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Presentation Training Objectives
•Review wildland firefighter fatalities
•Understand 10 wildland firefighting standing orders
•Understand 18 wildland watchout situations
•Review L.A.C.E.S. principle
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Images used under Fair Use Commons – Public Safety Training
19 Firefighters Killed – June 30th, 2013
Nineteen members of the Granite Mountain
Hotshots lost their lives battling the Yarnell Fire
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Images used under Fair Use Commons – Public Safety Training
19 Firefighters Killed – June 30th, 2013
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19 Firefighters Killed – June 30th, 2013
Granite Mountain Hot Shot Team
Andrew Ashcraft, 29
Robert Caldwell, 23
Travis Carter, 31
Dustin Deford, 24
Christopher MacKenzie, 30
Eric Marsh, 43
Grant McKee, 21
Sean Misner, 26
Scott Norris, 28
Wade Parker, 22
John Percin, 24
Anthony Rose, 23
Jesse Steed, 36
Joe Thurston, 32
Travis Turbyfill, 27
William Warneke, 25
Clayton Whitted, 28
Kevin Woyjeck, 21
Garret Zuppiger, 27
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19 Firefighters Killed – June 30th, 2013
The 19 members of the
Granite Mountain
Hotshots lost on June 30th
were also structural
firefighters. These 19 men
were members of the
Prescott AZ Fire
Department. These 19
men represented over
20% of the PFD.
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Other Fatal Wildfires
FIRE:
YEAR:
DEATHS:
South Fork Fire - Idaho
2003
8 Firefighters
Hayman Fire – Colorado
2002
5 Firefighters
Storm King Mountain – CO 1994
14 Firefighters
Loop Fire – California
1966
12 Firefighters
Inaja Fire – California
1956
11 Firefighters
These are just a few examples of large loss fires for firefighters.
There are many more examples.
Each underscores the importance of our training.
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Addressing Dangerous Mindsets:
The large dangerous fires only happen out
West. I’m an East Coast firefighter. That can’t
happen to me.
Those were all wildland firefighters. I am a
structural firefighter. That can’t happen to
me.
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Firefighter Fatalities at Wildfires:
NIOSH Report Number:
F2011-09
Volunteer fire
fighter dies and 5
volunteer fire
fighters are injured
during wildland
urban interface fire
in Texas.
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April 15th, 2011
Attack 5 was overrun by the fire
crossing CR323 from east to west..
(Photo courtesy of the Texas Forest
Service.)
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Firefighter Fatalities at Wildfires:
NIOSH Report Number:
F2006-10
On March 1, 2006, a
volunteer fire fighter (the
victim) was critically injured
and another volunteer fire
fighter was seriously injured
while fighting a
wildland/urban interface
fire in Oklahoma.
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March 1, 2006
The fire burned over their position,
destroying the grass truck, critically
injuring the victim, and seriously
injuring the fire fighter
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Firefighter Fatalities at Wildfires:
NIOSH Report Number:
F2003-36
On October 29, 2003, a
38-year-old male
career fire fighter (the
victim) was killed and a
48-year-old male
career Captain was
severely injured when
fire overran their
position.
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October 29, 2003
The incident occurred during the
protection of a residential structure
during a wildland fire operation
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Firefighter Fatalities at Wildfires:
NIOSH Report Number:
99-F14
Two Volunteer Fire
Fighters Die While
Fighting a Wildland
Fire – Kentucky.
The firefighters
died trying to
outrun the fire.
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April 06, 1999
As the fire grew in intensity and spot
fires continued to break over the fire
line, the two victims became
separated from the rest of the crew.
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Addressing Dangerous Mindsets:
Operating in the Urban Interface
presents other unique challenges
that can kill or injure firefighters.
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Firefighter Fatalities at Wildfires:
NIOSH Report Number:
F2010-15
Volunteer Fire
Chief Killed When
Rubber-Tracked
Vehicle Overturns
at Brush Fire –
Washington
7/2/2013
June 23, 2010
The vehicle rolled at least 3 times
before coming to rest on the driver’s
side, facing west, pinning the Fire
Chief beneath the vehicle’s canopy.
