Risk complexity and the wildland firefighter

Ivan Pupulidy

Treesearch

Risk complexity and the wildland firefighter

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Ivan Pupulidy

Year:

2012

Type:

Abstract

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: Fox, R. L., ed. Proceedings of the 3rd Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Conference; April 17-19 2012; Seattle, Washington. International Association of Wildland Fire. p. 182-183.

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Download (PDF 240 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/44512.pdf

Abstract

Between 2000 and 2010 the US Forest Service and the Department of the Interior experienced 82 wildland fire fatalities. Our most recent organizational focus has been to eliminate fatalities. The chief of the USFS, in a letter to all employees, asked us to "suspend disbelief" with regard to the concept of a "zero fatality organization". This plea came while some field personnel argued that there was no way to eliminate fatalities without eliminating risk.

Keywords

wildland fire, risk, firefighter

Citation

Pupulidy, Ivan. 2012. Risk complexity and the wildland firefighter. In: Fox, R. L., ed. Proceedings of the 3rd Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Conference; April 17-19 2012; Seattle, Washington. International Association of Wildland Fire. p. 182-183.