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Subsections
Structure and Wildland Fires

Wilderness Medicine

Structure And Wildland Fires

Background

  1. Fire Overview
    • Fires are characterized by the rate of spread and intensity
    • Most fires are started by people, not nature, or secondary spread
      • Ignition can be secondary to spotting (airborne embers) and crowning (fire moves horizontally through canopies of shrubs, trees)
    • Key factors affecting fire behavior
      • Fuel: type and amount
      • Weather: wind and dryness
      • Topography: steep terrain, chutes, and box canyons can cause a rapid rate of spread
  2. Human Injury
    • The heat of fire can cause injury through direct thermal burns, inhalation, or associated heat stress disorders
    • Flames can result in direct thermal injury and irritation
    • Smoke can cause inhalation injury and mucous membrane inflammation or edema
    • Harm secondary to gas levels in the immediate vicinity (O2, CO, CO2, cyanide, H2S)
      • Indirect injury may be caused by debris (falling rocks/trees or rolling logs) or attempted escape (motor vehicle collisions or falls from height)
  3. Preparation
    • Local News/Radio/TV stations provide current threat information, familiarize with current technology (i.e., Emergency apps)
    • Establish emergency kit(s) and check it monthly (especially if in high-risk areas or living in areas prone to fires)
    • Educate family about preparedness (i.e., family code words, methods to communicate if separated, etc.)
    • Plan at least two escape routes
    • Arrange a temporary housing plan (i.e., friend's house, hotel, shelter, etc.)
    • In the event of fire threat:
      • Prepare to evacuate immediately
      • If there is time, prepare your home (i.e., shut off gas, water your roof/house, etc.)
  4. Additional Resources
    • Planning & Aid:
      • American Red Cross: 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
      • US Fire Administration: 1-800-238-3358 or 1-301-447-1000
      • US Dept Homeland Security: https://www.ready.gov/
    • Monitor active fires:
      • Air Now’s Fire: Current Conditions - maps of fires in North America
      • NOAA’s Fire Weather Outlook - map fire watches and warnings

Wildfire Prevention and Safety (Before)

  1. If you are camping
    • Establish adequate fire barriers around site
    • Plan 1-2 escape routes and safe havens
    • Be alert to canyon air currents
    • Be aware of flammable materials - synthetic materials melt easily
  2. If you are in a building or home
    • Improve rescue plan - clearly mark driveways, display name and address
    • Report and/or clear hazardous conditions (i.e., clean roof, gutters, chimneys)
    • Pre-install appropriate smoke alarms inside/outside each sleeping area and on each structural level.
    • Mark rooms with sleeping children (window stickers available at local fire department)
    • Periodic maintenance of smoke alarms (check monthly, change batteries annually)
    • Plan escape routes
      • Determine > 2 ways to escape from every room of structure
      • Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas on 2nd or 3rd floor; know how to use it and store ladder near window
      • Pre-determine family meeting area
      • Practice escape plan at least twice yearly
      • Make plans for pets and livestock. If evacuating and animals need to be left behind, do not tie them up. Put up window stickers listing pets that you have
        • Protect Your Pets from Wildfire Smoke
        • Protect Your Livestock from Wildfire Smoke
    • Obtain fire extinguishers.
      • Fire departments offer training (see extinguishers)
      • Fire extinguishers – select according to materials
        • Class A fires (ordinary paper combustibles, wood, paper, etc.) -Use water
        • Class B fires (flammable liquids and gases, grease, oil, paint, gasoline) -Use CO2 or dry chemical extinguishers
        • Class C fires (live electrical wires, power equipment, appliances) -Use liquefied gas or dry chemical (note: Class C extinguisher can also be used for Class A/B fires)
        • Test or verify expiration dates as part of your drills.
      • Own a ladder that will reach roof
  3. Residences in high-risk wildfire regions
    • Design home and landscape with wildfire safety in mind
      • Consult with local builders and horticulturists
      • Establish at least 30-100 feet of clearing around home or structure. Check with local fire department for information on defensible space recommendations and building improvements to lower risk of damage.
    • Keep a disaster supply kit on hand
    • Keep rake, axe, saw, bucket, and shovel on hand
    • Monitor local air quality reports
      • Air Quality Index: www.airnow.gov
      • Air Quality Alerts Sign-Up: www.enviroflash.info
  4. Have a Disaster Supply Kit to last three days
    • Water
    • Dried and Canned Foods
    • Battery-powered or solar flashlights and/or lanterns, batteries, first-aid supplies, thermometer. Store batteries separate from devices to prolong battery life.
    • Medications (over-the-counter and prescription)
    • Avoid matches and candles for risk of fire
    • Obtain short wave radio for news in event of disaster. Consider hand crank emergency radio.

