These situations may or may not result in injury. They include near misses. TOP Fine Fuel Moisture - The moisture content of fast drying fuels such as grass, leaves, ferns, tree moss, draped pine needles and small twigs. Fire Retardant - A substance that uses chemical or physical action to reduce flammability of fuels and slow the rate of their combustion. Fire shelter - Looking very much like an aluminum foil puptent, the fireshelter is carried by each firefighter.
Firefighters find an area clear of burnable vegetation, or clear an area themselves.
Then they place their hands and feet in straps at each corner of the shelter and lay on the ground on their stomachs with their feet towards the advancing fire. The tent traps air over them which is maintained at a cooler temperature than the surrounding fire by the reflective material contained in the shelter's fabric. This trapped cool air protects the firefighters' lungs from the hot air of the fire and the shelter shields them from the flames themselves. Firefighters remain in the shelters until released by the crew boss. This may take some time as they must be completely confident that they are no longer in danger from the fire.