The Role Of A PIO For A Fireline Fatality

The Toughest of Times:

You may know the feeling: the phone rings at home late at night, your stomach

jumps, your heart races and you know that something has gone very wrong.

The First Lesson: Every Serious Accident will be Different

Some general characteristics

will be similar – something has

gone wrong; plenty of rumors

racing across the community;

many people will be close to a

state of shock; and there will

be an outpouring of sympathy.

The First Lesson: Every Serious Accident will be Different

But every fatality is also

unique. In the end, there

likely is no textbook approach

to your duties. Your own

judgment, experience and

sense will be your best allies.

The Second Lesson: Find Your Go-To People

You need to have that sixth sense about who can help and who is willing to help.

It’s vital that you find those go-to people and establish a good professional relationship with them.

The Third Lesson: Keep Calm

It’s okay to have butterflies, but you need to learn how to herd them.

Many things in a crisis will be beyond your control, but your demeanor and presence shouldn’t be among them.

The Third Lesson: Keep Calm

Remember Standard

Firefighting Order #6:

Be alert. Keep calm.

Think clearly. Act decisively.

It’s great advice for PIOs.

Finally, You Need to Take Care of Yourself

The work is exhausting –

physically, emotionally and

mentally. There may come a

time when you need to step

away from it.

Finally, You Need to Take Care of Yourself

You need to occasionally ask yourself tough questions and answer them honestly:

Am I exhausted?

Are details starting to slip by?

Am I becoming too possessive of my duties?

Am I in over my head?

Keep in mind the people you’re serving – the family of the fallen; friends; crew members; co-workers and the larger fire and aviation community. If you understand your assignment and carry it forth in a professional way, you’ll likely feel a sense of service, humility and dignity for the work you’ve completed.

“In the final analysis, human life is the ultimate value … once a life is expended, it is gone, save for the continued anguish of survivors, family and friends … I can only speak for myself, but I would freely give up all of my wealth and possessions to get back one single life of the wildland firefighters who died on my watch.”

Jack Ward Thomas

What we can offer as PIOs in these somber and trying times is simply this: the highest in our professionalism. The utmost in our knowledge and experience. And the greatest compassion that any of us can ever feel. Let’s do it.