Wildfire Survival (During)

  1. Know safe procedures (LCES)
    • Lookouts
    • Communications
    • Escape routes
  2. Safety zones
  3. Clothing
    • Wear flame-resistant clothing if possible
    • Easy to see, minimize skin exposure (bright colors, long pants/shirt)
    • Cover and protect face with handkerchief or mask
    • Sturdy footwear
    • Leather or fire-resistant gloves
  4. Protect your lungs, eyes, ears, nose and throat
    • Staying indoors is the best way to reduce exposure to wildfire particles
    • Precautions are especially important in those with respiratory comorbidities (e.g. asthma, COPD), who are pregnant, and children
    • HEPA-filtered air cleaners, temporarily relocate if necessary, avoid outdoor activities (work, exercise)
      • Respirators (N95, P100) fit only for adults will help filter smoke and ash particles from getting into your nose and lungs (they are typically not fitted for children)
      • Found at local hardware stores
      • Look for NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) mark of certification and use double strap around head to improve seal
  5. Establish a Clean Room
    • Priority - Be prepared to evacuate if necessary/directed by authorities
    • A clean room is a room dedicated to protection from smoke and particles during a wildfire in your local area
      • No smoking
      • No cooking, frying, boiling or aerosol products (e.g. cleaners, air fresheners)
      • Closed windows and doors
      • Portable air cleaner
      • No candles or incense
      • No vacuuming
    • How to set up a clean room:
      • Choose a room large enough for all members of the household to fit
      • Best to be attached to a bathroom
      • Close all windows and doors; if there is an exhaust fan or range hood present, only use periodically
      • Run central air, window ACs, and fans
        • If either AC option pulls fresh air from the outside, turn off, close the intake valve, and put on recirculate mode
        • If conditions are smoky, do not use evaporative coolers or portable ACs attached to a hose unless a heat emergency arises
      • Filter the clean room’s air via a portable air cleaner
        • Run continuously at highest setting
        • When purchasing a filter, buy one that does not produce ozone
        • A do-it-yourself air cleaner can be made if purchase unavailable
          • Attach furnace filter to box fan with tape
          • Add brackets or a bungee cord
            • Not recommended as a permanent alternative, but a good temporary solution until proper filter can be purchased
        • If dusting required, use a damp cloth as needed
        • Avoid exercising in the clean room
        • Stay in clean room as much as possible
        • If there is a temporary improvement in air quality, you can air out your clean room and adjust settings on your AC units
  6. Protect and prepare structure (if time allows)
    • Close windows, vents, doors, Venetian blinds, and seal attic
    • Restrict potential fuel: Shut off gas at meter, turn off pilot lights, turn off propane tanks. Add location of turn off wrench to your fire drills.
    • Open fireplace damper, close fireplace screens
    • Turn on a light in each room to increase visibility in case of smoke
    • Connect garden hose, turn on lawn irrigation system or sprinklers, wet roof and nearby shrubs
  7. Entrapment
    • Do not panic
    • Do not run blindly: move downhill away from fire flank at 45° angle if possible
    • Move to recently burned areas which lack fuel to support fire
    • Regulate breathing
      • Keep face to close to ground
      • Breathe through damp cloth or mask unless intense heat, then dry cloth
    • Protect against radiant heat
      • Lie prone in area that will not burn
    • If caught in burning structure
    • Breathe through wet cloth *While helpful, this does not prevent smoke inhalation
      • Keep face low to ground
      • If clothes on fire, stop, drop and roll
      • If in a high-rise, try another balcony with or without sheets tied together
      • Attempt to kick through drywall into adjacent room if air deteriorates
  8. Anticipate Power Outages
    • Have adequate spare food *Outages < 4 hrs means refrigerator and freezer food still okay to consume
    • Have adequate, safe drinking water
      • Sanitation practices can be found here on the CDC website
    • Refrigerated Medications
      • If refrigerated medication is necessary for sustaining life, and they have been at room temperature, you can continue to take them until able to get a new supply
      • Advised to throw out refrigerated meds if power has been out for > 24 hrs and replace as soon as possible
        • Check unrefrigerated life span of critical medications
  9. Injuries
    • Monitor for warning signs of excess heat or cold - Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heat-Related Illness
      • Heat Stroke
        • More serious
        • Body physically unable to handle heat extremes
        • Sweating fails
        • Temperature can rise to >106˚F in 10-15 minutes
        • Requires emergency care
      • Heat exhaustion, cramping, and fainting are also signs of excess heat
      • Hypothermia
        • Body temperature falls below 95˚F
        • Recognize and prevent
      • First Aid in response to Electric Shock
        • Look first; DO NOT touch, as person could still be in contact with source of electricity
        • Call 9-1-1
        • Turn off electricity source & if not possible, use cardboard, plastic, or wood insulator to move the source away from electrically shocked individual
        • Once clear from electricity, check for pulse and breathing; if neither is occurring, perform CPR; elevate legs if person appears pale or faint
        • Avoid removing clothing or touching blisters/burns; electric shock often affects the individual internally, warranting immediate work-up by a physician
      • Power Lines and Cars
        • If power lines fall on car, do not exit car unless car catches fire
        • If car catches fire, open door, DO NOT step out of car because you can be shocked; dive out of car trying to clear some space between the car and you, then shuffle with both feet on the ground at least 50 feet away
      • Avoid Carbon Monoxide (CO)
        • Returning Home and CO Poisoning After a Disaster
        • CO Fact Sheet
  10. Stay Connected
    • Have a way to charge cell phone as backup
    • Keep battery-powered radios on hand. Consider hand crank emergency radio.
    • Equipment/Supplies:
      • Go-Kit = 3 days of supplies
      • Stay-at-Home Kit = 2 weeks of supplies
      • One-month supply of medications secured in a child-proof container
      • Personal, medical, and financial records should be kept safe
      • Pet supplies

