Section 2 - Fire Entrapment Survival

1. Section 2 - Fire Entrapment Survival Fire entrapment — fireline personnel are threatened by a sudden change in fire conditions and are unable to use escape routes to access safety zones — is a life- threatening situation. During a fire entrapment incident, fireline personnel must utilize ‘last resort’ tactics such as emergency escape or fire entrapment survival action. Text Page: 11

2. Emergency Escape — Move to Safety Fast In a potential entrapment decide whether or not escape to your safety zone seems possible. Consider fire behavior and the availability of an open escape route. Text Page: 11

3. Emergency Escape — Move to Safety Fast Supervisors will recognize when a potential entrapment situation requires emergency escape efforts. Follow orders. If you are not part of a crew, or have become separated from it, you must rely on your own judgment. Text Page: 11

4. Emergency Escape — Move to Safety Fast Emergency escape requires fireline personnel to drop packs and tools and run along the escape route to the safety zone as fast as possible. Text Page: 11

5. Escape Route Travel Rate Research -Firefighter travel rates over escape routes vary significantly. -Traveling uphill decreases firefighter travel rates. -Use of ‘improved’ escape routes can increase firefighter travel rates by up to 40%. -Dropping packs and tools can increase firefighter travel rates by up to 20%. Text Page: 11

6. Escape Route Travel Rate Research Summary -Fireline personnel using an improved escape route and dropping packs and tools can travel up to two times faster than if they attempted to travel over an unmarked/unimproved route with their pack and tool. -Precious seconds gained by these actions could mean the difference between life and death on the fireline. Text Page: 11

7. Emergency Escape – Airway Protection -During emergency escape – fireline personnel may find their escape route blocked by smoke and flames. -If the fire intensity is moderate enough - fireline personnel can quickly run through and access the safety zone. Airway protection is critical ‑ one breath of hot, toxic gases can fatally burn a firefighters lungs and airway. Text Page: 11

8. Survival Zones & Fire Entrapment Survival Action -A survival zone is an area where fireline personnel can avoid flame contact and prolonged exposure to heat + smoke. -Use of fire entrapment survival action will be important to avoid injury while sheltering in a survival zone. Text Page: 12

9. Survival Zones & Fire Entrapment Survival Action -Survival zones cannot be considered a safety zone due to smaller size or other factors. -Examples include previously burned areas, rock-slides, road beds, clearings, knobs, ridges, benches, cat guards, wet areas and cleared areas in light or deciduous fuels. -Supervisors may decide to burn out survival zones and adjacent fuels prior to flame front approach and may order retardant or water drops on the area around the survival zone. Text Page: 12

10. Survival Zones & Airway Protection -Personal protective equipment worn by fireline personnel provides important protection from radiant heat. All fire entrapment survival actions prioritize lung and airway protection while attempting to minimize radiant heat and smoke exposure. Text Page: 12

11. Fire Entrapment Survival Action -Maintain a low profile. -Shelter yourself in a large area that is light or free of fuels. -Find a fuel-free depression or trench, behind a rock or dirt pile. -Watch for flames that can ‘wrap’ around the sides of objects. -Protect yourself with clothing. -Lie flat, facedown, parallel to the flame front. Text Page: 12

12. Fire Entrapment Survival Action -Keep face down and protect your airway by taking shallow breaths close to the ground -Curl arms and hands around head and ears. -With your hands dig a depression to make a well for breathing. -Cover yourself with dirt if possible. -Wet clothing if possible. -Do not wear synthetic packs or materials. Text Page: 12

13. Fire Entrapment Survival - Key Points -Escape routes and travel times to safety and survival zones must be known by all fireline personnel. -If faced with potential fire entrapment ‑ decide whether or not escape seems possible ‑ if escape is doubtful drop your pack and tools and run as fast as possible towards the safety zone. -If fire entrapment appears likely ‑ stay calm and don’t panic – attempt to shelter in a survival zone – stay low, flat on the ground and protect your airway at all costs. Text Page: 12

14. Vehicle Entrapments -If you are forced to retreat from the fire and cannot access your safety zones, consider (as a last resort) taking refuge in your vehicle. -If you are in a good location ‑ stay put ‑ don’t risk a worse entrapment situation by driving through smoke and heavy roadside fuels. Text Page: 13

15. Vehicle Entrapments If you are not in a good location ‑ keep moving. -Look for a place where the fire is less intense, avoid saddles or draws and areas of heavy fuels below the road. -Look for rock outcroppings, ridges, or wide spots in the road ‑ park behind a natural barrier or structure. -Do not park on the downhill side of road, under power lines or over-hanging vegetation. -Position vehicle for maximum protection from approaching flame front. Burn off around vehicle if there is time. Text Page: 13

