Bench Lake Fire

The Bench Lake Fire is a study in success.

Much of firefighter training necessarily focuses on tragedies or mishaps so that we may learn from them to avoid making the same mistakes. Conversely, the Bench Lake Fire is an example of a safe and successful firefighting operation. We can learn from a positive outcome as much as we can learn from a negative outcome. What did they do right so that we may emulate their choices and actions?

In the summer of 2024, a small but growing wildfire was nearing the town of Stanley, Idaho. Stanely is situated within the iconic Sawtooth National Recreation Area, a 756,000-acre range of forests, lakes, and pristine wilderness.

The Sawtooth NRA is home to abundant wildlife, including threatened species like Canada lynx and several types of fish. In addition, the beauty and uniqueness of the area draws tens of thousands of visitors every year. That level of year-round tourism sustains small businesses and supports entire communities.

Because the Sawtooth NRA is ecologically precious and economically vital, the fire drew attention from locals, tourists, politicians, and multiple state and federal land management agencies.

In the beginning, the fire itself was not particularly threatening, but the myriad resources potentially at risk and the significant ripple effects of losing any of those resources prompted local fire managers to call in a Complex Incident Management Team.

From then on, firefighters, law enforcement, community members, and politicians all worked together to protect the town, the public, and the values at risk. Doing so involved careful planning, strategic choices, and sustained cooperation with numerous local, state, federal, and public entities. In the end, there were no fatalities or serious injuries, and no values were lost.

Three key factors were instrumental in achieving that level of success:

• Operational Leadership
• Situational Awareness
• Communication

The intent of this course is to examine the impact of each of those factors in the Bench Lake Fire and consider how we can apply them in future operations regardless of our position and role in wildland fire.

This case study is presented with preliminary background information followed by four stands each focused on a specific topic.

Before you begin, watch the background video for necessary context before delving into the ensuing stands.

• Background: Context
• Stand 1: Operational Leadership
• Stand 2: Situational Awareness
• Stand 3: Communication
• Stand 4: Outcomes

The first three stands include insight from the cadre followed by Discussion Questions.

The final stand - Outcomes - features the cadre articulating their personal thoughts and experiences.

It is recommended to study one stand at a time to allow sufficient time for discussion and reflection before moving on to the next.