How to Survive a Forest Fire
More Articles Related to SafetyEvery year forest fires burn thousands of acres of forestland and a number of people are trapped. Some survive the forest fire and others do not. As with any survival situation the survivor is often he or she that has the information on what to do.
Forest fires can travel faster than you can run. Often there are pockets of smaller fires ahead of the main fire front that will merge with the main blaze and perhaps trap the unwary. Should you attempt to out drive a forest fire it may catch you where it has already cut the road.
Wildfires can easily jump roads, streams, and other bare areas. For these reasons your best course of action may not be to attempt to outrun the blaze.
- The best means of escaping a forest fire will be via a road or stream where you can travel relatively unhindered by vegetation. In addition, you are more likely to be seen and rescued if you are in an area unobscured by vegetation.
- Because forest fires travel faster uphill than downhill, you may be able to outpace the advance of the fire by moving downhill as quickly as possible.
- If you are trapped, your best chances of surviving a forest fire will be in the middle of an area with little burnable vegetation. For example roads, streams, lakes and ponds, plowed fields, and bare rocky terrain.
- Evergreen trees (those with needles) catch fire more quickly than deciduous trees. Therefore if given a choice, escape a forest fire through a stand of deciduous trees rather than through conifers.
- Avoid areas of dead, dry vegetation. These can virtually explode into flames as the forest fire progresses.
- If you are in a body of water, move as far away from the forest fire as possible and position yourself so as to cover as much of your body as possible beneath the surface.
- Try to find or dig a ditch in which you will have increased protection from the forest fire and smoke.
- When the flames of the forest fire come close, get as low as possible to escape the suffocating heat and thick smoke. Curl up into a ball.
- To protect your body from the hot air cover yourself with a coat or blanket, preferably wet. Try to cover all exposed areas of skin including your face and hands.
- Once the main fire has passed, smother any smoldering clothing.
- When the fire has passed, your safest way to proceed is upwind, where the forest fire has already burned out the vegetation.
The US Forest Service is using a new type of personal fire shelter for emergency use. This fire shelter is larger than the older model but protects you in basically the same way.
Remember these forest fire survival tips and increase your chances of surviving a forest fire.
Yes Lardo, digging a hold in preferably moist soil can help you stay alive as the forest fire passes over you. This can be the method that saves your life.
Minnesota
I am unsure on the wisdom of using wet cloth in a forest fire. Your clothes may not burn but you will probably be steamed to death. Water even in a vapor form is an incredible transporter of heat energy. A damp cloth may be adequate but a soaked cloth could do more harm than good.
southwest china
if you live deep in thick forest, how to prepare for a possible fire?
Maryland
This is good to read and has great tips!!!!! I like your website!!!!! If I ever get stuck in a forest fire I will do think of your tips
You are welcome to share this Survival Topic with others. I only request that you use a short blurb (not the entire survival content) and this code to
link to the origional:
New Mexico
Isn't this a case where digging a hole might help survive a forest fire? Clear an area, dig a hole and climb in. In general, a location with wet earth would be better, provided the tree growth wasn't too extensive.