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The New Generation Fire Shelter
The holddown straps on the new shelter are sewn into the floor panels. As soon as you are under your shelter, slip your arms through the straps up to your elbows (figure 22).
Figure 22—Slip your hands through the holddown straps
up to your elbows.
It is critical to be on the ground and under the shelter before the fire arrives.
The new shelter is narrower than the old shelter and will feel smaller.
Once you are on the ground, push out the top and sides of the shelter so it holds as much air as possible. The air between you and the sides of the shelter is excellent insulation. Be sure that the shelter is fully unfolded and not bunched beneath you when you deploy.
You do not want to pull your shelter against you as you would a blanket. Instead, push the shelter material away from your body so it won�t burn you. As you push the shelter material away from your body, you also leave more space for cool air.
Hold the shelter down with your feet, legs, elbows, and hands.
Keep your nose and mouth on the ground. Temperatures just a few inches off the ground are dramatically higher than those at the surface. Breathing through a dry bandanna or a shroud will help reduce the heat and smoke you inhale.
Wear gloves inside the shelter. Without them, you may burn your hands and be unable to hold down the shelter. In 1979, a firefighter in Idaho was killed after his hands were burned and he was unable to hold down his shelter.
Wear your hardhat to protect your head from burns.
If you use a face and neck shroud, pull it into place.
If you have a radio, keep it with you in the shelter so you can communicate during and after the entrapment.
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(With) any change in elevation inside the shelter, there was a drastic change in the temperature. If you look at the burn injuries that I received, anything that was off the ground and certainly the things that were higher up in the shelter (were) the areas (where) I received the most significant burns. Entrapment survivor |
If time runs out while you are attempting to escape, you must get on the ground before the fire arrives and finish deploying on the ground. Keep your face next to the ground as you pull the shelter over you. Death is almost certain if the fire catches you off the ground. The optimal survival zone with or without a fire shelter is within a foot of the ground. Once you are entrapped, your highest priority is to protect your lungs and airway.
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