Structural Fire Survival (During)

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Natural Disasters and Severe Weather - Wildfires. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/index.html. [Accessed June 2023]
  2. American Red Cross. Wildfire Preparedness. Available at: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/wildfire.html. [Accessed June 2023]
  3. Alexander ME, Mutch RW, Davis KM, Bucks CM. Wildland Fires: Dangers and Survival. In: Auerbach PS; (eds). Wilderness Medicine: Expert Consult, 6th ed. Elsevier-Mosby:Philadelphia, PA, 2012;Chapter 12
  4. US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Wildfire Smoke Factsheet: Protect Your Pets from Wildfire Smoke. Available at: https://www.airnow.gov/sites/default/files/2021-06/protect-your-pets-from-wildfire-smoke.pdf. [Accessed June 2023]
  5. US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Wildfire Smoke Factsheet. Protect Your Large Animals and Livestock from Wildfire Smoke. Available at: https://www.airnow.gov/sites/default/files/2021-06/protect-your-large-animals-and-livestock-from-wildfire-smoke.pdf. [Accessed June 2023]
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Power Outages. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/poweroutage/index.html. [Accessed June 2023]
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Stay Safe After a Wildfire. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/afterfire.html. [Accessed June 2023]
Contributor(s)
  1. Carreiro, Brent, ENS, MC, USNR
  2. DeForest, Christine, DO, FACEP
  3. Portouw, Steven, MD, FAAEN, FAWM

Updated/Reviewed: June 2023