Using Focus Groups for Knowledge Sharing: Tracking Emerging Pandemic Impacts on USFS Wildland Fire Operations

Abstract

In early 2020 the US Forest Service (USFS) recognized the need to gather real-time information from its wildland fire management personnel about their challenges and adaptations during the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic. The USFS conducted 194 virtual focus groups to address these concerns, over 32 weeks from March 2020 to October 2020. This management effort provided an opportunity for an innovative practice-based research study. Here, we outline a novel methodological approach (weekly, iterative focus groups, with two-way communication between USFS staff and leadership), which culminated in a model for focus group coordination during extended crises. We also document the substantive challenges USFS wildfire employees discussed, including: conflicting policies and procedures; poor communication; ill-defined decision space; barriers to multi-jurisdictional resources; negative impacts on work-life balance; and disruption of pre-season training. USFS focus groups were effective for knowledge sharing among employees and elevating issues to top levels of the USFS management structure.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• organizational communication
• organizational learning
• qualitative methods
• sensemaking
• US Forest service
• wildland fire management

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the hundreds of wildland firefighters who shared their experiences of firefighting during the pandemic conditions of the 2020 fire year. We also thank focus group facilitators in the US Forest Service Office of Innovation and Organizational Learning.

Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or US government determination or policy. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US government.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support this study cannot be publicly shared due to ethical or privacy reasons but may be shared with individuals upon reasonable request to the corresponding author if appropriate.

Notes

1 https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-people-booster-percent-pop5.

2 Quotes taken from focus groups are cited using the date the group met. While some focus group meetings met on the same day, identifying participants by date maintained participant anonymity throughout the focus group process.

3 The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) position task books (PTBs) are a key component of the qualification process for specified NWCG positions. The PTB provides an observable, measurable, and standardized means to evaluate and document trainee proficiency (NWCG Position Task Book Catalog | NWCG).

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the US Forest Service.