I was disappointed with the OSHA report of the South Canyon Fire. My feelings are not the result of any need to defend my agency (USDA Forest Service). In another time and place, I thought the OSHA report following the death of Bill Martin (a smokejumper who died in a training jump) was right on target. In that instance I was disappointed with my agency's response. But that is not the case with this OSHA report. The bottom line is that the report will not help prevent future loss of life. The report is a quick fix aimed at what Argyris (1990) calls "single-loop learning" and is counterproductive to creating a passion for safety.

The OSHA report did make some good points, for example, "OSHA further supports the efforts of the agencies to address the more systemic issues of suppression preparedness, fuels management, and the wildland/urban interface. If those fundamental policy issues are not squarely addressed, the safety and health of firefighters may be placed unnecessarily at risk."

However, there is a fundamental flaw in the OSHA report. To quote best selling author Stephen Covey (1989), "the way we see the problem is the problem."