Bushfire Flashcards
Explain LACES
QFES staff and volunteers will ensure that the safety system using; Lookouts, Awareness, Communication, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones (LACES) will be put in place before commencing any bushfire operations.
LOOKOUTS
* Know where the fire is, the current and expected fire behaviour and the direction of spread.
* Knowledge of crew location.
* Lookouts to be positioned so that the fire can be seen.
Awareness
* seeing what is happening around the firefighter, understanding what it means and what is going to possibly happen if actions are taken or not
Communications
* Set up communications system (e.g., radio, voice or both) by which the lookout warns firefighters promptly and clearly of approaching threat and it is paramount that every firefighter receives the correct message in a timely manner.
* In emergencies using ‘RED RED RED’ radio procedure giving identification, location and situation.
Escape Routes
* Establish at least two escape routes and make them known.
* Re-establish escape routes as their effectiveness decreases.
Safety Zones
* Establish safety zones, i.e., locations where the threatened firefighter may find adequate refuge from the danger and are sufficient in size.
* Fire line intensity, airflow and topographic location determine safety zone effectiveness.
What is a fire control line?
A break or a constructed line where;
The vegetation has been removed by hand, tools or machinery
The vegetation has been significantly saturated so that it cannot be easily ignited
What is a back burn?
a fire started intentionally along the inner edge of a fire control line during fire operations to consume fuel in the path of a bushfire.
What is a burn out?
to intentionally light fires to consume islands of unburnt fuel inside the fire control perimeter to remove fuel, widen the control line and thus stop the progression of the fire.
What are the exemptions to requiring approval for backburning?
Imminent threat to lives, infrastructure, or assets where back burning is the only viable option for crew protection.
* Crews working in remote areas that have no phone or radio connectivity, where the imminent threat prevents those crews from traveling to establish communications to request approval.
Where the approval process for back burning has been exempted, what must occur?
- Direct communication with the landholder or land management agency responsible for the land parcels to be affected.
- Establish communications via phone or radio as soon as practicable to provide SITREP and Options Analysis.
- Maintain a decision log including incident priorities, options analysis, decisions made, and actions taken.
What tool can you use to measure/ map perimeter?
Garmin watch on run
