Mann Gulch Disaster

The conceptual block that was experienced by the smokejumpers was when they knew they would have to get on a plane. “The smokejumpers and their cargo were dropped on the south side of Mann Gulch at 4:10p.m. from 2,000 feet rather than the normal 1,200 feet, due to turbulence (p. 48). The parachute that was connected to their radio failed to open, and the radio was pulverized when it hit the ground.” (p.210). With the failed radio and the jump at 800 feet above average the smokejumpers mentality would be a bit off. A type of conceptual block is constancy, which is one way to look at a dilemma; with what they went through they came out thinking positively and solved it. When smokejumpers became the smokejumpers there was a commitment in what had to be done. That was to do what it takes to secure things and help put down fires. When the smokejumpers didn’t listen to Dodge when he had told them to lie down that conceptual block would be considered as complacency. Complacency because of their poor thinking and judgment because they had feared for their lives. These men put their lives on the line when there is a fire because they are committed to their job. Being committed come with consequences and sacrifices, in this case tools were needed but Dodge had told them to leave it behind. “When the smokejumpers landed at Mann Gulch, the expected to find what they had come to call a 10:00 fire. A 10:00 fire is one that can be surrounded completely and isolated by 10:00 the next morning. The spotters on the aircraft that carried the smokejumpers ‘figured the crew would have it under control by 10:00 the next morning’ (p. 43). People rationalized this image until it was too late. And because they did, less and less of what they saw made sense:” (p. 211). All nine of the analysis didn’t make sense because in this short article some of the analysis didn’t make sense since it wasn’t provided. Step number four was skipped because in the article the name David Navon wasn’t in