Fighting large wildland fires is often compared to a military operation. Each involves such things as: an organization with a general at the head, massive movements of personnel and equipment; tactical aerial support, and long periods of combat and stress until the enemy is finally conquered. Yet, there is one major difference between a military operation and firefighting strategy: In fighting fires we always figure that no firefighters will die, whereas in a military operation there is always a calculated risk of death of soldiers. In spite of this philosophy, many people have lost their lives on wildland fires in the United States.