Firefighter TrainingS-130

Unit 1

Safety Orientation

Objectives• Define Safety

• Identify potential hazards and explain the proper safety procedures to follow

• Explain what the LCES (Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones) system is and why it is important

• You have been thru the 10 Fire Orders & 18 Situations that Shout Watch Out

Safety

• Defined as 1: The condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss. 2b; a device on a piece of equipment to reduce hazard

• Also the freedom from exposure to danger, exemption from injury, and to protect from injury

Firefighters’ Requirements

• Knowledge and skill in methods of avoiding accidents, injury and exposure to danger

• An ability and attitude that grows with experience and training

• Firefighter personnel must use the knowledge and skills gained through training and experience in all situations

Types of Hazards & Proper Safety Procedures

• Remember where ever you are working you will be exposed to many hazardous conditions.

• Two Types of Hazards– Subjective hazard, one has a direct control over

it.– Objective hazard, you have not control over it.

Environment Hazards

Environmental Hazards

• Lightning

• Fire Weakened Timber

• Rolling rocks, logs

• Entrapment by fires

Other Environmental Hazards

• Heat Stress

• Hypothermia

• Darkness

• Carbon Monoxide

• Dust

• Smoke Inversions

Biological Hazards

• Snakes - Different Types/Different Areas

• Insects - KILLER BEES/Ticks

• Animals - Bears/Lions/Pack Rats

• Plants - Poison Oak, Ivy

• Microorganisms (giardia)

• Viral Infections (colds, influenza, etc.

Equipment Hazards

• Cuts (saws / hand tools)

• Burns from mufflers

• Noise (hearing impairment levels)

• Hand Tools

• Dozers, Tractors/Plows

Vehicle Hazards

• Operating around personnel

• Mechanical failure (breaks)

• Shifting Cargo

• Unskilled/inattentive operator

Aircraft Rotor & Fixed-Wing

• Retardant Drops

• Bucket Drops

• Sling loads

• Helicopter rotor wash breaking trees and snags

• Transport of personnel

• Special Use Missions

Fire Environment Hazards• The actual fire

– running– smoldering– creeping

• Burns

• Smoke

• Unexpected or erratic winds

• Darkness

• Falling snags

Human Related Hazards

• Attitude (poor morale, fear, machismo)

• Physical condition

• Experience level

• Training Level

• Fatigue

• Critical stress

Base/Camp Hazards

• Sleeping areas

• Sanitation. Maintaining personal hygiene helps prevent gastrointestinal disorders

• Food

Hazards of Trees & Snags

• These are hazards are only surpassed by aviation accidents

• 1986 - 1992 14 fatal or debilitating snag accident occurred– Crew boss/Firefighter to National Management

• Many occurred during non-threatening, uneventful situations during all phases of fire suppression

Three Categories or Conditions of Trees

• Living

• Dying ( still alive, but with little or no chance of recovery)

• Dead ( Snags - Critter Trees )

Living Tree Hazards• Felling Operations

• Aircraft working above

• Strong Winds over 30 mph

• Mechanized equipment

• Cat faces/fire scars

• Branches, limbs (widow-makers)

• Heavy Lean

• Overhangs and hang ups

• Ground disturbance

• Shallow or exposed roots

Dying Tree

• Same hazards as live but to a greater degree

• Mechanical defect (poor root system)

• Evidence of insect activity, disease & decay

Dead SnagsCritter Trees

• Same Hazards as both living & dying greater degree

• Snags may fall without warning or external disturbance

• Burned out are extremely dangerous

Safety procedures in hazardous areas

• Any hazard or potential hazard should be reported to your supervisor

• Flag areas so that others are aware of dangers

• Two options for working in an unsafe area– Do not enter till safe– Make the area safe to work in provided you

receive approval from your supervisor

LCES

• LOOKOUTS

• COMMUNICATIONS

• ESCAPE ROUTES

• SAFETY ZONES

LCES

• Looks at the WATCHOUT Situations to evaluate the assignment

• Identifies the Hazard

• Analyze the risks

• Implements steps to ensure Firefighter Safety

Fire Entrapment

• LOOKOUTS must be posted with

COMMUNICATIONS to each firefighter

to have 2 ESCAPE ROUTES from work

location to SAFETY ZONE

Lookouts• When should they be posted?

