Wildland Firefighting Order

INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

TOPIC: The "10 Standard Firefighting Orders"
The “18 Fire Situations that Shout "Watch Out"
LCES

TIME FRAME: 1 Hour

LEVEL: 1

BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVE:

Condition: A written or oral quiz

Behavior: The student will list or recite the 10 standard orders.

Standard: With a minimum of 70% accuracy

REFERENCES: Wildland Firefighting, Clayton, Day and McFadden, Chapter 12 IFSTA, Ground Cover Fire Fighting Practices, 2nd Edition, Chapter 6

MATERIALS NEEDED: Handouts

PREPARATION: Wildland firefighting is a dangerous job. It requires that you be thoroughly familiar and aware of the hazards involved on the fire line. Your life and the lives
of others may depend upon your ability to recognize a dangerous situation before it develops.

The common thread between all fire fatalities and near misses in the past twenty years is lack of or inadequate lookouts, communications, escape routes and safety zones (LCES). LCES is a systems approach. All components of LCES must be used. The system is interdependent of all components. Awareness of each component and how they interact is necessary to provide the safest working environment.

INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

I. THE "10 STANDARD FIREFIGHTING ORDERS"
A. Fight fire aggressively, but Provide for
Safety first.
B. Inform Crew of Planned Escape Routes.
C. Remain Calm, Be Alert, Think Clearly, Act
Decisively.
D. Establish Lookouts in Hazardous Situations.
E. Observe Personally, Use Scouts, Always
Know What Fire is Doing.
F. Review Fire Weather Conditions and
Forecasts.
G. Decide Actions Based on Current and
Expected Fire Behavior.
H. Explain Orders Clearly and Be Sure They are
Understood.
I. Remain in Control of Crew at All Times.
J. Stay in Constant Communications with Crew,
Supervisor and Adjoining Forces.

II. "18 FIRE SITUATIONS THAT SHOUT-WATCH OUT! USE CAUTION"
A. THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN SCOUTED AND SIZED UP.
1. Scout by using aerial recon or ground observation.
2. Look for fire size and direction, fuel types, topography, hazards, safety zones and escape routes.
B. YOU ARE IN COUNTRY YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IN DAYLIGHT
1. Stay with your crew, don't get lost.
2. Advance scouting is essential.
a) Proceed slowly and carefully.
b) Watch for sheer drop-offs, shafts, rock slides, etc.
3. Use headlamps and flashlights for all night activities.
4. Maintain communications with your fireline supervisor.
5. Stay close to the fireline.
a) Can use hoselays, dozerlines, and handlines to follow.
b) Avoid taking "shortcuts".
C. SAFETY ZONES AND ESCAPE ROUTES HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED
1. Safety zone must be large enough for entire crew
a) Meadows
b) Rock slides
c) Dirt, barren areas
d) Creeks, river bottoms
e) Swamps
2. Escape routes lead to safety zones
INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

a) Shortest and most direct route to safety zone
b) Relatively easy to travel
c) Make them known to all personnel
D. YOU ARE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH LOCAL FACTORS INFLUENCING FIRE BEHAVIOR.
1. Keep informed on forecasts; interpret what they mean.
2. One of the most important factors affecting fire behavior is weather. It is usually broken down into three parts.
a) Temperature
b) Relative humidity
c) Wind
1) Each has a direct effect upon the burning conditions
3. Watch for nature's danger signals, mirages, dust devils, etc.
4. Maintain communications with your supervisor
E. YOU ARE UNIFORMED ON STRATEGY, TACTICS AND HAZARDS
1. Strategy: overall plan to achieve the fire suppression objectives
2. Tactics: specific actions done to suppress the fire
3. Hazards in relation to strategy and tactics
a) Heavy fuels
b) Topographic features such as slopes and chimneys
c) Falling operations
d) Firing operations
4. All personnel must be familiar with overall strategy
a) Tactics to accomplish strategy
b) Hazards involved with accomplishing tactics
F. YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN ASSIGNMENT AND INSTRUCTIONS UNCLEAR TO YOU.
1. Repeat them back until you clearly understand, especially before going on the fire line.
2. Communicate frequently with your supervisor and keep him/her posted on your progress.
G. YOU HAVE NO COMMUNICATION LINK WITH CREW MEMBERS OR SUPERVISORS
1. Communications with all crew members or supervisors is important
a) To alert to changing conditions
b) To alert to problems developing
c) To alert to blow-up
d) To maintain control and prevent panic
H. YOU ARE CONSTRUCTING FIRELINE WITHOUT A SAFE ANCHOR POINT
1. Anchor point is critical when planning your suppression tactics
a) A point or location not currently, or like in the future to be, threatened by fire spread
b) A place to begin your fireline where you are likely to hold your line
INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

