Fireline Safety

REM 244

Fireline Safety

Heather Heward

A state of mind

• Safety is a state of mind• Safety is always the first priority• Safety is your responsibility

Overview

• Physical fitness • Proper equipment • 10 standard firefighting orders• 18 watchout situations• Hazards• Situational awareness

Physical Fitness

• Fire fighting is a demanding job which required you to be both mentally and physically fit• 2 parts of fitness

• Aerobic fitness – related to oxygen intake, regulates work capacity

• Muscular fitness – includes both strength and endurance

• Being fit will allow you to be more tolerant of heat, acclimate faster, work with lower hart rates and body temperatures

Fitness levels

• Pack test is the only physical requirement • 3 miles• 45 pounds• 45 minutes

• Recommended line crew 1.5 mile run 10:30 (min)Pull-ups 4-7Sit-ups (60 sec.) 45Pushups (60 sec.) 25

Physical fitness

• Fitness tests• Fatigue

• 2 to 1 work to rest• Heat stress and dehydration

• Water and electrolytes • Smoke and carbon

monoxide• Food and nutrition

• 5,000 to 6,000 calories a day

Heat stressHeat cramps Heat

exhaustionDehydration exhaustion

Heat Stroke

Symptoms Muscle cramps

Weakness, extreme fatigue; wet, clammy skin; headache; nausea or collapse

Weight loss, and excessive fatigue

Hot, often dry skin; High body temperature; mental confusion, collapse, loss of consciousness

Treatment Drink water, juice or a sports drink

Same as heat cramps, rest in the shade

Increase fluid intake, rest until body weight is restored

Cool the body, treat for shock, seek medical attention

Proper equipment

• PPE• Wear it right

• Fire shelter• Line gear• Personal gear

PPE – required • Flame resistant shirt and pants

• Made from Nomax or Kevlar• clean, no holes or tears and has no gas or oil stains.

• Boots and socks • leather 8 inch (no steal toe)• cotton or wool socks

• Hard hat • plastic, light weight…

• Gloves • Leather, no gap between glove and shirt

• Chaps• Hearing protection• Eye protection

PPE – recommended

• Wear a 2nd layer - typically cotton• Goggles• Hood or Shroud

Fire Shelter

• A fire shelter is a required piece of safety gear• Protects you by reflecting radiant heat and

trapping air• THE SHELTER IS A LAST RESORT ONLY!!!

Preparing for a wildland fire (line gear)• Nomex Shirt and Pants• All-leather 8” Boots with

nonskid soles• Hardhat w/ headlamp clips

and chin strap• Neck shroud• Headlamp and batteries• Fire Shelter• Radio and harness• Leather gloves• Eye protection• Hearing protection• Fusees and lighter• Compass and/or GPS

• Canteens• Extra batteries• First aid kit• Task book• MRE or other food• Fire line handbook• Map/IAP• TP• Warm layer• Rain gear• Flagging• Parachute cord• Knife

Preparing for a wildland fire (personal gear)

• 2 set of nomex• Underwear, t-shirts,

socks• Washcloth, towel,

soap, shampoo• Toothbrush, tooth

paste• Medications/vitamins• Money• Camera• Bathing suit

• Flashlight• Knife• Hat and gloves• Warm layers• Shower shoes• Tent and sleeping bag• Extra boot laces• Handkerchiefs• Book• Street clothes

10 standard wildland firefighting orders

• Developed in 1957• Are absolute

• Common reasons for breaking one of the orders• Ignorance – lack adequate training• Over confidence – excessive “can do” attitude• Lack of empowerment – thinking someone else will

take care you• Work on making the firefighting orders instinctive

10 standard wildland firefighting ordersFIRE BEHAVIOR1. Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts 2. Know what your fire is doing at all times3. Base all actions on current and expected fire behaviorFIRELINE SAFETY4. Identify escape routes and safety zones, and make them known5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger6. Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisivelyORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL 7. Maintain prompt communication with your forces, your supervisor

and adjoining forces8. Give clear instructions and be sure they are understood9. Maintain control of your forces at all timesIF YOU CONSIDER 1-9, THEN10. Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first


• Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts• 2 types of weather information

• Tactical – fire weather observations• Strategic

• Spot weather forecasts • Long range forecasts


• Know what the fire is doing at all times• Keep track of:

• the location of the fire perimeter • the rate and direction of spread • fuel cover• fire behavior• location of fuel breaks• spotting

• Obtain information from:• personal observation • Lookout• Supervisor


• Base all actions on current and expected fire behavior• Constantly evaluate the fire behavior and detect

subtle changes• 3 possible outcomes fire behavior:

• stays the same • lessons• gets worse

Make sure to have a plan for all three!