16. Vehicle Entrapments -If you are forced to stop and are in a fire entrapment situation: -Advise immediate supervisor of the situation. -Request retardant drops on surrounding fuels. -Keep the pump running and use engine protection line to deploy a fog pattern over the cab. -Maintain control of your people. -Keep calm and maintain communications. Text Page: 13

17. Vehicle Entrapments Research has discovered that: -If fuels are light, survival chances inside a vehicle are fair. -If fuels are heavy, survival chances inside a vehicle are poor. -Large volumes of smoke seep into the vehicle cab, even when windows are tightly rolled up. -Cab interior may melt and give off toxic gases. -Fireline personnel without respiratory protection will be forced to leave the cab. Text Page: 13

18. Vehicle Entrapments – Key Points -If unable to drive out of the entrapment area — stop. -Avoid draws, areas of heavy fuel below the road. Look for rock outcroppings, ridges or wide spots in the road. -If fuels are light, survival chances inside a vehicle are fair. -Remain inside the vehicle, stay low and cover up. -If fuels are heavy, survival chances inside a vehicle are poor. -Exit the vehicle. Locate a survival zone and follow fire entrapment survival action training Text Page: 14

19. Heavy Equipment Entrapments Heavy equipment units are often in a good position to survive fire entrapments ─ they can create fuel-free areas that are good safety or survival zones. Heavy Equipment operators should: -Use fire entrapment avoidance safe work procedures -Start escape procedures with any fire entrapment threat - retreat along the fireline to a more favourable site nearby or start clearing a safety zone (survival zone where time is critical). Text Page: 15

20. Heavy Equipment Entrapments -If you are forced to stop and are in a fire entrapment situation: -Advise immediate supervisor of the situation. -Request retardant drops on surrounding fuels. -If water is available deploy a fog pattern over the cab. -Maintain control of your people. -Keep calm and maintain communications. Text Page: 15

21. Heavy Equipment Entrapments -If you are forced to stop and are in a fire entrapment situation: -Use equipment to dig a trench behind the machine. -Park equipment sideways to the flames. -Lower all implements to ground and turn off engine. -The machine will block radiant heat and some flames. -Move into the trench behind the machine away from oncoming flames + follow fire entrapment survival action training. Text Page: 15

22. Heavy Equipment Entrapments – Key Points -During an entrapment, park the machine sideways to the flames and get off. -Lower all implements to the ground and turn off the engine. -The machine will block radiant heat and some flames. -Move to the side of the machine away from oncoming flames and follow fire entrapment survival action training. Text Page: 15

23. Building Entrapments -Fireline personnel may be deployed on a wildland/urban interface fire with structures nearby. Like vehicles, structures can provide protection even if they are later destroyed by fire. -Structures used to protect fireline personnel in entrapments must provide enough protection to warrant use as a temporary barrier. Surrounding fuels, structure size and flammability are all critical factors. Text Page: 16

24. Building Entrapments -If you are forced to stop and are in a fire entrapment situation: -Advise immediate supervisor of the situation. -Request retardant drops on surrounding fuels. -Maintain control of your people. -Keep calm and maintain communications. -If you leave your engine, park it in as safe a place as possible. Text Page: 16

25. Building Entrapments -Move combustible materials (lawn furniture, wood piles, etc.) and vegetation away from structure and propane tank -Shut off gas at source. -Burn out around the structure if appropriate. -Bring handtank pumps, extinguishers and charged hoseline (if available) into structure. -If available, take SCBA into the structure and use as necessary to protect yourself from smoke. Text Page: 16

26. Building Entrapments – (cont.) -Remove light material (curtains) from windows, and cover the windows with heavy materials. -Close all windows, doors, and vents — with the exception of a fireplace vent. -Fill all sinks, bathtubs, and any available buckets with water. -Soak towels, rags, and spare clothes for use later in putting out fires, or to place against exterior door jams. Text Page: 16

27. Building Entrapments – (cont.) -Stay on the ground floor and maintain access to a door or window, on the side of the structure away from advancing flames. Avoid upper floors and basements. -Be prepared to exit quickly in case heat and smoke force you from the structure before the heat dissipates outside. -If forced to exit, move away from the structure and get low to the ground quickly. PROTECTING YOUR AIRWAY IS YOUR PRIMARY CONCERN. Text Page: 16

28. Building Entrapments – Key Points -Structures can protect trapped fireline personnel even if they later burn down. -Remove flammable fuels near structure ─ ‘fireproof’ building as much as possible. -Be prepared to exit structure if forced to by heat and smoke and follow fire entrapment survival action training. Text Page: 16