Forest Fires & Fire Scene Safety
Whether you are on a dedicated woodland fire crew or IC for a structural firefighting team that also deals with forest fires from time to time, fire scene safety is crucial. At American Trademark, we have put together some wildfire safety tips to help keep your emergency personnel safe.
Wildland Fire Hazards
Being unaware of the unique hazards surrounding forest fires not only puts you at a disadvantage tactically but can put your team in real danger. It’s best to treat each woodland fire call like brand new territory. Put your best efforts into preventing fire scene accidents or, worst case scenario, a line of duty death (LODD).
Basic wildland fire safety always includes awareness. Effective fire suppression operations during a forest fire should incorporate preparation for the following elements.
- Unburned Fuel Sources: Grass, Weeds & Brush
- Unfamiliar Terrain & Difficult Vegetation
- Venomous Reptiles & Insects: Snakes, Lizards, Spiders, Scorpions & Bees
- Toxic Smoke From Poisonous Plants: Ivy, Oak, Sumac
- Snags & Dead Tree Limbs aka “Widow Makers”
- Unkept Road Conditions
- Fleeing Animals
Fire Scene Safety Tips For Forest Fire Crews
From wildlife to unpredictable shifts in a fire’s direction, forest fires present many safety challenges for first responders. Wasps and hornets, suddenly falling trees, and hard to get to points of safety can all be hazardous. Here are a few tips to help you out.
- Keep an emergency reserve of water in the pumper on scenes without a supply.
- Determine safety zones and escape routes for people and vehicles.
- Be sure the instructions are clear and understood by everyone.
- Always put life safety over aggressive suppression.
- Establish lookouts as soon as possible.
- Issue and wear proper forest fire gear.
- Establish scouts to size up the fire.
- Keep communication current.
- Track the weather.
Unsure About What’s Next? Check In With IC.
Is the weather changing? Where is the fire heading now? As you can see, forest fire safety for firefighters depends on gathering, relaying, and updating information constantly. Found a beehive? Tape it off and report it. IC will make sure everyone knows.
Tracking Firefighters In A Wildfire
Forest fires can make a sudden run towards your fireline or fuel break crew, winds change, and falling debris can cut off an escape point. In these instances, communication can be life and death.
Nighttime operations, long fights, and increasingly dry, hot weather can all take their toll on a fire scene. Knowing where everyone is, who needs a break and making sure hazards are being marked and avoided while escape routes are updated are all essential.
At American Trademark, we can help make your wildland firefight a safe, effective and successful one.
Accountability For Better Fireground Safety
Keep track of your people and apparatus for increased fireground safety. Our firefighter tracking products include accountability tags, clips, systems, and passport type gear. These simple to use fire crew safety devices cannot be underestimated on a forest firefight.
Fire Scene Safety Products
We also carry a wide range of incident command boards and systems that make it easy to collect, track, and communicate vital information in an instant. Warn crew about approaching air suppression efforts which can fan the flames of a fire. Be sure that anyone without proper wildland PPE is taking breaks and that everyone is staying hydrated.
Get Help With Forest Fire Firefighter Safety
We invite you to contact us at American Trademark today. See how our accountability and incident command products can be customized to help you with fire scene safety during a forest fire.
Related Posts
The importance of firefighter accountability tags cannot be overstated in the realms of fire...
Firefighting is a challenging profession where every second matters and can be the difference...
Firefighter equipment markers have a crucial role in ensuring fire services' safety and efficiency....
Ensuring firefighter safety amidst the challenges posed by electrical fires is a paramount concern...
Ensuring firefighter safety in high-risk industrial settings requires strict adherence to safety protocols and...
In the dynamic and demanding world of emergency response, every second counts. It's essential...
As the popularity of food trucks continues to grow, first responders need to have...
Incident command places immense pressure on your leadership team. Rapid decision-making during an emergency...
When emergencies strike, effective incident command strategies save lives. However, methods employed to manage...
Are you looking to improve your communications when deploying your incident command truck in...
Crew-based accountability is essential for firefighters to do their job successfully, and accountability tags...
While training to send and receive mayday calls is part of every firefighter trainee's...
At American Trade Mark, we know just how grueling but rewarding a career in...
According to statistics from the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, many of...
During one firefighting incident, just five firefighters responded to a call for help about...
Firefighters often arrive first on the scene of not only fires but national disasters...
Every day, firefighters risk their lives to save people and property, which makes implementing...
A building collapse situation has the potential for serious harm to emergency personnel with...
First Responders should have five functional areas set up within their Incident Command Systems...
American Trade Mark wants to ensure that every hero gets home safely, which is...
At American Trade Mark we know firefighters encounter dangerous conditions on a consistent basis,...
When it's time for a firefighter to retire, how do you say thank you...
Learning key emergency management principles and implementing them within your current incident command systems can help...
Desperate criminals and lives on the line—no one wants to be on the front...
First responders go all out for their communities daily, without any thought of recognition,...
American Trade Mark provides mobile incident command systems to emergency responders nationwide. For EMS...
