Emergency Response Procedures Flashcards

What is a trigger point in prescribed fire emergency planning?

Answer: A preset location or condition that prompts a specific action, such as retreating

Trigger points tie observable fire or weather conditions to decisions set in advance, such as pulling crews back.

Fire burns through a utility pole and drops a power line near the holding line. What is the right response?

Answer: Treat it as energized, keep personnel well clear, and notify the utility

Downed lines must be treated as energized until the utility confirms they are dead.

Which feature matters most when picking an emergency helispot for medical evacuation?

Answer: A clear, level area without obstructions or loose debris, with the wind direction marked

Safe helispots need clear approach and departure paths, level ground and no loose material that rotor wash could throw.

An escaped prescribed fire threatens nearby homes, and residents may need to leave. Who usually has the authority to order an evacuation?

Answer: Local law enforcement or emergency management

Fire managers coordinate and recommend, but evacuation authority usually belongs to local law enforcement or emergency management.

Which observation should lead to immediate safety actions during a burn?

Answer: A towering cumulus cloud collapsing nearby

Collapsing towering cumulus can send strong, erratic outflow winds that suddenly push fire in any direction.

On burn morning, the contingency engine listed in the plan is sent to a wildfire and cannot meet the required response time. What should the burn boss do?

Answer: Do not ignite until equal contingency resources are confirmed

The GO/NO-GO checklist requires contingency resources to be available as planned, so a missing resource means NO-GO.

What is the right first aid for a serious thermal burn on a crew member's arm?

Answer: Cool the burn with clean water, cover it with a dry sterile dressing, and arrange medical evacuation

Cooling with water and covering with a dry sterile dressing limits tissue damage and infection, while ice and grease make injury worse.