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Firefighter Fatalities at Wildfires:
NIOSH Report Number:
F2008-14
Volunteer Fire Chief
and Fire Fighter Killed
when their Engine
plummeted from a
Fire-Damaged
Wooden Bridge Into a
Dry Creek Bed –
Colorado
7/2/2013
April 15, 2008
Key contributing factors identified in
this investigation include: excessive
speed for reduced visibility/smoke
conditions
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Firefighter Fatalities at Wildfires:
NIOSH Report Number:
F2000-25
A volunteer fire
fighter died and a
second was
seriously injured
after fuel tank
explosion in Iowa.
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April 07, 2000
The incident occurred at a grass fire
that spread to structures.
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Firefighter Fatalities at Wildfires:
NIOSH Report Number:
99-F46
Fire fighter dies
after coming into
contact with a
downed power line
at a wildfire Arkansas.
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November 3, 1999
The victim was stomping out embers
in the smoldering brush when he was
electrocuted by a downed power line.
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Addressing Dangerous Mindsets:
Dangers to structural firefighters responding to and battling
wildfires are real!
These dangers include far more than the
threat of burnover:
Power Lines, Structural Collapse, Vehicle
Accidents and more…
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Addressing Dangerous Mindsets:
In Florida and other areas of high heat, heat stroke and heat
exhaustion are very real threats.
Especially if firefighters are wearing
structural gear at wildland incidents.
There are numerous LODD events involving heat stroke of
firefighters at various types of incidents.
This threat is very real for wildfires.
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Addressing Dangerous Mindsets:
It can happen to structural firefighters!
It can happen in any part of the country!
It can happen to any of us!
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Protecting Ourselves
and Being Safe
10 Standard Fire Orders
18 Watchout Situations
L.A.C.E.S.
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10 Standard Fire Orders
The original ten Standard Firefighting Orders were
developed in 1957 by a task force. The Standard Firefighting
Orders were based in part on the successful "General Orders"
used by the United States Armed Forces. The Standard
Firefighting Orders are organized in a deliberate and
sequential way to be implemented systematically and
applied to ALL fire situations.
-US Forest Service
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10 Standard Fire Orders
1) Keep informed on fire weather
conditions and forecasts.
During your initial briefing fire weather should be addressed.
If it is not, ASK! Remain alert of weather conditions and
changes in forecast during fire operations.
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10 Standard Fire Orders
2) Know what your fire is doing at all times.
Be aware of fire conditions. Remain alert to how the fire is
burning and where it is burning.
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10 Standard Fire Orders
3) Base all actions on current and expected
behavior of the fire.
Recognize fuels and anticipate fire changes. Be prepared for
weather changes that may change fire behavior.
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10 Standard Fire Orders
4) Identify escape routes and safety zones
and make them known.
During your crew briefing safe zones and escape routes
should be identified. In the urban interface this could
include previously burnt areas, large parking lots, bodies
of water, and even swimming pools. If safe zones and
escape routes are not identified, ASK!
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10 Standard Fire Orders
5) Post lookouts when there is possible
danger.
Lookouts can help recognize fire changes and alert crews.
For structural crews operating in the urban interface
buildings and other obstructions often prevent
firefighters from seeing the fire. In addition, lookouts can
help firefighters be alert for other hazards such as power
lines.
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10 Standard Fire Orders
6) Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act
decisively.
It is critical to remain calm, identify threats, and respond
accordingly. We must be thinking firefighters not heroes
that blindly charge in.
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10 Standard Fire Orders
7) Maintain prompt communications with
your forces, your supervisor, and adjoining
forces.
Communication is critical. Respond immediately to
messages, speak clearly, and report changes or hazards
you observe.
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10 Standard Fire Orders
8) Give clear instructions and insure they are
understood.
Ensure all messages are understood. When receiving
messages, briefly repeat your orders back to confirm you
correctly understood.
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10 Standard Fire Orders
9) Maintain control of your forces at all times.
In structural firefighting we would not separate a two person
crew to search two floors of a building. In wildfires, follow
the same crew integrity rules. We leave the asphalt
together. We return to the asphalt together.
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10 Standard Fire Orders
10) Fight fire aggressively, having provided
for safety first.
Remember to evaluate the risk vs. gain. PROVIDE FOR
SAFETY ABOVE ALL ELSE!!!
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18 Watchouts Situations
Shortly after the Standard Firefighting Orders were incorporated into
firefighter training, the 18 Situations That Shout “Watch Out!” were
developed. These 18 situations are more specific and cautionary than the
Standard Fire Orders and describe situations that expand the 10 points of
the Fire Orders.
