How to Survive a Forest Fire

Forest Fire

You might have heard the old catchphrase “Only you can prevent forest fires.” But what if you actually find yourself in one? Granted, for many people this is a longshot, but if you plan on going out and camping in the woods, it might not be a bad idea to be prepared to protect your family and yourself. Here’s a quick guide to what experiencing a forest fire might be like.

First, if you encounter an out-of-control fire that you started yourself, remember the best way to put out these fires: clothing, towels, and flame-resistant tarps or drapes. Using water isn’t as effective as you might think unless you have enough of it to completely engulf the flame. If you can’t find anything else, use the ice water from your cooler, as that will probably be the most water you have access to. If you’re near a river or lake, use this cooler to scoop up water as a last-case scenario.

If it becomes apparent that a fire is out of your control and your life might be in danger, you have to move out. Whether or not you started the fire, the authorities need to know about it as soon as possible – the faster they arrive, the better they’ll be able to control the situation. Don’t worry about anything else except for keeping yourself, your friends, and your family safe.

When you move away from a fire, keep into account how a fire moves – the direction of the wind will be important to monitor. The wind will blow fires onto new branches, bushes, and trees, so that will help you predict a better escape route. Keep in mind that fires also tend to travel uphill faster than downhill, since heat rises. Getting down to a lake or river if possible will help, as long as you have a way of escaping. Otherwise, don’t let yourself get trapped. Crossing a river can be helpful if you have no other recourse.

If a situation arrives that requires you to “break through” the fire – i.e., travel through it – you can still take safety precautions, as long as you’re aware that this should be a last option.

To do this, cover your face with a wet cloth – dry if that’s all you have – and run through the fire as fast as possible. Be ready to stop, drop, and roll on the other side of the flames to extinguish any fires that caught on your clothing.

Be sure to have the goal of consulting the local authorities as soon as possible, as long as it is safe to do so. Ultimately, your only job is to survive.

Photo Credits: leppre

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