Wildland Firefighting (3rd Edition)
Chapter 8 - Firefighter Safety & Survival
"By the Numbers"

§  34 wildland firefighters died throughout the year of 1994.

§  There are 10 standard fire fighting orders (FIREORDERS).

§  There are 18 situations that shout "WATCH OUT!".

§  A downhill hose lay must be made with a 1 1/2" or larger hoseline.

§  When there is a danger of falling rocks and logs, the crew leader should space crews more than 10 feet apart.

§  Specifications for PPE used in structural fire fighting are contained in:

Standard / Specifications covered
NFPA 1971 / Protective Clothing
NFPA 1972 / Helmets
NFPA 1973 / Gloves
NFPA 1974 / Protective Footwear
NFPA 1404 / SCBA

§  NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, covers wildland firefighting PPE.

§  In the Butte Fire at Salmon National Forest in 1985, 73 firefighters survived a high-intensity crown fire in the Wallace Creek drainage by deploying fire shelters.

§  Once a spot for a fire shelter has been located, an area of 4 x 8 feet should be scraped free of vegetation down to the mineral soil.

§  Fire shelters reflect 95% of radiant heat.

§  A fire in dry chaparral can burn at more than 1,000oF and can raise the temperature inside a fire shelter by 50oF above atmospheric temperature.

§  Wildland boots should be at least 8 to 10 inches high.

§  Underwear should be 100% cotton.

§  Policies and procedures for using PPE and fire shelters should be in compliance with NFPA 295, Standard for Wildfire Control, and NFPA 1051, Standard for Wildland Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications.

§  In some agencies, personnel must be able to deploy a fire shelter within 25 seconds.

§  While fighting wildland fires, it is possible to lose as much as 8 quarts of water in 1 hour due to perspiration. A loss of 1 quart per hour over a 12 hour period is not uncommon.

§  To avoid dehydration, personnel should drink 8 to 16 ounces of water or juice before starting a work shift and drink continuously throughout the day.

§  To reduce the likelihood of heat stress disorders, firefighters should drink at least 2 quarts of water before noon and continue to drink throughout the day.

§  Heat stroke symptoms include; hot, red, dry skin, with a body temperature in excess of 105oF and delirium or loss of consciousness.

§  In rough terrain, as many as 15 workers may be needed to carry a litter.

§  Firefighters in the wildland typically work 12 to 24 hour shifts on the fireline.

§  NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health, states that crew supervisors should continuously monitor the condition of their crew.

§  The work/rest ratio for personnel on the fireline should be 2:1 (example: 16 hours work, 8 hours rest).

§  During long duration assignments, it is recommended that firefighters be given a minimum of 1 day off per 14 days and/or 2 days off in 21 days.

§  When the apparatus is stationary, a short 1 1/2" or 1 3/4" line should be deployed and charged for protection of the apparatus.

§  When using a power winch, pull no more than 2 degrees to either side of the center line of the drum.

§  Driver's shifts should not exceed 12 hours, with no more than 8 hours of actual driving.

§  Stay at least 50 feet behind and at least 100 feet in front of operating bulldozers or tractor plows when working as part of the ground crew.

§  Bulldozer/tractor-plow crews should consist of at least 2 people.

§  Stoop when approaching or leaving an operating helicopter until at least 100 feet away.

§  The blade guard on a chain saw should be in place when the saw is carried more than 10 feet through rough country.

§  Felling snags or large trees, normally over 20 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH), is potentially dangerous and should be done by a qualified feller. Trees smaller than 20 inches DBH may be felled by crews trained to do so.

§  The body assimilates carbon monoxide 200 times more readily than oxygen.