In general, bees sting to protect their hive and seldom sting when they are foraging unless they feel threatened (like being swatted at or stepped on). On the other hand, many bees or wasps foraging in one area may indicate a colony is nearby. If you intend to work or camp in the area, scout for bee or wasp nests first.

Colonies vary in behavior over time, especially with changes in season, becoming more aggressive and easily agitated in the late summer and fall. You may pass the same colony for weeks and then one day provoke them unexpectedly.

The 6MFS Subcommittee and the NWCG Risk Management Committee invite you and your crew to write your own 6 Minutes for Safety discussion!

Submit your topic and discussion points for selection using the contact information at bottom of page.

The SAFENET system is a way for firefighters and support staff to report unsafe or unhealthy situations and near-misses. SAFENET is an easy, quick way to report a safety concern. It allows firefighters to be involved in the daily job of being safe and keeping others safe by documenting and helping to resolve safety issues. It is also a way for fire managers to hear about and correct hazardous conditions, collect and track important safety data, and identify trends that could be developing.

Watch Out Situation #7 is a danger that must be mitigated by maintaining good communications while working on fires. Firefighters must constantly ask themselves the following questions as situations change on the fireline:

The Medical Incident Report (MIR) can be found in the following documents: in the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, under Emergency Medical Care (pink); in the Medical Plan ICS-206 WF; and in many Incident Action Plans (IAPs). The MIR evolved from and has replaced the 9 Line Form and Pink sticker.

The Incident Command System (ICS) is used to provide uniform chain of command on all incidents. This Watch Out shows an engine crew working in a counterproductive manner, without clear instructions towards an expected outcome.

Effective communication is a critical component of safe and successful operations.

Continued from: AAR Part 1

The Chainsaw After Action Review

The scenario: It's late. The crew has worked the fire for sixteen hours straight. No one has eaten a hot meal for days and, oh yeah, you might as well be cold.

No time for an AAR? Think again! There’s plenty of time for a chainsaw AAR.

The idea behind the chainsaw AAR is simple: speed. When you need to get an AAR done quickly, try this simple format.

How to Conduct an Effective After Action Review (AAR)

An AAR is a professional discussion of an event. The objective is to identify successes and failures. It is a tool that leaders, teams, crews, and units can use to get maximum learning benefit from every incident or project. It is essential for wildland firefighters to learn from mistakes and to capitalize on successes. It is considered a valuable tool in high-risk professions, where the smallest mistakes can lead to disastrous results. An AAR is not a critique and not a forum to assign blame.