Advertise on podcast: Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Former Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Assistant Director, Alex Viktora, comes back to the podcast to talk with Travis Dotson, Analyst with the Lessons Learned Center. Alex talks with Travis about his career, his time with the Lessons Learned Center, and the things he has learned along the way. This is Travis Dotson’s farewell podcast episode as he retired in July 2026. Travis Dotson started his wildland fire career in 1996 as an Administratively Determined (AD) firefighter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on Zuni Southwest Type 2 Crews. He spent the next 11 years on various wildland fire modules including time with the Heber Hotshots, Saguaro Fire Use Module, Manning Camp Fire Crew, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Engine, and McCall Smokejumpers. Travis joined the Fire Use Training Academy (FUTA) in 2007 where he served as a Training Specialist and rookied as a Smokejumper at McCall. He continued to work for FUTA—detailing to McCall for each summer—until he joined the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center in 2009 as the Center’s Analyst.   Notes: In this episode, Travis refers to “Us and Them” and how important it was that Alex wrote that. Travis is referring to the cover story of Two More Chains in the Summer 2015 Issue. Travis also mentions, “Be Safe.” This was a topic Travis covered in his “Ground Truths” column in the Spring 2014 Two More Chains Issue.

Christina Anabel talks with Dr. Jennifer Symonds about rhabdomyolysis. They cover what rhabdo is, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and what folks in the wildland fire community can do to reduce their risk.   Links NWCG Risk Management Committee Safety Bulletin: 26-001—Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters: https://fs-prod-nwcg.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2026-05/rmc-sb-26-001.pdf?VersionId=x6C4MP_7emFc.6W5jlCya7um75f6RzlG Idaho Panhandle National Forest Rhabdomolysis RLS: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/idaho-panhandle-national-forest-rhabdomyolysis-2026 Arizona Engine Work Capacity Test Rhabdo RLS Flat Top Mountain Fire Rhabdo RLS: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/flat-top-mountain-fire-rhabdo-case-2017 IHC PT Rhabdo RLS: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/ihc-pt-rhabdo-case-2017 National Technology and Development Program: https://www.fs.usda.gov/t-d/ Rhabdomyolysis: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment flyer— https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/safety/wct

Erik Apland, Travis Dotson, and Travis Touchette discuss stories and insights collected by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center in 2025. This episode focuses on the specific takeaways highlighted by events in the field over the past year.

Crew Captain Ben McLane describes what values-based leadership in the wildland fire service can look like in 2025. Listen in for some tangible tips on leading in a way that produces high-quality performance and maximizes well-being.   This discussion is a follow-up to Ben's blog post: https://wildfirelessons.wpcomstaging.com/2025/05/20/humble-accountability/

Structure Protection Specialist Hunter Bell III discusses his unusual career trajectory into wildland fire, and shares lessons on structure protection principles and the use of sprinklers to effectively protect structures without causing water damage. This discussion is a follow-up to Hunter’s blog post: https://wildfirelessons.wpcomstaging.com/2025/06/02/structures-get-flooded-can-we-rethink-our-tactics/ Download Hunter’s Structure Protection Handy-Dandy: Structure Protection Tactics Guide | Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Sprinklers for Wildland Fire Structure Protection Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QloMXNhsBA0

Erik Apland and Travis Dotson explore “outliers” in wildland fire – unusual incidents that highlight less-discussed hazards and how we prepare ourselves to respond to events we don’t expect.   To read more about each of the incidents mentioned, follow the links below: Three Creeks Fire Electrical Shock: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/three-creeks-fire-electrical-shock-2025 Oregon Mop Up Electrical Shock: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/oregon-mop-up-electric-shock-2025 Ninetyeight Fire Boating Accident: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/ninetyeight-fire-boating-accident-2025 Controller Bay Airboat Incident: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/controller-bay-airboat-incident-2025 Aggie Creek Fire Spike Camp Hit by Tree: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/incident/aggie-creek-fire-spike-camp-hit-by-tree-2025 Trees Falling on Tents Blog Post: https://wildfirelessons.wpcomstaging.com/2025/08/26/trees-falling-on-tents/

Travis Dotson and Erik Apland share crucial information on how to be successful and use all the support material that comes along with NWCG Next Generation Task Books.    IPTM overview: Incident Performance and Training Modernization

Erik Apland talks with Lindsay Amundson about the importance of a culture of humility and open communication in training and mentorship. They also discuss the challenges of working with interagency qualifications while not being in a fire or land management agency.

Orlando Genao and Erin Hurley discuss their recent multi-month detail experiences at the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) with Travis Dotson, the LLC’s Analyst. Orlando served as the LLC’s Acting Director, and Erin worked as the LLC’s Acting Operations Manager. Listen as they share their expectations, experiences, and takeaways from time spent working at the LLC.

Erik Apland and Travis Dotson discuss stories and insights collected by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center in 2024. This episode focuses on the specific takeaways highlighted by events in the field over the past year.

Travis Dotson, Erik Apland, and Rebecca Sorensen discuss “unplanned leadership moments;” decisions that need to be made when the boss isn’t there.

Kelly Woods visits with Larry Sutton, Jim Cook, and Chris Wilcox to capture their reflections on the 30 years that have passed since the watershed 1994 fire season when the wildland fire community lost 34 firefighters in the line of duty. That season changed the trajectory of the wildland fire program and was a catalyst in the development of many things we take for granted today. Larry, Jim, and Chris provide their perspective on what was happening culturally at that time and as these significant changes began. They also share lessons on how to be an agent of change.

Kelly Woods and Travis Dotson visit with Riva Duncan and Dr. Patty O’Brien about some considerations when deciding to seek therapy, how to find a therapist, and how to get the most out of the experience when working with a therapist. The conversation covers many topics about mental health, including personal experiences related to therapy and the importance of having a support network.

Travis Dotson and Kelly Woods talk about lessons the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center received in learning reviews and reports in 2023. Travis highlights some themes and shares his unique insights on data. Throughout the conversation, Travis and Kelly reference the Annual Incident Review Summary and the latest issue of Two More Chains which feature many of the lessons discussed and provide links to the source material. These documents can be downloaded at lessons.wildfire.gov.

Erik Apland talks with Erin Phelps and Kat DuBose about wildland fire presumptive illness legislation, some lessons associated with filing a cancer-related claim with the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, and firefighter exposure to environmental hazards. Erin and Kat define what presumptive illness means for wildland firefighters and share their insights on when someone should file a claim, how and when additional illnesses may be added to the list, and what the agencies are doing to address wildland fire health and wellbeing.