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Selecting Your Deployment Site

The characteristics of an effective deployment site have not changed. Your goal in selecting a deployment site is to keep the fire shelter away from heat, especially flames. Practice evaluating deployment sites so that you can recognize them quickly under stress. Identify effective sites whenever you are on the fireline so you know where they are before you need one.

A rocky mountain forest

1. Keep away from narrow draws, chutes, and chimneys. They tend to funnel smoke, flames, and hot gases that can damage your shelter.

A rocky mountain forest

2. Avoid saddles on ridgetops. They also funnel smoke and heat.


A dirt road in through wildland forest.

3. Flat areas on slopes, such as benches, or road cuts, offer some protection from radiant and convective heat. These level areas can keep you below the path of flame and convective heat. Do not deploy in the middle of a road if vehicles may be passing. A drainage ditch on the uphill side of a road cut can be an effective deployment site unless it contains fuels that could ignite and burn the shelter. Four firefighters deployed their fire shelters on this road during a burnover. All four survived with only minor burns.

A rocky mountain forest

4. Stay out of draws, even when deploying on a road.


Birds eye view of a smoke rising above trees in a forest
A rockslide with tall trees in the forefront
A rocky mountain forest.
5. Try to pick natural firebreaks such as wet meadows, wide streambeds, swampy areas, and rockslides.


A rocky mountain forest
A rocky mountain forest
6. Do not deploy in or next to tall or thick grass, small trees, trees with low branches, brush, piles of slash, or firefighting equipment such as packs, parachutes, tools, or chain saws. Firefighters have been burned because they deployed too close to such fuels. Large rockslides can be effective deployment sites, but you must stay away from brush and trees, and from fuels scattered in the rocks. Even though it can be difficult to hold the edges of the shelter down, large, jumbled rocks, rockslides sometimes offer the largest area free of fuels and may be the best option for deployment.


A rocky mountain forest

7. Ground fuels, such as grass, or tree litter, can ignite rapidly. Clear the deployment site to mineral soil if time allows. If time is critical, pick a site with the sparsest fuels.

A rocky mountain forest

8. Deploy fire shelters well away from thick vegetation such as the shrubby understory and trees.


A rocky mountain forest

9. Boulders, large rocks, buildings, vehicles, and equipment can provide buffers from the heat of the fire. Keep in mind that when vehicles, equipment, and buildings catch fire, they burn hot, and for a much longer duration than the vegetation around them. This can lead to shelters being exposed to heat for a prolonged period, well after the flame front has passed. This may keep firefighters in their shelters longer, exposed to prolonged levels of dangerous heat.

A rocky mountain forest

10. Avoid areas where rocks or logs can roll on you or snags can fall on you.


A rocky mountain forest

11. The lee side of a ridgetop can be an effective deployment site because the flames and hot gases tend to rise above the ridge. Fire intensity usually drops when fire reaches a ridge. But be alert for the possibility that firebrands might ignite fires below you on the lee side of the ridge.

A rocky mountain forest

12. Burned-out areas can be effective deployment sites if there is no fuel left to reburn. Be aware of residual heat and hotspots on the ground. Scrape the ground if possible to clear away any heat and burning materials. Burn injuries have occurred from firefighters deploying in the black that was still hot.


A rocky mountain forest
A rocky mountain forest
13. Wide areas that have been cleared of fuel, such as dozer lines or roads, can be good deployment sites, depending on the size of the area that has been cleared and the behavior of the fire.

 

A rocky mountain forest
A rocky mountain forest
14. Bodies of water can be adequate deployment zones, however you should be aware of several hazards if you find yourself having to use a body of water. Deployments can last from several minutes to an hour or more. If the water is over your head in depth, you may be at higher risk of drowning especially once your boots and clothing become waterlogged. Since water removes heat from the body much faster than air, you may be at risk of hypothermia from deployments in bodies of water. If there is a current to the water your fire shelter may be hard to hold on to or you may become entangled in your shelter and drown. The fire shelter’s ends can fill with water and become very heavy. For further information read this tech tip on deploying in bodies of water.

 

 
 

NWCG Latest Announcements

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR)

Date: November 13, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Equipment Time Recorder, PMS 350-51 and NWCG Position Task Book for Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR), PMS 311-51 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for EQTR, includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Equipment Time Recorder Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Equipment Time Recorder, PMS 350-51

NWCG Position Task Book for Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR), PMS 311-51

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC)

Date: November 13, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Personnel Time Recorder, PMS 350-53 and NWCG Position Task Book for Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC), PMS 311-53 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for PTRC, includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Personnel Time Recorder Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Personnel Time Recorder, PMS 350-53

NWCG Position Task Book for Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC), PMS 311-53

NWCG Risk Management Committee Releases Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires

Date: November 7, 2024
Contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has released Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires. As wildland fire respirators are available through several established vendors, wildland fire personnel need to understand regulations and limitations of respirator use in the workplace.

Safety Bulletin 24-001 outlines the following topics regarding respirator use for wildland fires:

  • Requirements for Respirator Use
  • Voluntary Respirator Use
  • Current Respirator Options
  • Unknown Risks of Respirator Use

This bulletin also provides mitigation recommendations to help reduce smoke exposure for wildland firefighting efforts.

References:

NWCG Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires

NWCG Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed Fire, PMS 420-3

VIDEO: Protecting Wildfire Personnel from Smoke - How Incident Management Teams Address Smokes Risks

VIDEO: Smoke, Knowing the Risks

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL)

Date: October 16, 2024
Contact: Incident Medical Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Medical Unit Leader, PMS 350-39 and NWCG Position Task Book for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL), PMS 311-39 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for MEDL includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book, were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Medical Unit Leader Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Medical Unit Leader, PMS 350-39

NWCG Position Task Book for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL), PMS 311-39