Forest Fires - Prevention & Survival

Forest Fires - Prevention & Survival
Many, many Outdoor Fires are caused by human error or ignorance and people still die yearly because of Forest Fires created by man. In this section, we will look at some very common sense guidelines when it comes to preventing a fire and what to do if you are confronted with a Forest Fire.

Preventing a Forest Fire Accident
Forest Fires - Prevention & Survival The Outdoors are generally highly flammable. Dry grass, sticks, leaves, and trees all provide perfect fuel that can easily be ignited into a ravenous blaze.

These are some tips in preventing a Forest Fire:

* Keep camp fires away from possible fuels. Make sure not to camp under a tree. High flames might set it alight. Keep your camp fires small and controlled. We all know the added excitement of bigger fires but be responsible!

* Check, check, and re-check that all fires you created are out when you leave. Use water to take care of smoldering remains or cover them with sufficient sand to keep them from reigniting.

* If you need to smoke then extinguish your cigarette butts and take them with you. We are not only thinking about preventing fire, we are also preserving nature. Throwing away a cigarette butt is an absolute no-no.

* Take notice of any equipment that has strong lenses. A lens in combination with sunlight can cause a fire. It seems far fetched but it is not! Use lens covers or keep any equipment with lenses packed.


Forest Fire Survival Tips
These are some guidelines on what to do if things do go wrong or if you are confronted with a Forest Fire:

* If your fire got out of control, use a piece of clothing or a towel to extinguish the flames. In most cases, using water will be less effective unless you have big buckets of water close by.

* Should the fire be beyond your control then stop trying to fight it and move out. You can account for your actions later but at that moment, preserving your life is more important. Just make sure to contact the proper authorities the moment your life is no longer in danger.

* Fires generally travel faster in the direction of the wind. In addition, fires travel faster uphill than downhill so take these things into account.

* Try to find a natural fire break such as a river or a large empty clearing.

* Should you be forced to try to break through the fire, cover your face and mouth with a wet cloth (or dry if no water is available) and run as fast as possible through the flames. Should your clothes catch fire, extinguish them by rolling and padding.

* Once you are in safety, notify the proper authorities even if you think someone else might have called in already.


Obviously, Forest Fires are destructive. Be responsible when it comes to using fire, especially if you are into camping. Do everything you can to prevent the onset of a Forest Fire.

http://www.abc-of-hiking.com/natural-hazards/forest-fires.asp