# Presentation: 367565

## The Fundamentals of Wildland Fire PreventionFor Rural Fire Departments

## Preface

-    Wildfires continue to burn thousands of acres every year, destroying life, property and natural resources.  With this situation it becomes important to develop an aggressive Wildland Fire Prevention program.  The Federal, State and Local government can not do the job alone.  This orientation program is designed to give other cooperators basic information on how to do the fire prevention job.  The Rural Fire Departments, the backbone of fire protection in the United States is considered a primary target for this program.

## INTRODUCTION

-    This program provides an overview of the Fundamentals of Wildland Fire Prevention. This program demonstrates the activities that can be completed by available fire department personnel.  The major areas of emphasis in this program include;
- Fire Prevention Public Education
- Fire Prevention Risk Management
- Fire Prevention Evaluations
- Hazard Reduction / Fuels Management
- Fire Prevention Enforcement

## FIRE PREVENTION PUBLIC EDUCATION

- Major areas of emphasis include:
- Home Fire Safe Evaluations
- Fire Prevention Signing
- School Programs
- Public Contact
- Material Distribution
- Wildland Urban Interface
- Children’s Programs
- Exhibits & Displays

## Home Fire Safe Evaluations

*Home Fire Safe Evaluations*

- Fire Safe Inside & Out
- Survivable Space
- Wildland Urban Interface
- Beware & Prepare Campaign

## Fire Prevention Signing

- Roadside
- Trails
- Businesses
- Recreation Area
- Wildland Urban Interface Areas

## School  Programs

## Children’s Programs

## Fire Education Literature /Materials
Fire Wise

- Fire Wise

*Materials Distribution*

## Public Contact

## Fire Prevention Public Contact Tips 

- The majority of visitors are thankful for your HOST attitude
- Be courteous
- Be professional and neatly groomed.  If you have a uniform, wear it

- Be a good listener, people like to talk
- Lead into your fire prevention message by establishing a good rapport
- Be knowledgeable about the area you are operating in

## Fire Prevention Public Contact Tips

- Be confident
- Carry information to hand out to the public, make every contact you can
- Carry a map of the area to help people and orient them
- Avoid confrontation

- Show respect and treat people the way you want to be treated
- Maintain your professionalism at all times
- Know the regulations and laws

## Fire Prevention Public Contact Tips

- Be accurate with the information you give out.  If you don’t know the answer, say so.  Point them in the right direction

- Be safe
- Maintain radio communications at all times
***YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!***

## Exhibits & Displays

- Outdoors
- Fairs
- Civic Events
- Malls, Businesses
- Office Locations
- Museums

## Wildland Urban Interface

- Neighborhood Watch
- Community Meetings
- Door to Door Campaigns
- Patrol
- Home Fire Safe Evaluations
- Beware & Prepare

## The 10 Urban Interface Fire Prevention “Watch-Outs”

- No Survivable Space
- Debris on the roof
- Overhanging branches
- No permit to burn
- Chimney not cleaned or spark arrested
- Inadequate water supply

- Flammable building construction
- No emergency evacuation route
- No emergency equipment access
- No spark arresters on equipment

## Wildland Fire Prevention Risk Management

- Major areas of emphasis include:
- Patrol
- Spark Arrestor Inspection
- Power lines
- Railroads
- Industrial Operations
- Construction Projects
- Recreation Areas. Developed / Dispersed / Resorts
- Wildland Urban Interface

## Fire Prevention Patrol

*Fire Prevention Patrol*

**High Visibility**
**High Risk Areas**
**Increased Public Use**
**Areas of High Fire Hazard**

## Ignition Management

*Ignition Management*

- Spark Arresters
- Heavy Equipment / Industrial Operations
- Power Lines

## Fire Prevention Enforcement

- Restricted Use
- Review special orders
- Patrol
- Fire Law Enforcement
- Fire Investigation
- Warnings
- Incident reports
- Notice of violations

- Law Enforcement activities will only be conducted by authorized law enforcement personnel

## Fire Prevention Administration

- Area Assessment
- Training
- Interagency
- Cooperation
- Planning

## Fire Prevention Operational Tips

- The 10 Standard Fire Prevention Orders
- The 18 Fire Prevention Situations That Shout Watch-Out

-  Fire Prevention In the Wildland Urban Interface Tips

## The 10 Standard Fire Prevention Orders

- Prepare your home – Establish “Survivable Space”....
- Recognize fire danger conditions....
- Ensure your internal combustion engine has an approved spark arrester

- Visible identification for your home in case of an emergency...
- Every campfire needs to be in an approved fire ring...
- Never leave your campfire unattended

## 10 Standard Fire Prevention Orders

- Total removable of flammable material at least 10 feet from the campfire ring...
- Is your campfire “dead out”?  Make sure before leaving

- Only You can place matches and smoking materials in a safe place....
- Never leave a wildfire unreported, call 9-1-1

## The 18 Fire Prevention Situations That Shout “Watch Out”

- Campfire is not dead out
- Debris burning while windy
- Equipment with old spark arresters
- Chimney with un-inspected screen

- Building a campfire with proper clearance
- Vehicle parked in dry grass
- Smoking outside of a vehicle
- Attempting to light a campfire while windy

## The 18 Fire Prevention Situations That Shout “Watch Out”

- Burning without a permit
- Fire restrictions in effect
- Wildfire occurrences are increasing
- Special events are occurring
- Humidity is dropping

- Unattended campfires are common
- Red Flag warning in effect
- Fireworks available
- Hazardous fuel conditions exist

## Fire Protection

- Initial Attack
- Initial Observations
- Fire Severity Support
- Fire Replacement
- Logistics

## “The Cooperators”

## “The Cooperators”

## “The Cooperators”

## Remember “Only You” Can Prevent Wildfires