SEASON: The main dangers out in the field
Department) taught local journalists how to stay safe while covering wildfires and other emergencies. Officials went over hazards like downed power lines, gas leaks, evacuation procedures, putting out small fires, safe driving and safely handling a wildfire.
Patrick Purvis, battalion chief for CalFire, went over the general fire characteristics: Wind, fuel and topography are the three spread types; and wind, temperature, and relative humidity also contribute.
“Fire goes where water flows,” Purvis said of a fire’s typical path. “It wants the path of least resistance.”
When responding to a wildland fire, Purvis said firefighters use the acronym LCES: lookouts, communication, escape routes and safety zones. Firefighters also take into consideration the environment of the fire: like its location, flame height, actual spotting, rate-ofspread, typical structure clearance and public panic.
Other hazards firefighters – and media – face while dealing with a wildland fires include rolling rocks, fire-weakened trees that can fall without warning, snakes, ticks, poison oak, marijuana plantations that may be booby-trapped or have the potential for violence, and helicopters making drops of water, which can knock people off-balance, Purvis said.
Important for media to understand: “Don’t walk in the black.” The already-burnt, charred areas could still be extremely hot, posing safety concerns, and could also impact the investigation into the cause or origin of the fire.
“We’re not hiding anything,” said Butte County CalFire Public Information Officer Mary Ann Aldrich. “It’s just we want to make sure we know what the cause is.”
Fire personnel are likely to eliminate causes of fires before determining the actual cause, she said.
Hannah Dillard, a CalFire Tehama-Glenn unit firefighter, demonstrated emergency fire shelters, which are on-hand at every wildland fire and only used in an absolute emergency.
“Most people go through their whole careers without having to use these, and that’s good,” Dillard said. “It’s good for 90 percent of incoming radiant, not good with direct flame.”
The shelters are made with aluminum foil, woven silica and fiberglass, and are folded up in a pack around a firefighters’ waist. The firefighter pulls it apart, and wraps it around themself as they lay flat on the ground in an area that will not be hit directly by flames (on gravel, etc.). The shelter is to reflect radiant heat and trap breathable air while waiting for help, Dillard said.
Probably the most significant hazard faced by anyone is a downed power line, said Mike Weaver, a public safety specialist with Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
“It’s very likely you’re dealing with power lines in every single event,” Weaver said. “Anything that touches the power line is now energized.”
According to the PG&E presentation, electricity wants to travel from higher to lower voltage in an effort to dissipate into the ground, and the human body is a conductor.
If near a downed power line, PG&E said to keep your ankles together and hop away, or keep feet together and shuffle away, not allowing your heels to pass your toes.
PG&E led a demonstration in which a reporter was inside a vehicle that had downed power lines fall on top of it. The reporter stood up straight just inside of the driver’s side door, her arms crossed as to not touch the vehicle.
She then took a small hop down from the vehicle onto the ground – a few feet from the door – and shuffled 30 feet away while keeping her ankles together. Officials stressed that taking large, individual steps can kill someone because of the differing voltages further away from the hazard.
“As long as you’re on the same voltage, you won’t get electrocuted,” said PG&E public safety specialist Jeff Lee.
Butte County sheriff’s officers also discussed evacuation protocol, such as the difference between a warning and an order (being ready at a moment’s notice, and leaving as soon as possible), and generally using common sense when covering a potentially dangerous story.
“There’s no magic person standing in the road telling you it’s dangerous,” said Lt. Al Smith. “You’re going to be responsible for your own safety.”
Officials also taught reporters how to put out smaller fires with an extinguisher, which uses a dry chemical agent.
Stand back at least 10 feet, pull the pin, aim, squeeze the trigger, and spray the fire in a sweeping motion.
Perhaps the most fun part of the training was getting to deploy the CalFire firetruck hose.
Dave Brothers, Butte County CalFire captain, said the one used at the training was a 10- to 125-gallon nozzle, which is the smallest hose. For wildland fires, the department would use 95 gallons per minute on the ground.
“That allows us to do our mobile attack,” Brothers said.
The firefighters’ motto, Brothers said, is “anchor, flank, and hold,” which is the safest tactic on a fastmoving, wind-driven fire.