• Identify escape routes and safety zones and make them known• Safety Zone: refuge from an unexpected change

in fire behavior• Void of fuels• Not a deployment zone

• Escape route: way you get personnel from where you are working to the safety zone• quick safe passage from your work site to the safety

zone

10 standard wildland firefighting orders• Post lookouts when there is possible danger

• Tasks:• Weather• Fire behavior• Smoke• Communications• Know crew location and tactics

• Tools• Belt weather kit • Compass/GPS/Map• Binoculars • Radio and plenty of batteries• Extra foul weather gear (sun or rain)• Comfort

• Lookouts should be knowledgeable in fire behavior and understand the significance of changes and identify hazardous situations


• Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act Decisively• The key is to understand and avoid what may

cause you to be less alert, to get overexcited, or to become mentally disorganized• To counteract this you should:

• Maintain self control• Eat and drink correctly• Get adequate rest• Develop contingency plans• Monitor the situation• Take regular breaks


• Maintain communications with your forces, your supervisor and adjoining forces• Ensures you can receive or report changes in

instructions; warnings of changing conditions; changes in status; or progress reports.• extra batteries and a back up plan for

communication


• Give clear instructions and be sure they are understood• Be concise and clear when providing instructions• Ask to have instructions repeated if you do not

understand them


• Maintain control of your forces at all times• To help ensure this

• Ensure your instructions are clear, concise and understood

• Maintain communications• Know the location of your crew• Know the status of the fire

• The key is to be prepared to react quickly and effectively to the unexpected


• Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first• If you can not ensure you can fight the fire on

your terms stop and reevaluate• To fight fire aggressively you must:

• Lookout• Communication• Escape Route• Safety Zone• IRPG

Watch out situations

1. Fire not scouted and sized up 2. In country not seen in daylight3. Safety zones and escape routes not

identified4. Unfamiliar with weather and local factors

influencing fire behavior5. Uninformed on strategy, tactics and hazards6. Instructions and assignments not clear7. No communication link with crew members

or supervisor


8. Constructing line without a safe anchor point

9. Building fireline downhill with fire below10.Attempting frontal assault on fire11.Unburned fuel between you and the fire12.Cannot see the main fire; not in contact

with someone who can13.On a hillside where rolling material can

ignite fuel below14.Weather becoming hotter and drier


15.Wind increases and/or changes direction16.Getting frequent spot fires across the

fireline17.Terrain and fuels make

escape to safety zones difficult

18.Taking a nap near the fireline

Common denominators in fire fatalitiesDenominator Why?Small fires or isolated sectors of larger fires.

Firefighters underestimated the potential of the fire, failure to recognize subtle changes in weather conditions or fire behavior

Light fuels Firefighters underestimate the extreme rates of spread and heat possible in light fuels

Terrain Fires and heat moves up steep slopes and canyons with surprising speed

Shift in wind direction or speed Not appreciating a predicted wind event. An unpredicted event occurs.

Suppression tools such as helicopters affect wind

Can cause flare ups or spotting across the fire line

LCES

• L – Lookouts• C – Communications• E – Escape routes• S – Safety zones

• A simple way to help remember the key elements to survival

LCES

• The Lookout has to:• Know the location of the escape routes and safety

zones• Be experienced enough to properly evaluate the

present and potential fire behavior• Take weather readings• Understand the tactics and strategy• Always be able to see the fire• Handle other fire communication tasks• Look at the bigger picture

LCES

• Communications• See, track, record, interpret, anticipate and report.

If the report is not made , all the other stuff is meaningless!

• Fireline communication:• Incident name and IC• Immediate supervisor • Days plan• Days tactics • Safety zone and escape routes • Communication plan – channels and repeaters• AAR

LCES

• Escape Routes• One or more ways to exit danger

• clearly identified• be clear of obstacles • short in length • not go up hill if possible• Decision (trigger) points - when you move to safety• Timed and practiced • Think about alternatives

LCES

• Safety Zones• A properly designated safety zone should not

require the deployment of a fire shelter.• large enough to protect firefighters under worse

than predicted fire behavior

• As work progresses along the line new safety zones will have to be identified along with new escape routes.

http://www.fire-ecology.org/research/images/small/_safety%20zone%205.jpg

Fireline Hazards

• Smoke and Dust• Snags• Stump holes• Darkness• Footing• Rocks• Branches/overhead hazards• Weather • Stobs/roots • Pumps, tanks, hoses• Bucket/retardant drops

Vehicle hazards

• Driving is the most dangerous component of fire fighting• Fatigue • Dust• Unfamiliar routes• Darkness• Bridge weight limits• Excessive traffic • Parking• Vehicle maintenance • Emergency response speed i.e. the speed limit• Local traffic laws• Horse play• Loose equipment on vehicle

