Storm King and Mann Gulch Comparison

1. What were the causes of the tragedies at Mann Gulch and Storm King Mountain?

2. Compare and contrast Dodge’s leadership at Mann Gulch with Blanco and Mackey’s leadership at Storm King Mountain. What mistakes did they make as leaders?

3. Why did the firefighters follow Mackey’s orders to build a fire line downhill, despite their reservations and doubts, while ignoring Dodge’s sound order to join him in the escape fire?

4. Why did firefighters at Storm King Mountain ignore so many rules? (i.e., 10 Standard Firefighting Orders and 18 Watch Out Situations).

5. What role did stress and experience play in both tragedies?

6. What are the lessons for business leaders?

1.

Mann Gulch Storm King Mountain

Lack of experience: Didn’t work together before – lack of cooperation/cohesiveness/coordination (team wasn’t adaptable) Too much bureaucracy – inefficient communication between offices (Coordination center and NIFC, Rocky Mountain Station); Longanecker didn’t know what his crew was getting into because the office couldn’t tell them detailed information

Lack of training – didn’t understand the escape fire Irrational bias - Lack of communication between teams – strategies undiscussed; important information withheld (Blanco assumed Mackey’s crew didn’t need guidance)

Overconfidence bias – “best of best” but, under emergency situation, didn’t know what to do Lack of resources and lack of coordination/teamwork – no one fought the Storm King blaze for two days; fire tents inefficient

Lack of leadership – confusion and miscommunication Overconfidence bias – despite rules and warnings, crews approached the fire with aggressive tactic that they weren’t comfortable with

Irrational bias – thought Mann Gulch was just like other fire-fighting missions (despite some early signs: more turbulence, too dangerous to land at standard height, assumed maps given, no radio) Regency effect – firefighters didn’t drop tools (underestimated situation – thought it was better to...