No matter what position you hold on the fireline, you are going to have difficulties, challenges...
The Hardest Part of Fighting Fire
read more
Bobbie on Fire
Bobbie Scopa started her career as a seasonal firefighter in 1974. After graduating from Arizona State University, she went on to work in fire and natural resource management. Eventually she left the wildand agencies to work full time for a structure fire department. She finished her Masters in Forestry at NC State then went back to the US Forest Service and BLM eventually becoming the Assistant Regional Fire Director in Region 6. Bobbie has spent many years working as a type 1 and 2 Operations Section Chief. You can listen to Bobbie tell audio stories from her long career at BobbieOnFire.com. She has also recently completed her memoir titled “Both Sides Of The Fire Line”. It will be available through Chicago Review Press late summer of 2022.
If I Were the US Wildfire Czar
How did we get here? How many government wildland fire response agencies are there in the US...
Don’t Let Your Ego Get In The Way Of Learning
Many years ago, I was a relatively new captain working on a paramedic engine company. I was pretty...
Cowboy Communications
I’ve written and told a lot of stories about leadership in the fire service. What good leadership...
Anchor In For The Future
For the last few years, a group of current and retired federal wildland firefighters have been...
Walking the Knife’s Edge of Integrity
Years ago while serving as Chief 1 (Fire Staff) on a large western forest, I had the opportunity...
Why’s He Always Yelling At Me
If you’re anything like me, you might think you know what your boss is thinking when he or she...
Put Me In, Coach
“Gas, she needs gas. Get her some gas, NOW!” That was the Operations Chief yelling at the...
Crises Leadership
This month I’d like to relate a story that happened to me last week. It made me pause and think...
It’s Complicated
Like many retirees, one of my favorite activities is complaining. Well, maybe not my favorite, but...
Speak Up
Back in 2002, I was a new Operations Chief on a type 2 Incident Management Team (IMT). I had been...
The Little Things Mean A Lot In Leadership
Every one of us in the fire service has a desire to be a good leader. We all want to be,...
