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Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry Fire Crew 17-12
 

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WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING
Wildland Firefighting 10 and 18

10 Standard Fire Orders •   18 Watch-outs  •   LCES  •  Radio Etiquette
 

The original ten Standard Firefighting Orders were developed in 1957 by a task force commissioned by the USDA-Forest Service Chief Richard E. McArdle. The task force reviewed the records of 16 tragedy fires that occurred from 1937 to 1956. The Standard Firefighting Orders were based in part on the successful "General Orders" used by the United States Armed Forces. The Standard Firefighting Orders are organized in a deliberate and sequential way to be implemented systematically and applied to all fire situations.

Shortly after the Standard Firefighting Orders were incorporated into firefighter training, the 18 Situations That Shout Watch Out were developed. These 18 situations are more specific and cautionary than the Standard Fire Orders and described situations that expand the 10 points of the Fire Orders. If firefighters follow the Standard Firefighting Orders and are alerted to the 18 Watch Out Situations, much of the risk of firefighting can be reduced.

"Next time you go into the woods, look up,
look down, look all around."

  10 STANDARD FIRE ORDERS

Fight fire aggressively but provide for safety first.
 Initiate all action based on current and expected fire behavior.
 Recognize current weather conditions and obtain forecasts.
 Ensure instructions are given and understood

Obtain current information on fire status
 Remain in communication with crew members, your supervisor and adjoining forces.
 Determine safety zones and escape routes
 Establish lookouts in potentially hazardous situations
 Retain control at all times
 Stay Alert, keep calm, think clearly, act decisively

 

18 WATCHOUT SITUATIONS

  1. Fire not scouted and sized up.
  2. In country not seen in daylight.
  3. Safety zones and escape routes not identified.
  4. Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior.
  5. Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards.
  6. Instructions and assignments not clear.
  7. No communication link with crewmembers/supervisors.
  8. Constructing line without safe anchor point.
  9. Building fireline downhill with fire below.
  10. Attempting frontal assault on fire.
  11. Unburned fuel between you and the fire.
  12. Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone who can.
  13. On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below.
  14. Weather is getting hotter and drier.
  15. Wind increases and/or changes direction.
  16. Getting frequent spot fires across line.
  17. Terrain and fuels make escape to safety zones difficult.
  18. Taking a nap near the fire line.

 

L.C.E.S.

Lookouts / Communication / Escape Routes / Safety Zones

 

RADIO ETIQUETTE

  • Listen for radio traffic before transmitting.
  • Know what you’re going to say before pressing the Push-to-Talk button.
  • After pressing the Push-to-Talk button, pause briefly (one second), and then speak into the microphone.
  • Speak clearly.
  • Use clear text (do not use ten codes).
  • Do not use foul language.
  • Keep radio traffic to a minimum.
  • Keep messages short and concise.
  • When making a call, identify yourself, unit calling, and radio channel you are transmitting on.  For example: Div A, this is Operations on Command.
  • Clear radio channel when conversation is finished. For example: Div A, clear.

 

 

 
   
 


 

  

Penn Hills Wildland Crew
©2007 PHWC