Firefighter Safety

Wildland firefighters are taught to always consider safety first when combating a wildfire. Loss of life while fighting a wildfire is simply unacceptable, no matter how valuable the resources under protection or at risk (Omi, In Press).  Even seasoned veterans can benefit from review and reinforcement of the principles underlying safety standards, especially when confronted with fires of increasing complexity and risk.  Firefighters should know the proper way to use hand tools for using Chopping Tool Safety Guidelines and Grubbing Tool Safety Guidelines.  Risks to firefighters can also be reduced by wearing protective clothing and carrying proper, up-to-date gear.

All new firefighters learn the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders and the 18 Watch Out Situations while working on the fireline.  The 10 Standard Firefighting Orders were developed in 1957 by a task force established to prevent firefighter injuries and fatalities, following the Inaja fire in southern California where 11 firefighters were killed. The 18 Watch Out Situations were identified shortly after that incident to specify the traits of extremely hazardous situations. The 10 Standard Firefighting Orders are non-negotiable requirements for conducting safe firefighting operations, linking overhead expectations to the rights of fire crew to be given safe assignments on an ongoing fire incident.  Strict adherence to the orders should ensure public safety as well.

Over time the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders and 18 Watch Out Situations have become widely accepted to be followed at all times on all incidents. The orders are firm—not to be broken or relaxed under any circumstances. In fact, the 10 orders are invoked when investigators seek to assign causal factors to fatalities or accidents on fires. The 18 Watch Out Situations point out circumstances historically associated with firefighter fatalities and injuries.

Surprisingly many mishaps occur on smaller fires or on isolated portions of larger fires. Tragedy fires commonly occur on fires that are innocent in appearance prior to flare-ups or blow-ups, even on mop-up stages of some fires. Other common denominators include flare-ups in deceptively light fuels, fire runs on steep slopes with chimney canyons, fires fanned by helicopter rotor washes or blasts of air associated with air tankers (Wilson 1977). Sadly, recent death and injuries (as well as near-misses) recur with disturbing regularity despite documentation of the dangers and necessary precautions.

Fatalities and mishaps can usually be traced to violations in one or more of the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders, or failure to pay sufficient attention to at least one of the 18 Watch Out Situations. Usually fatalities involve multiple infractions. Even so, firefighters may sometimes develop a false sense of security when infractions repeatedly occur without undesirable consequences. Tragic problems occur whenever firefighters do not put safety first and are caught unaware by sudden changes in the fire’s behavior. Breakdowns in communication are another common culprit when fatalities or injuries occur.