Suggestion Form


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NWCG Latest Announcements

Call for Nominations: Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award

Date: December 11, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
 Leadership Committee 

Do you know someone working in wildland fire who strives to make positive change and is undeterred by obstacles or setbacks? Now is your chance to give that person the acknowledgment they deserve by nominating them for a Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award.

This award, is presented by the NWCG Leadership Committee to remember Paul Gleason's contributions to the wildland fire community and to recognize individuals or groups that exhibit the same spirit and dedication to leadership – those who lead by example.

Nominations can be submitted via email with an attached Lead by Example Form to BLM_FA_Leadership_Feedback@blm.gov or through the online form. 

Tips for successful nominations and more information can be found on the Lead by Example webpage. All nominations must be submitted by December 31, 2025.

References:

Paul Gleason Lead By Example Award 

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award Nomination Form 2025 

Leadership Committee 

Coming Soon! Ransom Road WFSTAR Module

Date: December 9, 2025
Questions about RT-130? 
Please contact: NWCG Audiovisual Specialist

On June 8, 1981, the Ransom Road Fire swept across Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, marking a defining moment in wildland fire management. This event led directly to the creation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's professional fire program.

Later this month, NWCG will release a compelling video that brings the Ransom Road Fire to life through firsthand accounts, official reports, and animated maps. Rob Lee, second on site during the deployment, shares his powerful recollections of that day. 

This video will be going live later this month in NWCG's RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) Catalogue.

References:

WFSTAR Catalogue 

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

2025-2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign: "Leadership Levels" Now Available

Date: October 15, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Leadership Committee

NWCG is excited to announce the release of the Leadership Committee’s 2025–2026 Leadership Campaign, themed “Leadership Levels.” This annual initiative offers all students of leadership and wildland fire management an opportunity to engage with essential leadership skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

The campaign is structured into four quarters and may be completed at any time between October 1, 2025 -December 31, 2026. Leadership levels will be released quarterly.

Quarter One materials are now available on the Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program website and focus on Leadership Level 1, Follower (Self-Leadership).

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Leadership Committee

Updated! L-280, Followership to Leadership (Instructor-led) Course

Date: October 3, 2024
Questions? Please contact:
Leadership Committee

NWCG is pleased to announce the updated L-280, Followership to Leadership (Instructor-led) course is now available. L-280 is intended for operational personnel at the Firefighter Type 1 level, and for individuals pursuing Leadership Level 2, New Leader. 

This instructor-led course is a primer on leadership and the second formal course in the Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program. It helps emerging leaders build the confidence, skills, and mindset needed to lead effectively in high-risk environments. 

For more information about leadership development and available courses, visit the Leadership Committee Web Portal.

References:

L-280, Followership to Leadership (Instructor-led)

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Wildland Fire Learning Portal