– Fire not scouted & sized up– In country not seen in daylight– Unfamiliar with weather & local factors– Uniformed on strategy, tactics or hazards– Constructing line without a safe anchor point– Building line downhill with fire below– Unburned fuel between you and the fire– On a hillside where rolling material can ignite full

below– Weather is getting hotter & drier– Taking a nap near the fireline

• Back off if the situation is too complex

• Re-asses your tactics– Two Tradition situations

• Downhill Line Construction

• Indirect Fireline Operations

Lookouts

Downhill• Has area been scouted for fire perimeter,

fire behavior, chimney and gullies? Have you got adequate safety zones & escape routes

• Post Lookouts with good communication to observe the fire below

• Anchor point must be establish

• Burn out fireline if possible as you proceed down the hill

Indirect• Unable to see the fire

• Safety zone and anchor point needed

• BASE ALL ACTIONS ON CURRENT & EXPECTED FIRE BEHAVIOR

• Terrain favorable to hold fire

• Lookout needs to the hazard and crew

• Trained to observe & recognize the dangers

• Number will be determined by the size of the fire and the terrain it covers

CommunicationsUnder what conditions would you need?

• In country you have not seen in daylight|

• Safety Zones and escape routes not identified

• Unfamiliar w/weather & local factors

• Uninformed on strategy, tactics, or hazards

• Instructions & assignments not clear.

• No communications link with crew, supervisors, forces.

• Construct line without safe anchor point.

• Build line downhill with fire below.

• Attempting a frontal assault on a fire.

• Unburned fuel between you and the fire.

CommunicationsUnder what conditions would you need?

• Cannot see the main fire, not in contact with anyone who can.

• On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below.

• Wind increase or changes direction.

• Getting frequent spot fires across the line.

• Terrain & Fuels make escape to safety zones difficult.

CommunicationsUnder what conditions would you need?

Communication Devices

• Radios• Phones• Word-of-Mouth• Flagging

If you have doubts about your ability to communicate, back off. Take the time to get it right

Escape Routes

• The path you take from a location exposed to danger to an area free from danger

• Effectiveness changes continuously, therefore constant re-evaluation & re-establishment must be done

• Escape routes shall be established at all times.

ESCAPE ROUTESWhat situations call for

re-evaluations• In country not seen in daylight

• Safety zones & escape routes not identified

• Unfamiliar with weather & local factors

• Uninformed on strategy, tactics, hazards

• Instruction & assignments not clear

• Constructing line without a safe anchor point

• Building fireline downhill with fire below

• Attempting a frontal assault on a fire

• Unburned fuel between you and the fire

• Cannot see the main fire, not in contact with anyone who can

• On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below

• Weather is getting hotter and drier

• Wind increases or changes direction

ESCAPE ROUTESWhat situations call for

re-evaluations

Escape Routes• You need more then one

– In front of you– To the rear of you

• The only safe line is the black line, leaving fuel between you and the fire will compound your problems

• Common is the fireline, but remember that fatigue & distance increase time to reach your safety zone

• Discard equipment

Safety Zones

• Find refuge from danger

• FIRE SHELTER IS NOT NEEDED– 4 x the flame height

• Established at all times

SAFETY ZONESNeeded when

• Fire not scouted and sized up

• In country not seen in daylight

• Unfamiliar with weather, local factors

• Uniformed on strategy, tactics, hazards

• Constructing line without a safe anchor point

• Building fire line downhill with fire below

• Attempting frontal assault on a fire

• Unburned fuel between you and the fire.

• Cannot see the main fire, not in contact with anyone who can.

• On a hillside where rolling mater can ignite fuel below.

• Weather is getting hotter and drier.

• Wind increases or changes direction.

• Getting frequent spot fires across the line.

SAFETY ZONESNeeded when

SAFETY ZONES

• Remember that fireline intensity will determine the size, but bring into account topographic features

• Large enough for to accommodate all firefighters

• Stay alert to changing safety zones & escape routes, as you construct line

• Remember to re-examine your tactics

• PROVIDE FOR SAFETY FIRST

Wildland Firefighting is a dangerous job