The pictures of the LA fires feature images of the firefighters as much as the devastation and the survivors. Look closely at some of those images; do you see the wildland firefighters wearing yellow hardhats, shirts and gloves, each carrying a heavy backpack, tools, personal safety equipment? How about the images of them either trudging up a hill towards smoke in a single file, digging a line, or removing vegetation to try and stop the advancement of the fire. These firefighters are with CalFire, the US Forest Service and other wildland units that now include members from Mexico, Canada and other states. Some firefighters work for private companies. I don’t know if the Boise Hotshots and other Idaho units are deployed to California but I do know that the men and women who serve the public in a wildland firefighting role are paid basically minimum wage, sleep on the ground in austere conditions, have to walk miles to just get to the location where they will start “working”, rarely receive health and medical benefits year round, and are away from their families and loved ones for long stretches as a “roll” is for 2-weeks or more at a time. And of course, they put themselves right in the center of danger. Until last summer, my son spent 4 seasons as a wildland firefighter working out of bases in Idaho. When I look at the faces of the firefighters in LA, I see my son.
 
Because these current fires are of the wildland nature but right in the heart of a city, it seems that photographers can capture more images of the wildland firefighters than we typically see. I am mesmerized by the images and can’t stop thinking of the individuals fighting the fires and the stress on the mothers (and families) who are now able to witness through the lens of a camera the work that these firefighters do. The sooty faces and shirts, the smoking ground they walk through, the remoteness of where they hike in to work, and the tiredness captured in their faces. The images show us the day-to-day challenges wildland firefighters must endure each time they are called out to support fire suppression. Yes, we say firefighters are heroes. But the image of a heroic firefighter tends to be the one in the red or yellow fire truck who leaves the fire house and comes to the aid of the community. Their work is incredibly brave and important to the communities that they serve. But these are also firefighters who work a 24-hour shift and can shower, enjoy a hot meal, and receive quality health care and retirement benefits. Wildland firefighters rarely enjoy these “comforts” when they are on duty. It’s an MRE, no shower, limited benefits and sleeping on the ground or in a the cab of their overland vehicle when they get a break.
 
Experts are identifying that we need to fight fires differently. Climate change as well as humans creating communities further into high-risk fire areas show that both the frequency and the intensity of fires are growing, and that the loss of property is becoming untenable to insure and recover from. Putting wildland firefighter’s lives on the line, again for low pay and minimal benefits, is not a solution. Our leaders are willing to sacrifice both the lives of firefighters as well as the humans impacted by climate change by not acknowledging and prioritizing policies that support climate action. Do you think that anyone in Pacific Palisades or Altadena or Maui or Paradise or New York ever expected to be impacted by fire? Or fires raging in November and January? Or hurricane force winds that are not accompanied by any rain in the middle of the Pacific? We need political, private and governmental leaders that are willing to step up, create policies and take action to stop the degradation to our planet, and for private companies to voluntarily enact corporate actions that are focused on environmental health and less on shareholder profits. At the end of the day, no human on this planet avoids the impact of not addressing climate change. (See this piece in the NYTimes by a former firefighter).
 
What motivates someone to become a wildland firefighter? I am not exactly sure, but one commonality is clearly the willingness to work hard. Firefighting requires a high degree of trust with your fellow firefighters. Each must have the others back and respect the chain of command. There is a sense of belonging and brotherhood. While firefighting is still predominately male, women are also taking on the role. The experience that one can gain in this line of work includes transferable skills in leadership, risk taking, hard work, sacrifice and collaboration. And for others, like my son, it gave him the experience that he needed to realize his dream job: firefighter for the County of Maui.
 
We can show our respect for wildland firefighters by electing officials that understand the need for positive climate action, are willing to create policies and take action on addressing the impacts of climate change. We need to hold all leaders accountable. We can show our humanity by making sure that these brave wildland firefighters receive a living wage commensurate with the risk that they take in their work, are equipped with the proper tools and have access to health care benefits. And be confident that our leaders are working to reduce the extreme fires by listening to the experts who have real solutions.

Look at those images of firefighters, look deeply. Who do you see?

In the conversation between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu captured in The Book of Joy, they tackle many topics on the subject of joy. One chapter discusses the pitfall of optimism. That optimism can lead to pessimism. This stopped me for a moment; if you have ever been in mediation with me, you may have heard me refer to my own optimism that I bring to the table. After all, how can I be an effective mediator if I don't have a level of optimism in the human capacity to want to bring resolution and peace to their lives? How can I do what I do without genuine optimism in the skills I offer to others in conflict, optimism that I can help them make genuine change? What does this mean about the work I do if optimism can lead to pessimism? That the absence of success through a optimistic lens will eventually make me a pessimist?
I sat with this for a bit. And I cannot deny that this makes sense to me and may reflect challenges I have had working with other mediators. For example, I have served on non-profit boards with mediators. When it came to making decisions as a board, I can describe that experience as frustrating as mediators are not good decision-makers. By our own practice, we don't make decisions for others; we help to guide our clients through a process that empowers them to make their own best decisions. A group of mediators will kick the decision-making can down the road as long as possible. Is it a lack of leadership skills, a fear about the consequences of making a decision, or is it pessimism? We get elected to serve on boards with the optimism that we can make a difference but when we are faced with making hard decisions, we become pessimistic about the process, the intent of others and the commitment we really bring to serving the non-profit. I feel like there should be a joke in here...3 mediators walk into a bar, the bartender asks them what they want, they each turn to the other, no one can make a decision...they leave thirsty. LOL
What is the remedy for optimism? Hope. Yes, hope. According to the Dalai Lama, hope is the antidote to despair. Hope is an outward expression and can spread to others. It is defined as "to wish for a particular event that one considers possible", "to have confidence; trust". At the mediation table I can have confidence in the process that I am facilitating and trust in the human capacity to resolve interpersonal conflicts. With hope, I can support the "possible", to help my client change the narrative of their life into something that brings them hope. It manifests in a positive manner with the outlook of hope; no despair and certainly, no pessimism.
So how might hope help a board full of mediators? If we hope to make a difference, to serve our membership in our trusted capacity as a board member, we can began to trust each other and work towards a shared vision of what is possible. Hope helps us to both consider and take action towards the possible.
I recommend listening to The Book of Joy. It is a delightful conversation as well as inspiring. If you are feeling despair, try looking outward, choose hope and know that hope is the antidote to despair. Try opening your heart to others. You can find joy.