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Incident Sign Ordering Catalog

How To Order Signs

Obtaining Signs

There are several options:

  1. Signs may be available from the local, regional, or national fire caches.

  2. Signs may be available from the local unit, such as a ranger district or local department of transportation office.

  3. Signs may be ordered in advance. Contact your regional sign coordinator for a list of local vendors. Use the appropriate fund code for preseason purchases.

  4. Signs may be ordered during the incident. Coordinate purchases of signs through the incident buying team.

Assistance

Forest and regional sign coordinators can help locate signs, sign vendors, and traffic control services, such as flagging and pilot vehicles.

When ordering signs, specify the quantity, color, substrate, text, size, and arrow direction on the order sheet.

Color and Sheeting

All warning signs are retroreflective orange. Fluorescent diamond grade sheeting is used on all warning signs for maximum visibility. Drop point signs may be ordered in engineering grade sheeting.

At the time of this publication, fluorescent pink signs are available only in a rollup sign fabric with stands. If you need rollup signs, seek the assistance of your forest or regional sign coordinator.

Substrate

The following table shows the options for sign substrates and the abbreviations that should be used on the order sheets.

Substrate Designation on order sheets Comments
Aluminum AL Common
High-Density Overlay HDO Weather-resistant wood material
Fiberglass FG Lightweight material
Corrugated Plastic CP Corrugated plastic media

Incident Management Activities at Intersections

Signs are used to warn approaching road usesrs that incident traffic is entering and exiting at the intersection. Install a warning and guide sign at each approach to the intersection. The warning sign (sign 1) attracts attention. It is the most critical sign and always takes precedence over the guide sign (sign 2).

Use guide signs at critical intersections to direct incident management traffic to destinations such as:

  • Incident bases
  • Helibases
  • Staging areas
  • Helicopter bucket dip sites
  • Washing stations

You need to specify the arrow direction: (L) = Left, (R) = Right, (U) = Up.

When several incidents are in the same area, a nameplate may help persons locate the right incident. The name of the incident should be on a separate sign mounted on top of the guide sign.

Photo of a roadway with a series of two orange signs. The first is orange and diamond-shaped and reads, Fire Traffic Entering Road. Below this sign is a smaller square-shaped sign that reads, 35 MPH. The second sign in the series is orange and rectangle-shaped but too small to read.

Diagram of a T-intersection with a series of three signs located in advance of the intersection.
Incident Management Activities at Intersections
(click image for long description)

To print order forms, click here for the PDFs.
Pink diamond-shaped sign that reads, Fire Traffic Entering Road.
Warning		 Sign Number Sign Size
W × H		 Letter
Size		 Color/Sheeting
Fluorescent/
Diamond Grade		 Substrate*
(Specify)		 Quantity
(Specify)
FW-8-6a 36" x 36" 5" Orange


Pink square shaped sign with the text, XX MPH.
Advisory
Speed Plaque

Sign
Number

 Sign Size
W × H		 Letter
Size
Color/Sheeting
Fluorescent/Diamond Grade		 Substrate*
(Specify)		 Speed
(Specify miles per hour)		 Quantity
(Specify)
W13-1 24" x 24" See MUTCD Orange


Pink square-shaped sign with the text, Incident Base. After the text is an arrow pointing right.
Guide		 Sign Number Sign Size W × H Letter Size Message Color/Sheeting Fluorescent/Diamond Grade Substrate* (Specify) Quantity (Specify arrow direction)
arrow left arrow up arrow right
FG-21-1 36" x 36" 6" INCIDENT
BASE		 Orange
FG-21-1a 36" x 36" 6" INCIDENT
BASE
AHEAD		 Orange Arrows
not required
FG-21-1b 36" x 36" 6" SPIKE
CAMP		 Orange
FG-21-3 24" x 36" 6" WASH AREA Orange
FG-21-4 36" x 36" 6" STAGING
AREA		 Orange
FG-21-5 36" x 24" 6" HELIBASE Orange
FG-21-6 36" x 24" 6" FUEL Orange
FG-21-7 36" x 24" 6" DIP SITE Orange
FG-21-7a 36" x 24" 6" FILL SITE Orange
FG-21-8 54" x 36" 6" FIRE INFORMATION AHEAD Orange Arrows
not required
FG-21-9 54" x 36" 6" FIRE INFORMATION Orange
FG-21- Special 36" x 36" 6" Your message Orange


Pink rectangular sign with the text, Rock Creek.
Name Plate		 Sign Number Sign Size W × H Letter Size Color/Sheeting Fluorescent/ Diamond Grade Substrate* (Specify) Message Quantity (Specify)
FG-21-10 36" x 12" 6" Orange Your message

*AL—Aluminum, HDO—High-Density Overlay, FG—Fiberglass, CP—Corrugated Plastic
Manufacturer: All signs must meet EM-100-15 and MUTCD specifications.

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