SAFENET A Better Way to Communicate

SAFENET: A Better Way to Communicate If you’ve got a concern, there is a way for you to be heard. It’s called “SAFENET.”

SAFENET SAFENET is a safety reporting system designed for firefighters and endorsed by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). It provides another way for frontline firefighters to be heard and get unsafe situations recognized and resolved.

What is SAFENET? What SAFENET is: An anonymous reporting system where firefighters can voice safety and health concerns. Documents corrective actions taken at the field level or provides suggested corrective actions for higher level of action. What SAFENET is NOT: A forum for personal attacks/defamation. A mechanism to elevate “pet peeves”. Only used for incidents that need higher level corrective action. Interagency criteria for posting SAFENETs: Clearly stated safety or health issue encountered in wildland fire or all hazard operations.

Why Was SAFENET Developed? SAFENET is a response to many requests from field fire managers and firefighters for a way to identify and pursue safety issues. SAFENET also documents issues and will help identify long-term trends and problems.

SAFENET-- A Place To Turn In the past, there was no formal channel for fire personnel to express their concerns. If you were aware of a potentially dangerous tactic or situation, you may not have known where to turn.

SAFENET Is Your Voice That’s why SAFENET was developed. You have a voice on the incident. We want to hear it.

SAFENET It takes about ten minutes to fill out. It could save a life. Maybe even your own.

SAFENET Since the fire season of 2000, all firefighters have had access to SAFENET.

SAFENET Anyone can file a SAFENET. Firefighter. Truck driver. Camp crew. IMT members. SAFENETS can be filed almost anytime, almost anywhere.

SAFENET SAFENETS can be filed electronically, by mail, or by phone.

SAFENET SAFENETS can be turned into almost anyone -- the incident commander, a fireline safety officer, your supervisor, the agency administrator.

SAFENET-- Use It! No one will be penalized for writing a SAFENET. In fact, the opposite is true. SAFENETS are encouraged. The rule of thumb is, when in doubt, write it up!

SAFENET And Confidentiality If you sign your name, the SAFENET may not be kept confidential. Signing is your choice. If you don’t sign your name, though, there is no way to report to you what kind of corrective action was taken.

SAFENET-- You Wanted It! SAFENET was designed by firefighters for firefighters. Remember, firefighters originated the idea that something like SAFENET was needed.

SAFENET Sure, sometimes you’re exhausted on a fire. But that’s exactly when you and your peers need SAFENET the most. Ten minutes can make a difference.

SAFENET SAFENET will not make safety issues disappear. It’s not a quick-fix for all problems.

SAFENET But it is a start. It can make your difficult, dangerous jobs safer. SAFENET has proven its worth.

SAFENET SAFENET is more than a form. It’s a tool to communicate. It’s a way that you can make a difference … for yourself, and for others.

SAFENET SAFENET is a system designed for sharing knowledge and mitigating hazards for all fire line personnel, regardless of agency.

“Silence gives consent.” -- Oliver Goldsmith

SAFENET-- A Way to Be Heard SAFENET is your chance to be heard about fire safety issues that are important to you. Write up a SAFENET sometime. Turn it in. Get your answer. See if it makes a difference. We think it will.

SAFENET The SAFENET system is intended solely as a tool for wildland firefighters and fire management. It's objective is to provide a forum for firefighters to voice their safety concerns, facilitate problem solving, and to aid in identifying trends as they relate to firefighter safety. Neither the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) nor its members, make any claims as to the accuracy or validity of individual SAFENETS.

Getting in Touch Here’s How: Internet: Go to safenet.nifc.gov, click on “Submit SAFENET”, and follow the instructions. Mail: SAFENET, P.O. Box 16645, Boise, ID SAFENET forms are no longer available from the cache system. However, you can still submit forms already in circulation or print forms from the website and mail in. Telephone: Call and follow the prompts.

Additional Information For additional information on SAFENET: Contact your NWCG-Safety and Health Working Team representative. The team roster is available at the SAFENET Administrator at