S-130 Safety Zones 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of an 'opportunistic' safety zone on a wildland fire?
- A pre-mapped helispot identified in the Incident Action Plan
- A recently burned patch of black adjacent to the crew's current work location (Correct answer)
- A designated campground two miles from the fireline
- A retardant-treated area identified by air operations
Correct answer: A recently burned patch of black adjacent to the crew's current work location
An opportunistic safety zone is one identified in the moment based on current conditions, such as a patch of burned black ground near the crew's position that offers immediate refuge.
Question 2: Why are rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water sometimes used as safety zones on wildland fires?
- Water absorbs radiant heat and prevents fire from spreading across it, providing a barrier zone
- Firefighters can submerge to avoid heat, and water bodies stop flame from crossing (Correct answer)
- Bodies of water are always close to roads for quick evacuation
- Water bodies attract aviation resources that can assist with evacuation
Correct answer: Firefighters can submerge to avoid heat, and water bodies stop flame from crossing
Water bodies act as physical barriers to fire spread and allow firefighters to submerge or stand in water to reduce radiant heat exposure during a burnover.
Question 3: A crew is sheltering in a safety zone and the fire is burning around the perimeter. Which individual protective equipment item is the crew's last line of defense if conditions inside the zone deteriorate?
- Nomex shirt and pants
- Hard hat with face shield
- Fire shelter (Correct answer)
- Leather gloves
Correct answer: Fire shelter
The fire shelter is the last line of personal defense, designed to reflect radiant heat and trap breathable air if a firefighter is overrun by fire.
Question 4: Which statement about safety zones and fire shelter deployment sites is MOST accurate?
- A safety zone and a fire shelter deployment site are the same thing
- A safety zone should be large enough that fire shelter deployment is unnecessary; a shelter deployment site is a last resort within or near the zone (Correct answer)
- Fire shelter deployment sites must be pre-approved by the Safety Officer
- Fire shelters should only be deployed in pre-designated areas, never in safety zones
Correct answer: A safety zone should be large enough that fire shelter deployment is unnecessary; a shelter deployment site is a last resort within or near the zone
An adequate safety zone eliminates the need for shelter deployment; a shelter deployment site within or near the zone is only used when the zone fails to provide sufficient protection.
Question 5: What is the danger of using a safety zone that is positioned at the bottom of a chimney or chute terrain feature?
- Chimneys and chutes are often too rocky for fire shelter deployment
- These terrain features channel fire, heat, and gases downward, rapidly filling the zone with lethal conditions (Correct answer)
- Radio communications are blocked in chimneys and chutes
- These features are typically too far from the fireline to be used as safety zones
Correct answer: These terrain features channel fire, heat, and gases downward, rapidly filling the zone with lethal conditions
Chimney and chute terrain funnels fire, superheated air, and combustion gases, creating extremely rapid and intense fire runs that would overwhelm a safety zone located within them.
Question 6: At what point during a shift should the crew supervisor reassess the adequacy of the identified safety zone?
- Only at the beginning of the shift during morning briefing
- Whenever fire behavior, weather, or the crew's position changes significantly (Correct answer)
- Once at midday during lunch break
- Only after a new spot weather forecast is issued
Correct answer: Whenever fire behavior, weather, or the crew's position changes significantly
Safety zone adequacy must be continuously reassessed whenever conditions change, including fire behavior escalation, weather shifts, or crew movement to a new location on the line.
Question 7: Which of the following actions should a firefighter take FIRST upon arriving at a new division assignment with no pre-briefed safety zone?
- Begin fireline construction to stay on schedule
- Immediately radio the Division Supervisor to obtain safety zone and escape route information before starting work (Correct answer)
- Assume the safety zone from the previous division applies
- Deploy a fire shelter at the nearest open area as a precaution
Correct answer: Immediately radio the Division Supervisor to obtain safety zone and escape route information before starting work
No work should begin until LCES is established; contacting the Division Supervisor to obtain safety zone and escape route information is the required first step.
S-130 Safety Zones 5
Which of the following is an example of an 'opportunistic' safety zone on a wildland fire?