I. YOU ARE BUILDING A FIRELINE DOWNHILL TOWARD A FIRE.
1. Have escape routes established ahead of time.
2. An extremely dangerous situation.
3. Stay with your crew.
4. Post lookout as necessary, be alert to conditions around you.
5. Fuels on the upslope are preheated and will burn rapidly.
6. Spot fires on the upslope can be expected.
7. Fires may generate momentum upslope, jump across hoselays, constructed hand or dozer lines and/or fire retardant drops.
J. YOU ARE ATTEMPTING A FRONTAL ASSAULT ON A FIRE.
1. Spot engines so as to have an immediate escape route.
2. Many of these frontal assault tactics require numerous engines, restricting access and maneuverability.
3. Observe the convection column direction and watch for spot fires behind you.
4. Do not wander into the green at an oncoming fire.
5. Be alert and follow instructions.
6. Charge hose lines before starting the frontal attack.
K. YOU ARE IN A HEAVY COVER WITH UNBURNED FUEL BETWEEN YOU AND THE FIRE.
1. An extremely dangerous situation, particularly if the fire is spotting in your direction.
2. Always requires that lookouts be posted at strategic points for constant observation.
3. Line will usually be burned out behind you, by your crew supervisor, as it is being constructed.
4. Remain in constant contact with your fire line supervisor.
5. Be prepared to use escape routes immediately, remain alert.
6. Make sure any constructed line is wide enough and clean, down to bare soil.
7. Anchor your starting point to insure holding line without being flanked.
8. Keep looking behind you to insure line is secure.
L. YOU CANNOT SEE MAIN FIRE AND YOU ARE NOT IN COMMUNICATION WITH ANYONE WHO CAN.
1. A very dangerous situation.
2. Scout area thoroughly.
3. Pre-plan escape routes and advise others of them.
4. Post lookouts as necessary.
5. Be weather alert.
6. Follow instructions from your supervisor.
7. Establish communications as quickly as possible
M. YOU ARE FIGHTING FIRE ON A HILLSIDE WHERE ROLLING MATERIAL CAN IGNITE FUEL BELOW YOU.

INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

1. The steepness of the slope affects both the rate and direction of the spread. This is due to several things:
a) On uphill side, flames are closer to the ground, preheating fuels above the fire.
b) Convected heat rising upslope causes a draft, increasing rate of spread.
c) Wind currents generally flow uphill during the day and downhill at night.
2. Construct trenches on slopes to hold all rolling material.
3. Have established escape routes, know where they are.
4. Cut your way into spot fire areas, do not just walk through the green.
5. Post lookouts as necessary.
N. YOU FEEL THE WEATHER GETTING HOTTER AND DRIER.
1. There will usually be a decrease in humidity and fuel moisture. Air is usually drier during the day than it is at night because temperatures are usually cooler at night. Fuels, then, are also drier during the day than at night. The result is that fires will normally burn more rapidly during the day.
2. Be alert to an increase in hot spots appearing on the fire line.
3. The behavior of the fire is likely to change.
O. YOU NOTICE THAT THE WIND BEGINS TO BLOW, INCREASE OR CHANGE DIRECTION
1. Of all the influences on a fire's behavior, wind has the greatest influence on both the rate and direction of spread.
2. Fire may begin to spread in a different direction.
3. The method of fire attack and approach may now have to be changed.
4. Be alert, post lookouts as necessary.
5. One visible indicator of a possible change in wind speed and direction, is the presence of thunderstorms (cumulus clouds).
a) Gusty winds usually flow out from the edge of a thunderstorm and can reach speeds up to 70 mph
P. YOU ARE GETTING FREQUENT SPOT FIRES OVER YOUR LINE.
1. Live fuels have a higher moisture content than dead fuels. Spot fires are most likely to occur in dead fuels with low moisture content.
2. This is an indication that fire conditions and weather are changing.
3. Do not become trapped between two fires.
4. Be alert to what is happening around you.
5. Inform fireline supervisor of this change in conditions
Q. YOU ARE AWAY FROM A BURNED AREA WHERE TERRAIN AND/OR COVER MAKES TRAVEL TO SAFETY ZONES DIFFICULT AND SLOW.
1. Maintain at least 10' interval while walking or working.
2. Know where the fire is at all times, in relation to your location.
3. Know where you are going.
4. Stay as close to the burn as possible.
INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

