Consolidating 59 Fire Rules into Ten Essential Factors in (wildland) Firefighting (TEFF)

The purpose of this exercise is to consolidate all the Firefighting Rules into Ten Essential Factors in Firefighting. Some of the Firefighting Rules are found in more than one area. While it is recognized that even with the 59 Firefighting Rules, some critical areas have not been addressed (e.g., Firefighting Resources (personnel) are insufficient to safely engage the fire, etc.), these gaps are not addressed here. It is felt that while such gaps are not addressed by the 59 Firefighting Rules, that they are addressed and could be incorporated into the TEFF. If you have comments or advice, please contact me at the locations listed below. Patrick Withen

The 10 Standard Firefighting Orders

The 18 Watch Out Situations

The Downhill Line Construction Checklist

Common Denominators of Fire Behavior on Tragedy Fires

Look Up, Down & Around Factors

LCES

The Wildland Urban Watch Outs

pwithen@virginia.edu

http://people.uvawise.edu/pww8y/index.html#Top

LCES WT FFFF

Lookouts

FO 8

Establish lookouts in potentially hazardous situations

WO 12

Cannot see main fire; not in contact w/ someone who can

DL 3

LCES will be coordinated for all personnel involved

DL 3a

Crew supervisors is in direct contact w/ lookout who can see the fire

LC 1

Lookouts must be established & known to all firefighters before needed

II.

Communications

FO 4

Ensure Instructions are given & understood

FO 6

Remain in Communication w/ crew members, your supervisor, & adjoining forces

WO 5

Uninformed on strategy, tactics, & hazards

WO 6

Instructions & assignments no clear

WO 7

No communication link w/ crew members or supervisor

WO 12

Cannot see main fire; not in contact w/ someone who can

DL 3a

Crew supervisors is in direct contact w/ lookout who can see the fire

DL 3b

Communication is established between all crews

LC 2

Communications must be established & known to all firefighters before needed

III.

Escape routes

DL 3b

Rapid access to safety zones in case fire crosses below crew

LC 3

Escape Routes must be established & known to all firefighters before needed

UW 1

Poor access & narrow one-way roads

UW 2

Bridge load limits

IV.

Safety zones

FO 7

Determine safety zones & escape routes

WO 3

Safety zones & escape routes not identified

WO 17

Terrain & fuels make escape to safety zones difficult

LC 4

Safety zones must be established & known to all firefighters before needed

Weather: wind, temp & humidity

FO 3

Recognize current weather conditions & obtain forecasts

WO 4

Unfamiliar w/ weather….

WO 14

Weather becoming hotter & drier

WO 15

Wind increases and/or changes direction

CD 3

When there is an unexpected shift in wind direction or in wind speed

LU 5

Observe wind

LU 6

Observe stability

UW 8

Strong winds

VI.

Terrain

WO 2

In country not seen in daylight

WO 9

Building fireline downhill w/ fire below

WO 13

On hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below

WO 17

Terrain & fuels make escape to safety zones difficult

DL 5

Fireline will not lie in or adjacent to a chute or chimney

CE 4

When fire responds to topographic conditions & runs uphill

LU 3

Scout terrain

UW 1

Poor access & narrow one-way roads

UW 2

Bridge load limits

UW 6

Structures in chimneys, box canyons, narrow canyons, or on steep slopes

VII.

Fire Behavior

FO 2

Initiate all action based on current & expected fire behavior

WO 4

….Unfamiliar w/ local factors influencing fire behavior

WO 16

Getting frequent spot fires across line

DL 7

Bottom of the fire will be monitored; if the potential exists for the fire to spread, action will be taken to secure the fire edge

LU 7

Watch fire behavior

UW 7

Extreme Fire Behavior

VIII

Firefighting Resources

FO 1

Fight Fire Aggressively, but provide for safety first

FO 9

Retain control at all times

FO 10

Stay alert, keep calm, think clearly, act decisively

WO 18

Taking a nap near the fireline

DL 1

Crew supervisors & overhead will discuss assignment prior to committing crews

UW 4

Inadequate water supply

UW 9

Evacuation of public (panic)

Fire Status

FO 5

Obtain current information on the fire status

WO 1

Fire not scouted & sized up

WO 8

Constructing line w/o safe anchor point

WO 10

Attempting frontal assault on fire

WO 11

Unburned fuel between you & fire

WO 12

Cannot see main fire; not in contact w/ someone who can

DL 2

Decision will be made after proposed fireline has been scouted

DL 4

Direct attack will be used whenever possible; if not possible, the fireline should be completed between anchor points before being fired out

DL 6

Starting point will be anchored for crew building fire down from the top

CD 1

On relatively small fires or deceptively quiet areas of large fires

Fuel Type

WO 4:

….Unfamiliar w/ local factors influencing fire behavior

WO 17

Terrain & fuels make escape to safety zones difficult

CD 2

In relatively light fuels, such as grass, herbs, & light brush

LU 1

Assess Fuel Characteristics

LU 2

Feel & measure fuel moisture

UW 3

Wooden Construction & wood shake roofs

UW 5

Natural fuels 30 ft. or closer to structures

59&TEFF.xls August 9, 2002