Wildland Structure Defense Flashcards
S-FACTS
Stands for?
Survival
Fire Enviornment
Access
Construction/Clearence
Time Constraints
Stay or Go?
Survival considerations
S-FACTS
(8)
• Initial Assessment: can you survive here? If not, LEAVE NOW!
• Is there a Safety Zone nearby? If not, LEAVE NOW! (IRPG)
• Do you have a viable Escape Route?
• What is the decision point at which you will leave based on fire behavior and rate of spread?
• Is there a Temporary Refuge Area (TRA) on site? If not, LEAVE NOW!
- Preplanned area for immediate, temporary refuge
– Use of fire shelter should not be necessary
- Is there a viable Escape Route to the TRA or Safety Zone?
• Is “Prep and Go” tactic an option?
• Do you have communications with your supervisor and adjoining forces?
• If safety issues cannot be mitigated, LEAVE NOW!
Fire Environment Considerations
S-FACTS
Can you survive based on current and expected fire behavior? If not, Leave now!
• Look up, Look Down, Look Around Indicators: FF WAT
- Fuels (characteristics, moisture, temperature)
– What will the intensity of the fire be when it arrives?
– How long will it take to consume the fuels?
- Fire Behavior (requires constant monitoring)
– Spotting, crowning, sheeting, rate of spread?
– Flame length and height? - Wind
– Current speed/direction
– Expect changing winds - Atmospheric Stability
- Terrain
– Are you in a chute, chimney, or saddle?
– Is wind in alignment with topography?
– What is your position relative to topography? – Are you mid slope or on top of a ridge?
• Other weather considerations:
- What is the current relative humidity?
– Is there an expected change?
- Are thunderstorms forecasted?
Access Considerations
- Is access compatible with time and distance factors necessary to utilize as an Escape Route to a Safety Zone?
- Road surface adequate for speed necessary?
- Adequate width?
- Turnaround/turnouts?
- Bridges within limits for fire apparatus?
- Drainage ditches/culverts?
- Steep grades?
- Is there a safe place to spot apparatus?
Construction/Clearance Considerations
• Does the structure have adequate defensible space, based on topography, fuels, and current and expected fire behavior?
• Can defensible space problems be mitigated quickly?
• Will building materials and yard clutter compromise safety?
• Is the construction wood siding or shake shingle roof?
• Are there vent openings, open eaves, large glass windows facing fire front, decks with
vegetation below?
- Will ember intrusion through attic or foundation vents be a problem?
• What are the contents in the garage and outbuildings?
• Are there hazardous materials present?
• Are there propane tanks, fuel tanks, or power lines?
• Is there an adequate water supply nearby?
• Are additional resources needed to mitigate issues?
• Consider “Prep and Go” or “Prep and Defend” tactics
Time Constraint Considerations
TIME CONSTRAINTS
• Is there time for an adequate size up of the structure defense problem?
• Is there time to mitigate safety concerns?
• Is there time and adequate resources to properly prepare and defend the structure?
• Is there time to escape, utilizing Escape Routes, to a Safety Zone? If not, LEAVE NOW!
Stay or Go Considerations
STAY OR GO
• Tactical decision based on the S-FACTS
• Is it safe to stay? If no, utilize “Check and Go” tactic
• Is there time to prepare the structure for defense and what will the fire behavior be
when the fire gets here?
• “Prep and Go” or “Fire Front Following” tactics should be used when it is not safe to
“Prep and Defend”
What are the three structure triage categories?
Not threatened
Threatened, Defensible
Threatened, Non-Defensible
What makes a Structure Categorized as Not-Threatened?
• Safety Zone nearby and TRA present at structure
• Construction features/defensible space make the structure unlikely to ignite
• Residents may/may not have evacuated
What makes a Structure Categorized as Threatened Defensible?
• Safety Zone nearby and TRA present at structure
• Construction features/defensible space require structure defense tactics during fire front impact
• Residents may/may not have evacuated
What makes a structure categorized as Threatened Non-Defensible?
• Lack of adequate Safety Zone nearby
• Structure cannot be safely defended
• Residents must be evacuated
Entrapment Avoidance
What are the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders?
The orders are arranged according to their importance and grouped in a logical sequence: fire behavior, fireline safety, and organizational control.
Fire Behavior
1. Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts.
2. Know what your fire is doing at all times.
3. Base all actions on the current and expected behavior of the fire.
SAFETY
4. Identify escape routes and safety zones, and make them known.
5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger.
6. Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisively.
Organizational Control
7. Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor, and adjoining forces.
8. Give clear instructions and be sure they are understood.
9. Maintain control of your forces at all times.
After you have considered, discussed, and acted on the previous nine orders:
10.Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first.
Entrapment AVoidance
18 Situations that shout watch out
- Fire not scouted and sized up.
- In country not seen in daylight.
- Safety zones and escape routes not identified.
- Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior.
- Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards.
- Instructions and assignments not clear.
- No communication link between crew members and supervisors.
- Constructing line without safe anchor point.
- Building line downhill with fire below.
- Attempting frontal assault on fire.
- Unburned fuel between you and the fire.
- Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone who can.
- On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below.
- Weather gets hotter and drier.
- Wind increases and/or changes direction.
- Getting frequent spot fires across line.
- Terrain or fuels make escape to safety zones difficult.
- Feel like taking a nap near fireline.
Entrapment avoidance
What are LCES?
Look outs
Communications
Escape routes
Safety Zones
Structure Defense Tactical Actions
Check and Go
Most appropriate action when no Safety Zone/TRA is present and fire front impact is imminent. Conduct rapid evaluation to check for occupants and evaluate for follow up action. LEAVE promptly.
