Learned lessons - Take home messages

Hello again friends,

One of the most importants things to do after living any learning experience (even if it was not supossed to be a learning experience; for example, simply supressing a fire, having an accident,...), it is to look back and LEARN.

We face all the days many LEARNING experiences. Every single day. We only have to want to LEARN. Sometimes we don't pay enough attention and we lose LEARNING opportunities. That's the worst thing we can do. It is always about LEARNING and LEARNING, about good and bad things. All we LEARN will make us better scientists, better people, more efficient.

I just want to share with you the main LEARNED lessons from the Prescribed Fire Training Center 20-day Course. Because (off course, in adittion to LEARN, science need to be SHARED: there are always people which will LEARN from your experiences). So, let's go!

DEBRIEFFINGS' LEARNED LESSONS (Merenciano made)

1.- Be always prepared for adjust the techniques/patterns/plans: be flexible.

2.- Brief LACES.

3.- Safety ALWAYS first.

4.- The better the communications, the more efficient the job.

5.- Use local knowledge.

6.- NEVER say "that's not going to happen to me".

7.- ALWAYS pay attention to weather changes.

8.- Never lose operation momentum.

TEN TAKE HOME MESSAGES (Team 2 made)

1.- Mitigate confusion and conflicting information by elimination multiple points of communication. Give leader's intent and use chain of command. Refer to number 2 (Jeff Darner).

2.- It something isn't complicated, don't make it complicated. (Martha Williamson).

3.- We are scientists; we have the tools to avoid luck (David Merenciano).

4.- Provide an environment where AARs are utilized for honest feedback and improvement (Martha Williamson).

5.- Take a minute and make a plan; don't make a plan a minute (Jeremy Bradley).

6.- Recognize when to change firing patterns to achieve objectives requires many variations in firing technique. Be flexible (various).

7.- Be patient. Let the fire establish and do its works, but maintain operational momentum (Peter Harris).

8.- Consider and integrate local knowledge and experience when formulating plans.

9.- More communication is not always better, but effective communicate makes operations efficient.

10.- If you ask a stupid question you are only stupid once; if you don't ask you are stupid all the time until you ask. Don't be afraid to ask the questions you need to ask to improve your situational aware (David Merenciano).

Those are really good messages. Me, I have LEARNT many things. I hope you guys, you can take some of that experience and make it yours. Just, please: ALWAYS SHARE LEARNED LESSONS.

See you later! Aligator!