Safety measures before a forest fire?

The following recommendations and safety measures should be considered before the threat and occurrence of a forest fire:

What to do to avoid fires 

• Do not light fires in high risk forest areas, particularly in summer.  

• Never throw out cigarette butts or lit matches. 

• Do not burn scrubs, thickets, or rubbish without requesting prior permission from the Forest Service and adopt the obligatory measures.  

• Do not light fireworks in places that are at risk for fires. 

• Do not leave waste that causes or favors the propagation of fire.

• Do not try to drive your car everywhere.  The contact of the exhaust pipe with dry scrubs could ignite a fire.

• Do not be passive with irresponsible people who can put the environment in danger.  If they do not succumb to reasoning, communicate with authorities.

If you inhabit a house in a forest area:

• Maintain a security belt free of vegetation around the house of at least 25 meters in width.

• Periodically clean the roof of branches and dry leaves. Do not pile dry wood near the house. 

• Do not light fires nor use barbeques on high risk days of wind, heat and low humidity.

• Check the electrical installations and maintain them in a perfect state.

• Place spark barriers in the chimney and clean them regularly.

• Maintain ditches on highways and roads clear of scrub and rubble.

• Study the land and determine emergency exit routes from a possible fire. Always have two predetermined exit routes, preferably in opposite directions.

If a forest fire starts:

• Stay calm and cool.  Try to extinguish the fire if its distance and intensity allows it. Throw water on the base of the flames and its environs.  Use a green branch to strike the fuel that is burning or cover it with earth.

• Always have an exit planned, in order to not be surrounded by flames.

• If you have managed to put the fire out, ensure that it is well extinguished before leaving the area.  Live burning coals can be hidden that could re-ignite later. Call the fire department or the security forces and inform them of the location of the incident.

• If the fire can not be put out immediately and easily, do not waste time. Abandon the area by the safest route based on the direction and speed of the wind.  Go to the nearest place and call the fire department.

Always consider that...

• Fire tends to rise quicker than it appears. Do not remain in high areas or downwind.  The wind determines the direction and speed of the fire. Consider these factors before deciding on your exit route.

• The lowest parts of valleys act as chimneys in case of fire. The heat and the smoke can be mortal traps if you are caught in the lowest part of a valley.

• If you are surrounded by the front of the fire and escape is prevented, if possible, get into a stream, swimming pool, raft… Or squat behind a large rock or hole in the ground and wait until the vegetation burns around you. Never try to cross flames if you do not know what is on the other side of them. Escape through already burned areas.

• If you are trapped in a house surrounded by flames, close doors and windows, and cover the cracks with dampened rags and wait for help to arrive. Draw back the curtains.

• If a person’s clothes catch on fire, do not let them run.  Make them roll on the ground or cover them with a blanket, earth….

Collaborate with fire fighting efforts

• Trained professional and voluntary personnel, who are organized by the Public Administration to fight forest fires, quickly control the large majority of fires.  However, when a fire is helped by strong winds or conditions of grass or of the weather, the collaboration of a great number of people is essential. 

• If you are in good physical health, go to City Council or authority agencies to offer your collaboration.  Your help can be fundamental in extinguishing a fire, but only if you are integrated in a coordinating organization.

• Never go to the area of a fire on your own.  It is probable that you will hinder the fire fighting operations and you could be trapped by the fire.

• If you are authorized to go to the fire zone, your help will only be effective if you are equipped with proper footwear and clothes, fire fighting tools, warm clothes for night, a lantern and a whistle for help or advising signals.

• If you arrive in your own car, park it where you will not block the passage of emergency vehicles. As well, make sure your exit is not impeded in case a fast escape is necessary.

• Follow at all times the instructions of fire fighting professionals. For personal security and for effectiveness, the interventions must be directed by the professionals.  

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Information taken from:

Magazine Consumer.es Environment Incendios forestales: Prevenir equivale a extinguir Nº23, June 1999 In line: http://revista.consumer.es/web/es/19990601/medioambiente/