5035 - Wild (Brush) Fires Flashcards
, Who shall maintain this document.
The TFD Safety Officer, in consultation with the Deputy Chief of Operations
Who shall ensure that the Training Division provides annual instruction to TFD personnel regarding wild (brush) fire behavior and wild (brush) fire strategy and tactics.
The Assistant Chief of Training
All TFD uniform personnel will be responsible for:
- Understanding this policy
- Being able to execute this policy
- Reviewing this policy on an annual basis
What is Mop up Standard.
The 100-foot zone along the control line that is more thoroughly overhauled and extinguished than the area further into the blackened area.
TFD personnel fighting a wild (brush) fire in structural firefighting PPE shall not work more than:
one hour without rotating for rest and rehabilitation (rehab).
Personal Protective Equipment
- TFD personnel shall wear a structural firefighting PPE ensemble while engaged in fighting a wild (brush) fire.
- Structural firefighting PPE may be modified for wild (brush) firefighting situations as follows:
a. A bunker coat may be replaced with a brush shirt when available.
b. Hoods may be removed with IC approval.
c. The liners of bunker coats and pants may be taken out with IC approval.
d. If liners have been removed, that company will not be available for structure fire duty until the liners are replaced.
e. Liners shall be replaced before leaving the scene of the brush fire. - Chain saw use on vegetation requires the wearing of ballistic nylon pads fastened to the trousers.
- All protective clothing worn and protective equipment used by TFD personnel must be issued by TFD.
- All PPE, including brush shirts, will be used, maintained, inspected, and retired in accordance with this policy and pertinent sections of TFD Policy 5016.
Special Instructions for Brush Shirts
1. Marking and Distribution
a. Brush shirts assigned to each unit will be indelibly marked with a unique identification number consisting of unit designation plus a unique number in numerical order (e.g., E10-1, E10-2, E10-3, etc.).
b. Initial distribution is four brush shirts to each engine and ladder company and two brush shirts to each battalion and medic unit.
Storage and Use of brush shirts:
a. Brush shirts should be stored together in the designated bag/container, on the unit, out of direct sunlight. Sunlight and even fluorescent light exposure causes the Nomex to degrade.
b. The brush shirt is designated for wild (brush) firefighting use ONLY. It shall not be used for any other purpose.
c. A 100% natural fiber shirt (e.g., cotton), or blends that are principally natural fibers, should be worn underneath the brush shirt.
Cleaning of brush shirts:
a. Brush shirts soiled with wild (brush) fire smoke, dirt, or perspiration may be cleaned in station clothes washing machines to enable brush shirt to be quickly put back onto units.
b. Brush shirts should be laundered separately from personal non- flame resistant clothing.
c. Wash brush shirts in hot water with a heavy-duty detergent. DO NOT USE BLEACH.
d. Tumble dry on LOW setting. Brush shirts also can be air dried, but DO NOT HANG IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT to avoid Nomex degradation.
e. Brush shirts should be clean and dry before placing them back in their storage bag on the unit.
Inspection of brush shirts:
a. Brush shirts shall be inspected on the shift of the Captain or In- Charge Paramedic shift to coincide with Structural PPE Inspections per TFD Policy 5016.
Use of Apparatus at a brush fire:
- Apparatus should be backed into a site in case quick escape is necessary.
- Apparatus may be used to provide shelter in some situations. 3. There should be no more personnel assigned to an apparatus than there are seats and seatbelts.
Ten Standard Fire Orders
1. TFD personnel shall be aware of the following ten “standard fire orders”:
a. Fight fire aggressively but provide for safety first.
b. Initiate all action based on current and expected fire behavior.
c. Recognize current weather conditions and obtain forecasts.
d. Ensure instructions are given and understood.
e. Obtain current information on fire status.
f. Remain in communication with crew members, your supervisor and adjoining forces.
g. Determine safety zones and escape routes.
h. Establish lookouts in potentially hazardous situations.
i. Retain control at all times.
j. Stay alert, keep calm, think clearly, and act decisively.
“Watch Out” Situations
1. TFD personnel shall be aware of, and avoid, the following “watch out” situations for wild (brush) fires:
a. Fire not scouted and sized up.
b. In country not seen in daylight.
c. Safety zones and escape routes not identified.
d. Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior. e. Uninformed on strategy tactics and hazards.
f. Instructions and assignments not clear.
g. No communication link with crew members or supervisor.
h. Constructing line without safe anchor point.
i. Building fire line downhill with fire below.
j. Attempting frontal assault on fire.
k. Unburned fuel between the crew and the fire.
l. Cannot see main fire, not in contact with someone who can. m. On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below.
n. Weather becoming hotter and drier.
o. Wind increases and/or changes direction.
p. Getting frequent spot fires across line.
q. Terrain and fuels make escape to safety zones difficult.
r. Taking a nap near the fire line.
Tragedy Fires
1. TFD personnel shall be aware of the four common denominators of tragedy fires:
a. Small fires or relatively quiet sectors of large fires
b. Light fuels
c. Steep slopes
d. Change in wind speed and/or direction
The IC shall Consider the circumstances of each incident: 5 assessments to make:
a. Risk analysis
b. Fuel type and size
c. Terrain
d. Weather and time of day
e. Heat stress index