Aircraft Hazards

• At the air field• Enter and exit• Follow instructions

• Fireline• Bucket/retardant drops• Sling loads• General recon• Rotor wash • Radio communications• Ground contacts

Other hazards

• Ticks, snakes, and poison oak and ivy• Power lines• Hazmat• People• Animals• Propane and Utilities • Septic

Wildland urban interface hazards

• Hazardous materials – dangerous gases from burning material

• Propane tanks – can act as bombs• Traffic – can be a major issue so drive

carefully• Panicked public –

help public move form harms way

Human Hazards

• Attitude• Physical conditioning• Training levels• Experience• Fatigue• Local knowledge• Crew dynamics • Chain of command• Span of control • Effective communications

Human Factors

• Common barriers to good listening:• Perceived opinions• Distractions• Filtering information• Not listening• Having an attitude

Every firefighter is responsible for open, effective communication

Five basic communication responsibilities

• Briefings• The passing of general information

• Debriefing• After an incident or event you ask questions of

those involved to learn what happened• Warnings

• Information about hazards is passed on• Acknowledge messages

• You say you understand the information or orders• Questions

• You ask for clarification

After you receive an order

• You should be able to answer the following:• What task am I to perform?• What are the known hazards?• Where do I go to be safe?• How do I get to this place?

Situational awareness

• Situational awareness is the gathering of information by observation or through communications

• This means constantly reassessing the situation as things change

• Factors that hinder your situational awareness• Inexperience• Stress• Fatigue• Attitude

Final thoughts

• Remember: • It is YOUR responsibility to be safe on the fireline• There are no stupid questions, if you don’t know

ask

• Work on your situational experience by reflecting back on the good, the bad the ugly.

Review• Why is physical fitness important• List the main personal equipment items you need

to be a safe firefighter• What are the categories of the 10 standard fire

orders? What is the most important one?• What is the purpose of the 18 watchout situations

and what should you do if you are breaking some?• What does a lookout do?• What is makes communication successful? • List several fireline, vehicle, aircraft, and human

hazards• Situational awareness

REM 244

The Incident Command System

Heather Heward

ICS - Definition

• Organizational management system based on:• Successful business practices • Decades of lessons learned

• Developed in the 1970’s after a series of catastrophic wildfire in California. • Unclear chain of command• Poor communication between agencies• Failure to outline clear objectives and action plans• Lack of designated facilities• Inability to expand and contract to fit situation

ICS – Basic Features1. Clear text and common terminology2. Modular organization3. Management objectives4. Reliance on an Incident Action Plan (IAP)5. Manageable span of control6. Designated locations and facilities7. Resources management8. Integrated communications9. Chain of command and utility of command10.Unified command11.Transfer of command12.Accountability13.Mobilization14. Information and intelligence management

Incident Commander and Staff

• Manage entire incident• Ensure incident safety• Provide information to stakeholders• Establish and maintain contact with other

participating agencies• Support staff

• Public information officer• Safety officer• Liaison officer

General staff

General Staff – Operation section

• Major functions• Implement tactics to achieve objectives• Assign resources and monitor progress• Report back

• Organization positions• Staging area manager• Operations branch director• Division/Group supervisor• Task Force/Strike team leader• Single resources

General Staff – Planning Section

• Major functions• Gathering, analyzing, and distributing intelligence

and information• IAP• Long-range and contingency planning• Maintaining documentation• Check in, tracking, and demob

• Units• Resources• Situation• Documentation• Demobilization

General Staff – Logistics Section• Major Functions

• Ordering, obtaining, maintaining, and accounting for essential personnel, equipment, and supplies

• Communication planning and equipment• Food services• Incident facilities• Support transportation• Medical services

• Services branch• Communications• Medical • Food

• Support Branch• Supply• Facilities• Ground support

General Staff – Finance section

• Major functions• Negotiating and monitoring contracts• Timekeeping• Analyzing costs• Injury and property damage compensation

• Units• Time• Procurement• Compensation/claims• Cost

Common Responsibilities

• Resource Order• Incident name• Location• Assignment• Base phone number• Reporting date, time, location• Communication (frequencies)• Special support requirements• Travel authorization


• Check in• Keep track of resources• Prepare for future paperwork

• Initial incident briefing• Current situation• Job responsibilities• Location of work area• Communication• Coworkers• Eating and sleeping arrangements• Procedure for resupply


• Common duties during operational period• Acquire needed materials• Organize and brief subordinates• Debrief

• Demobilization• Brief replacement resources• Performance evaluations• Check-out• Return equipment• Post-incident reports• Payment paperwork

Discussion Questions

• What is the purpose of the Incident Command System?

• When and where was it developed?• What are the support staff groups for the IC?• What are some major roles of each of the

general staff of the Incident Command Team?• What should be included in the initial briefing

on arrival at an incident?

Documents

Fireline Safety