These are the rules by which all wildland firefighters live. They are intended to ensure survival while fighting wildland fires. Often these men find themselves in rugged areas, on the sides of mountains, or in other difficult and dangerous terrain, where a change in the fire behavior or environment can trap (“entrapment”) them is a situation from which there is no escape. Knowledge of the rules, developed from experience, are essential to survival. They are referred to as “the 10′s” and “the 18′s” STANDARD FIREFIGHTING ORDERS* 1. Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts. 2. Know what your fire is doing at all times. 3. Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire. 4. Identify escape routes and safety zones, and make them known. 5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger. 6. Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisively. 7. Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor, and adjoining force 8. Give clear instructions and insure they are understood. 9. Maintain control of your forces at all times. 10. Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first. * The Standard Firefighting Orders were prepared by the U.S. Forest Service in 1956 after an investigation into the Inaja Forest Fire Disaster in the Cleveland National Forest, near San Diego, California. Eleven men lost their lives in a fire blow-up on Sunday, November 25, 1956. WATCH OUT SITUATIONS 1. Fire not scouted and sized up. 2. In country not seen in daylight. 3. Safety zones and escape routes not identified. 4. Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior. 5. Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards. 6. Instructions and assignments not clear. 7. No communication link with crew members or supervisor. 8. Constructing line without safe anchor point. 9. Building fireline downhill with fire below. 10. Attempting frontal assault on fire. 11. Unburned fuel between you and fire. 12. Cannot see main fire; not in contact with someone who can. 13. On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below. 14. Weather becoming hotter and drier. 15. Wind increases and/or changes direction. 16. Getting frequent spot fires across line. 17. Terrain and fuels make escape to safety zones difficult. 18. Taking a nap near fireline. LCES During a wildland fire basic safety hazards confront the firefighter: lightning, fire-weakened timber, rolling rocks, and entrapment by running fires. LCES is an acronym used to remind firefighters of key safety concepts. LCES stands for lookouts, communications, escape routes, and safety zones. Before beginning to fight a fire, lookouts are posted to watch for spot fires and wind changes, which can cause entrapment. A (radio) communications system is organized. Escape routes are identified. Safety zones are identified (if available, an area already burned, called “the Black,” is identified.) In operation, LCES is a logical sequence. Lookouts assess the fire conditions and weather. They communicate the situation to the firefighters. Escape routes are and safety zones are reevaluated as the fire crews move. All firefighters have the authority to initiate communication in the event of a change in conditions. Just a few things to go over and remember ?... Rick
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 07:21:24 +0000
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