5. Be alert for rolling rock and fuels. Warn others below if something starts rolling downhill. Make sure you have secure footing on steep slopes.
6. In dense fuels cut your way through, even if nothing more than a walking path wide enough for others to follow and widen as necessary.
R. YOU FEEL LIKE TAKING A NAP NEAR THE FIRE LINE.
1. Sleep in shifts if necessary.
2. Sleep as a group and only with permission from your fire line supervisor.
3. Do not wander off from crew, stay together.
4. Never sleep in the green; always in the burn.
5. Post a lookout to stay awake and protect crew members from fire.

III. LCES - LOOKOUTS, COMMUNICATION, ESCAPE ROUTES AND SAFETY ZONES. THIS IS A SIMPLE SYSTEM INCORPORATING THE ESSENTIAL ITEMS OF THE 10 STANDARD FIREFIGHTING ORDERS A. LOOKOUTS
1. Train lookouts to observe the wildland fire environment and to recognize and anticipate fire behavior changes and other risks and hazards
2. It is critical that lookouts can see firefighters, risks and hazards
3. Lookouts must understand weather and fire behavior and know when to announce the alert
4. Lookouts must understand how assignment relates to overall task and LCES
5. Position and formally assign lookout(s) where both the hazard and the firefighters can be seen. The determination of how many lookouts to utilize should factor:
a) Terrain
b) Fuel type/loading/size
c) Fire size d) Behavior e )Weather f) Crew location
g) Changes in crew location during the shift
h) Length of anticipated line and its location
i) Number of crews
j) Types of hazards
6. Every firefighter has the authority and responsibility to warn others of threats to safety
7. Remember! Lookouts don’t stop at the fireline. They include:
a. Weather forecaster
b. Anticipated changes included in the I.A.P
c. Observations from adjoining forces

INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

B. COMMUNICATIONS
1. Face to face is:
a. Best and most common method
b. Used to deliver pertinent messages among crew members
2. Ensure that the lookout(s) being utilized have communication with those whom they are to warn.
3. The communications must be fail safe and occur in a timely manner so the crew(s) can utilize there escape routes(s) or modify work location
4. Ensure communication up and down chain of command and with adjoining forces
5. Check the communications for effectiveness before deploying ground forces
a. Set and test the radio frequency to be used
b. Update and provide additional frequencies as needed throughout the shift
c.
It is paramount that every firefighter receive the correct message in a timely manner
6. Check communications again once lookouts and firefighters are in place
7. Continued communication about safety during the shift must occur
a. This only takes a few seconds and it is time well spent
8. Remember! Timely communications are critical for ensuring a safe operation
C. ESCAPE ROUTES
1. Establish escape routes prior to deployment of ground forces
2. Always have at least two escape routes
3. Continually update escape routes as the fire dynamics and crew location changes
a. This is probably the most elusive component of LCES. The effectiveness changes continuously
b. As a firefighter works along the fire perimeter, fatigue and spatial separation increases the time required to reach the safety zone
4. The most common escape route is the fireline
5. Crews usually have the most difficult escape routes
a. It is very important to constantly be aware of the difficulty for a crew to escape
b. Communications of adjustments and additions of escape routes for crews is critical
6. When Establishing escape routes, ensure the routes will facilitate the arrival of crews to safety zones I a timely
manner
7. Once escape routes have been established communicate location(s) to everyone who might need to use them
a. Specific color flagging identified as escape route marking
b. Flagging marked “escape route” should be used to identify escape routes
INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

