Transcript Safety in Wildland Fire Suppression Operations

Safety in Wildland Fire
Suppression Operations
Dick Mangan
International Association of Wildland Fire
&
Blackbull Wildfire Services
Missoula, Montana USA
4th International Wildland
Fire Conference
Seville, Spain
17 May 2007
Wildfire Suppression:
A High Risk Endeavor
Death & Injury on the Fireline
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“Hero” Attitude
Situational Awareness
Social and Political Expectations
Wildland-Urban Interface
Some Additional Factors
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Global warming effect on fuels;
Inadequate training/equipment/leadership;
Communications capabilities;
Vehicle operations;
Incomplete weather and fire behavior;
Physical fitness issues.
Challenges for the World’s
Wildfire Community
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Quantify causes of death & injuries;
Develop investigation protocols;
Conduct on-going trend analyses;
Open international channels for information
sharing and lessons learned.
Improving Firefighter Safety
in the 21st Century
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Adequacy of training at all levels;
Personal Protective Equipment;
Lessons Learned;
Safety Officer positions;
Individual Responsibility and
Accountability.
An IAWF Initiative for
Wildland Firefighter Safety
International Association of
Wildland Fire (IAWF)
• “….. Providing
leadership and
facilitating
communications in
the wildland fire
community.”
IAWF Fire Safety Initiative
To record, document and
analyze wildland fire serious
injuries and deaths world-wide.
IAWF Fire Safety Initiative
• IAWF will create and
maintain a fatality
and serious injury
database
• Quarterly and
annual reports
analyzing data;
• Reports to the
world’s wildfire
community.
More information on-line by June 1, 2007
www.iawfonline.org
Suppressing Wildland Fire
Remains a Dangerous Job!
To Minimize &Mitigate Risks
• Identify risks and hazards;
• Share information and trends;
• Change practices and mitigate risks.
Muchas Gracias!
… and be safe on the fireline!