SAM 045 | Interview with Captain Dave Martin

Dave Martin’s crew was assigned to the task of keeping the wildland fire from jumping Highway 97.  Around 2100, Captain Martin and a member of the tribal fire management team were assigned to conduct a back-burn operation along the highway. Unexpectedly, the fire blew up on them, eventually consuming 1,200 acres. While on a retreat from the fast moving fire, Captain Martin’s partner become entangled on a barbed wire fence. While being over run by hot embers and heavy smoke, Captain Martin used a utility knife to cut away his partner’s ensnarled clothing and they both narrowly escaped death. 1.   The need to trust your intuition – your gut feel when it tells you something is not right. 2.    The importance of standing your ground when you feel a mistake is being made by your partner. 3.    The consequences of overlooking critical clues and cues that indicate conditions are changing. 4.    How task fixation and mission myopia and serve as barriers that impact your situational awareness and flaw your decision making.     Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com   Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records   Guest Contact Information Fire Chief Scott Burnette Asheville Fire Department [email protected]   Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com   Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/   Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com [email protected]   612-548-4424