8. Night time operations may need special identification
a. Scouting of escape route
b. Distance perception may be skewed at night
9. There is a time to run in the fire service
a. Run early, run hard, and run fast enough to ensure your safety route is viable and to beat the encroaching fire
b. Utilize the best available escape route
c. If you are utilizing an escape route, use the Air Attack to help you!
d. Do not be afraid to drop equipment, packs, and tools when it is time to run!
e. If packs are discarded, keep your shelter
f. If you are not going to make the safety zone, find the best available deployment site and deploy
10. Use vehicles to expedite escape routes
11. Fire line supervisors should be very specific when giving directives to mark escape routes and build safety zones
D. SAFETY ZONES
1. Safety = Freedom from danger, risk, or injury
2. Zone = An Area, region, or division distinguished from adjacent parts by a distinctive feature or character
3. Island = Safety areas progressively built during line construction by handcrews and dozers
4. Safety Zone = An area distinguished by characteristics that provide freedom from danger, risk, or injury
a. Not a shelter deployment site
b. A location where firefighters may find safe refuge from danger.
c. Should be conceptualized and planned as a location where no shelter is needed
5. The use of safety zones is not intended for the firefighter to hesitate to deploy their shelter if needed or the use of a vehicle as a refuge
a. When using a shelter one can equate it to a Peace Officer using "Deadly Force”
1) Use of a gun is the last option but when they pull their gun the intent is to use deadly force
2) The same concept applies to shelters when the firefighter pulls the shelter as a last choice
b. If a shelter is deployed the location is not a true safety zone
c. Use vehicles as a refuge if appropriate, when the encroaching fire blocks the escape route to the safety zone
6. When choosing a safety zone consider
a. Flame length is the major factor

INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

1) Firefighters must generally know average flame length and judge the needed size for Safety Zone based on this knowledge
2) They must be large enough to accommodate all crews in the area in case of burn over
b. Natural and human made barriers
c. Time needed to utilize escape routes to the safety zone
d. The changing dynamics of current and expected fire behavior.
e. Updating and/or adding safety zones to ensure the viability
7. Remember that , depending on the fire environment, structures can be safety zones
E. AWARENESS OF THE FOUR COMPONENTS: LOOKOUTS, COMMUNICATION, ESCAPE ROUTES, AND SAFETY ZONES MUST BECOME A PART OF DAILY TRAINING SESSIONS
1. We will respond to and perform on emergency incidents exactly the way we train
2. Training sessions must occur in similar environments as to those faced on emergency incidents
3. If lookouts, communications, escape routes, and safety zones become part of the daily routine it will become a part of the incident and not an after thought
4. Everyone is responsible for lookouts, communications, escape routes and safety zones
5. Try to remember Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones in this manner and not complicate the system
a. Acronyms are nice but they create one more step to remembering the all too many items on the ever increasing safety lists
b. One of the attractive features of this system is the simplicity and the incorporation of the essential elements of the 10 standard firefighting orders
c. Keep it simple but make it safe
6. Continue to train on and monitor all safety practices.
a. The process of utilizing lookouts, communications, escape routes, and safety zones is not intended to replace other safety lists
b. Continue to monitor the fire orders, situations which shout "watch out", and downhill fire line construction safety lists
c. Utilize personal protective equipment properly

INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

SUMMARY: There are numerous situations which you may find yourself in that could jeopardize your safety and that of your crew. Remembering and understanding the "10 Standard Firefighting Orders" may extricate you from a bad situation. If you pay attention to the 18 Fire Situations that Shout "Watch Out", you will be better prepared to make correct decisions should an emergency condition arise.

The common thread between all fire fatalities and near misses in the past twenty years is lack of or inadequate lookouts, communications escape routes and safety zones. All four of these components with all of their factors must be present in order to provide a safe working environment.

EVALUATION: A written or oral quiz

ASSIGNMENT: To be determined by instructor(s)