Locate victims while keeping your first responders as safe as possible with ICS for...
Motor vehicle accidents happen every day. In order to protect first responders like firefighters,...
Police incident command is essential for ensuring the safety of officers and the public....
EMS and paramedics are often the first lines of help on an emergency scene....
Our police officers and other law enforcement personnel often don’t have the luxury of...
COVID-19 has impacted our communities in every way. Surprisingly, however, despite warnings to distance...
During a time of mask-wearing and social distancing are firefighters really at risk? After...
Hotel and resort fires are unique because of the sheer size, height, and number...
Share information quickly and clearly in an emergency. Efficient resource allocation, firefighter safety, and...
Tracking first responders in hoarder home fires is crucial for safety, and at American...
Firefighters put their lives on the line day in and day out, year after...
Bolster your current wildfire fireground communications with incident command systems and tools from American...
At American Trade Mark, we manufacture and distribute custom products and accessories to compliment...
At American Trade Mark, we offer incident command boards for departments of all sizes...
Get, communicate with, and track the people and information you need during your next...
Ensuring effective fireground communications for both firefighters and incident command with strategic planning and...
American Trade Mark is committed to helping keep our first responders nationwide safe and...
Improve fireground communication and firefighter safety with fire department communication tips for bad weather...
At American Trade Mark, we understand that the incident commander and incident safety officer...
Track departments and communicate more efficiently with tools for coordinating emergency response from American...
American Trade Mark knows what it means to develop strategies for EMS safety. Our...
As fires in the wildland-urban interface continue to rise, so do the demands on...
Limit chemical exposure hazards in your firefighters with accountability tags from American Trade Mark....
Improve your firefighter safety and survival rates with these nine tips from American Trade...
Face the uniquely difficult set of challenges involved in high rise firefighter safety with...
We want to help incident commanders find ways to reduce firefighter stress with tips...
As a nationwide provider of firefighter accountability and incident command equipment, American Trade Mark...
Before diving head first into the latest and perceived greatest, at American Trade Mark,...
Incident command and firefighter safety have come a long way since Benjamin Franklin’s 1736...
Don’t get caught off guard on your next emergency response call. At American Trade...
At American Trademark we've put together some high-stress fireground communication tips for when your...
At American Trademark, we understand that to run an effective emergency response team it...
During a time when first responders are being asked to be prepared for more...
Count on EMS command boards from American Trade Mark to promote safety and accountability...
If you're wondering how to keep firefighters safe during defensive firefighting, count on the...
At American Trade Mark, we serve nationwide as a leading manufacturer of wildland fire...
At American Trademark, we want to help you with risk management and firefighter injury...
At American Trademark, we've put together a list of useful tips for accountability officers....
At American Trade Mark Co. our priority is helping you stay safe from common...
At American Trademark, we want to make sure that you are aware of how...
At American Trade Mark, all of our products are made with the safety of...
At American Trade Mark, we can create custom fire department plaques to honor any...
When you’re a firefighter, everyone looks out for everyone else by wearing ID tags—and...
The most important job of the Incident Commander is firefighter scene safety. Communication, organization,...
Equipment accountability is important for first responders which is why American Trade Mark offers accountability...
At American Trade Mark, our magnetic and dry erase command boards can streamline and...
At American Trade Mark, we offer law enforcement incident command boards for police and...
Custom reflective stickers for fire departments are necessary to quickly indicate to crews, safety...
To meet the needs of your specific fire department, at American Trade Mark we...
American Trade Mark specializes in the manufacturing of first responder scene safety products and...
As an industry leader in products dedicated to fire personnel tracking and accountability plan...
At American Trade Mark, we offer an effective range of accountability products geared towards...
American Trade Mark offers custom imprinting for firefighters and other emergency medical services. We’ve...
American Trade Mark offers a way to honor first responders with custom member cards....
American Trade Mark has custom license plates for all types of emergency services. No...
Here at American Trade Mark, we understand that choosing the right command board for...
American Trade Mark provides multiple custom engraving and color options for our accountability tags....
American Trade Mark Co. is a well-known leader in the firefighter accountability system field...
Safeguard your firefighters with a Velcro accountability board offered by American Trade Mark. This...
Explore custom firefighter accountability tags by American Trade Mark Co. The site of a...
If your department is looking for additional funding to ensure your firefighters have all...
American Trade Mark is a leader in firefighter passport accountability systems (PAS) and supporting...
At American Trade Mark we understand the importance of using quality labels for firefighter...
At American Trade Mark, we serve communities by making it possible to keep track...
Enhance your fire department’s personnel accountability system with American Trade Mark Co. accountability tag...
Firefighter tracking systems are a vital part of first responder safety. They help Incident...
Having robust Incident Command Systems saves firefighters’ and EMTs’ lives by promoting personnel accountability...
Protect your firefighters with American Trade Mark Co. custom firefighter accountability tags. Our personnel...
Firefighter status boards are an essential part of managing successful fire ground operations. American...
American Trade Mark Co. is a leading manufacturer of firefighter equipment marker decals. Firefighter...