If firefighters follow the Standard Firefighting Orders and
are alerted to the 18 Watch Out Situations, much of the
risk of firefighting can be reduced.
-US Forest Service
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18 Watchouts Situations
1 - Fire not scouted and sized up.
2 - In country not seen in daylight.
3 - Safety zones and escape routes not
identified.
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18 Watchouts Situations
4 - Unfamiliar with weather and local
factors influencing fire behavior.
5- Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and
hazards.
6 - Instructions and assignments not clear.
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18 Watchouts Situations
7 - No communication link with
crewmembers/supervisors.
8 - Constructing line without safe anchor
point.
9 - Building fireline downhill with fire
below.
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18 Watchouts Situations
10 - Attempting frontal assault on fire.
11 - Unburned fuel between you and the
fire.
12 - Cannot see main fire, not in contact
with anyone who can.
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18 Watchouts Situations
13 - On a hillside where rolling material can
ignite fuel below.
14 - Weather is getting hotter and drier.
15 - Wind increases and/or changes
direction.
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18 Watchouts Situations
16 - Getting frequent spot fires across line.
17 - Terrain and fuels make escape to safety
zones difficult.
18 - Taking a nap near the fire line.
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Together these are the 10 & 18
If firefighters follow the Standard
Firefighting Orders and are alerted to the
18 Watch Out Situations, much of the risk
of firefighting can be reduced.
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Together these are the 10 & 18
It is not easy to remember the 10 & 18.
The 10 & 18 should be reviewed often.
To help condense the 10 & 18 use LACES.
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L.A.C.E.S.
LACES was established to consolidate
down to five. The theory was the belief that
under stressful circumstances human
beings could only remember four to six key
fundamental learned behaviors.
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L.A.C.E.S.
L - LOOKOUTS
A - ANCHOR POINTS
C – COMMUNICATIONS
E – ESCAPE ROUTES
S – SAFETY ZONES
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L.A.C.E.S.
L) LOOKOUTS:
A competent and trusted person located in an advantageous position who has
the responsibility of watching for potential fire problems and then
relating the situation to the their supervisor. In mountain terrain, that
could be one person situated on an opposite slope and watching for an
uphill run. Other lookout sources that can be used are: aircraft pilots, fire
tower operators or possibly one person on a crew assigned the job of
watching a specific hazard.
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L.A.C.E.S.
A) ANCHOR POINTS
An advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire spread, from which to start
building a fire break or line. If done properly this will prohibit fire from
establishing itself on the other side of an unsuspecting crew who could
end up being surrounded with little chance for escape. An example of an
anchor point could be a river, road, location without fuels or using a
second crew to produce line in the opposite direction.
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L.A.C.E.S.
C) Communications
Can be provided in several forms: Face to Face, written Incident Action Plan,
Briefing sessions, use of a Radio or Cell phone (if available). Crews are
dependent on a variety of people to help ensure their safety because
they will be concentrating on their job and may not be able to spot fire
problems until too late. Information must be communicated to everyone
concerned with the intent that it is known before an incident can occur.
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L.A.C.E.S.
E) Escape Routes
A pre-determined route that can be used by anyone in the event that fire
begins an unexpected run that will jeopardize the safety of crews or
anyone else on the fire line. The escape route will take everyone to
another pre-determined location (safety zone). Some consideration
when establishing the escape route: should be able to walk it, should be
marked (flagging tape), should be timed, should be away from the head
of the fire, should be known to all, should be scouted.
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L.A.C.E.S.
S) Safety Zones
Safety zones where a firefighter may find refuge from danger. Clean sites that
are clear of vegetation (natural or man-made). Considerations when
establishing a site are: How long will it take to get there? Is it large
enough for everyone? Will fire behavior (intensity) adversely effect
occupants? Are there any other hazards (snags, rolling rocks)? Does
everyone know where they are?
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L.A.C.E.S.
L - LOOKOUTS
A - ANCHOR POINTS
C – COMMUNICATIONS
E – ESCAPE ROUTES
S – SAFETY ZONES
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L.A.C.E.S.
Remember LACES
on every fire!
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Together these are the 10 & 18
LACES should be committed to memory
and used at all fires.
In addition the 10 & 18 should be reviewed
often.
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Stay Safe
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