Fire Shelter Update 2008

According to the National Fire and Aviation Executive Board (NFAEB), Federal Agencies should be transitioned to the New Generation Fire Shelter by January 1, 2009. All agencies, cooperators and contracted resources are to be transitioned by January 1, 2010. Fire Shelter Transition Update

An interagency Fire Shelter Task Group is guiding the fire shelter program into the future, involving stakeholder groups in decisions of the fire shelter management, and ensuring that MTDC receives needed support and direction from leadership. The task group, representing most Federal and State fire agencies continues to develop a transition and communication plan. Members of the task group include Hot Shots, Smokejumpers, Fire Safety Officers, Fire Training staff, Equipment Specialists, and NIFC personnel.

Fire shelter website: The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) sponsors a fire shelter website that contains information about the fire shelter–the development process, a testing video, and technical bulletins. http://www.nifc.gov/safety/fire_shelter.htm

Large-Size Shelter: The large-size fire shelter is available. People more than 6 feet 1 inches in height should obtain and carry a large-size fire shelter because this size provides better protection for taller people by allowing less contact and more air space between the shelter material and an occupant, and by reducing the stress on the shelter material caused when a taller person stretches out inside the shelter. The large shelter fits in the same carrying case as the regular-size New Generation Fire Shelter. The word “LARGE” is stenciled on the orange quick deployment strap of the shelter bag. Firefighters less than 5 feet 7 inches in height should carry the regular-size fire shelter.

How will adoption of the New Generation Fire Shelter affect wildland firefighters?
From the perspective of how we train firefighters to use fire shelters, very little has changed. Though the new shelter offers better protection from flames than the old-style shelter, survival of the occupant is more likely when direct flame contact with the shelter can be avoided. Even though the new shelter provides increased protection compared to the old-style shelter, firefighters still need to know how to recognize potential entrapment situations and how to avoid them. The same evaluation process that firefighters have used in the past to identify survivable sites still applies. Teaching firefighters to avoid deploying shelters in or near fuel concentrations, chimneys, and other potentially hazardous areas continues to be an important part of fire shelter training.

The New Generation Fire Shelter provides significantly better protection in direct flame than the old-style shelter, but it is not failsafe. In extreme conditions, the new shelter may not offer sufficient protection. And, as with the old-style shelter, the high temperature materials used in the new shelter must be treated with care during storage, while being carried on the fireline, and during deployment. Excessive force on the material or contact with sharp objects can cause the cloth to tear. For the best protection, inspect your fire shelter regularly and treat it with care. More importantly, avoid situations that can lead to entrapment. Plan your actions on the fireline so that you never need to deploy your fire shelter.

Use of Original Fire Shelter
The old-style fire shelter still provides good protection if used as described by existing guidelines. The old-style shelters can be used until the transition to new shelters is complete as long as they meet the Inspection Criteria outlined in the booklet Your Fire Shelter, 2001 Edition. (NFES 1570)

Regular inspection of your shelter is critical to assess the shelter’s structural integrity. In July 2006, ten firefighters deployed their fire shelters at the Little Venus fire in order to save their lives. Five of the ten shelters were old-style shelters. Of those five, three shelters had severe damage upon opening; one had a tear 43 inches long! Failure to regularly inspect the fire shelters resulted in the firefighters carrying these damaged shelters while working fires.

Fire Shelter Training Aids

One recent lesson learned from actual fire shelter deployments is that although firefighters trained with fire shelters, many thought that they would never need to use a fire shelter during their career. Take your fire shelter training seriously, you never know when you may need it. Fire shelter training materials for either shelter system includes the Entrapment Avoidance-It’s Your Call! training program (2002), and the Lessons From the Thirtymile Fire html/PowerPoint training program at www.fs.fed.us/t-d/lessons/ (user name and password: t-d).

Instructors providing training for persons with the old-style fire shelters need to use the Using Your Fire Shelter video, 2001 edition (NFES# 1568) to demonstrate the most current original fire shelter information available today. A previous fire shelter training video, Your Fire Shelter, 1986 edition (NFES# 1568), shows techniques that are no longer recommended. Since both videos have the same NFES number and similar titles, eliminate the 1986 version from training libraries to prevent confusion. The Your Fire Shelter booklet (NFES #1570) 2001 ed. at www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/fireshelt01.pdf, and the Avoid the Flames pamphlet (99-M40-MTDC) should also be used as training materials. Training materials can be ordered through the Great Basin Cache located at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). All fire shelter training materials are contained within PMS 411. For more ordering information, go to the NWCG publications website: http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/pubs.htm.

Training for New Shelter

It is critical to receive proper training in the use of the New Generation Fire Shelter before taking it on the fireline. This requires, at a minimum, reading the training pamphlet, viewing the training video or DVD, and practicing deployments using a practice fire shelter. The video (and DVD) and pamphlet include information about how the shelter works, how to deploy it, how to select a deployment site, what entrapment experience might be like, how to train to use the shelter, and how to care and inspect the shelter.

NFES#2711, VHS Fire Shelter training video The New Generation Fire Shelter
NFES#2712, same video in DVD format
NFES#2710, pamphlet, The New Generation Fire Shelter (http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/newshelt/newshelt72.pdf)

Spanish versions are also available
NFES 2735, video, VHS, El Refugio de Proteccion Nueva Generacion and
NFES 2736, pamphlet, El Refugio de Proteccion Nueva Generacion.

Remember, fire shelters are not fail safe, carrying a fire shelter should never be considered as an alternative to safe firefighting.