To survive entrapment during a wildfire, firefighters must be well-prepared and know various survival techniques and strategies. Logically, at ISK Fire Survival ® we believe that our kit consists of FS1 lance, FS2 collective shelters and FS4 skirt.
Here are some of the options and tools available to improve the chances of survival during entrapment:
- Emergency Fire Shelters: Emergency shelters are a last measure of protection when there is no possibility of escape. They are lightweight, portable, heat-reflective structures that firefighters can deploy to provide a temporary barrier against radiant heat and flames. It is crucial to train in the rapid and correct deployment of these shelters. Traditionally, individual fire shelters have been used, but due to tragic accidents, some countries have banned their use. That’s why ISK Fire Survival ® has developed the FS2 collective shelters. For more information, please visit: https://www.isk-fire.com/products/fs2-collective-shelter/
- Identification and use of safety zones: Safety zones are areas that offer natural or man-made protection against fire and its effects. These can include already burned areas, large rocks, bodies of water, or depressions in the ground. Reconnaissance and moving into a safety zone can be crucial for survival if escape is impossible.
- Self-protection: If you have a water supply, it is possible to use self-protection lances or curing machines. ISK Fire Survival ® patented a self-protection lance so that fire never gets close to vehicles, as can be seen in https://www.isk-fire.com/products/fs1-integral-protection-nozzle/
- Improvements in decision-making and risk assessment: Training in decision-making under pressure, risk assessment, and knowledge of fire behavior are essential to prevent entrapment situations. Informed decisions help avoid dangerous situations and choose the best escape or protection options.
- Effective communication: Maintaining clear and effective lines of communication with the team and command is crucial for coordinating movements, sharing information about fire behavior, and making collective decisions about the best actions to take.
- Physical and mental training: Physical preparation helps firefighters withstand the physical demands of their job, while mental preparation improves resilience and the ability to perform under extreme stress.
- Advanced equipment and technology: The use of advanced technology, such as geographic information systems (GIS), GPS, and drones, can improve situational awareness, allowing firefighters and incident commanders to make more informed decisions about the movement and placement of equipment.
- Planned escape strategies: Pre-planning and identifying escape routes and safety zones are critical. Continuous assessment of fire conditions and adaptation of escape plans as needed can be critical to safety.
- Ongoing Training: Regular training in survival, fire behavior, use of personal protective equipment, and safety tactics is vital to maintaining the skills needed to face and survive entrapment situations.
The key to surviving a wildfire entrapment lies in prevention, proper preparation, and knowledge and effective use of survival techniques and tools.
