18 Watch Out Situations for Wildland Firefighters

Specific situations where the 10 Standard Orders should be heeded in particular are noted in the 18 Watch Out Situations for firefighters. These scenarios were developed to provide specific instances that firefighters might encounter where their personal safety could be compromised.

1. The fire is not scouted and sized up.
2. You are in country not seen in daylight.
3. Safety zones and escape routes are not identified.
4. You are unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior.
5. You cannot see the main fire and are not in contact with someone who can.
6. You are not informed of tactics, strategy, and hazards.
7. No communication link has been established with crewmembers or your supervisor.
8. You are constructing line without a safe anchor point.
9. You are building fireline with fire below.
10. You are attempting a frontal assault on the fire.
11. There is unburned fuel between you and the fire.
12. You cannot see the main fire and are not in contact with someone who can.
13. You are on a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below you.
14. The weather is becoming hotter and drier.
15. The wind is increasing and/or changing direction.
16. You are getting frequent spotfires across the line.
17. The terrain and fuels make escape to safety zones difficult.
18. You are taking a nap near the fireline.