10 Fire Orders (A)
Monitor and receive updates about fire activity throughout the shift.
Standard Firefighting Order 2
Know What Your Fire is Doing At All Times
You are the first resource to arrive at the incident, and you have not yet seen the fire.
Watch out #1
Fire not scouted and sized up.
You have a crewmember spin weather every hour and request a spot forecast for that afternoon.
Fire Order #1.
Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts.
Embers repeatedly establish fire outside containment lines.
Watchout #16.
Getting frequent spot fires across line.
Your radio stops working while operating in a hazardous area.
Watchout #7.
No communication link with crewmembers or supervisor.
Keep it cool.
Standard Firefighting Orders #6
Be Alert. Keep Calm. Think Clearly. Act Decisively.
You are the first resource to arrive at the fire at 2300.
Watchout #2
In country not seen in daylight.
Simply giving an assignment isn't enough, you need confirmation that everyone understands it.
Standard Fire Order #8
Give clear instructions and make sure they understood.
A crew member arrives late and never receives a complete briefing.
Watchout #5.
Uninformed on strategies, tactics, and hazards.
Crews are cutting line on a slope with activity beneath them.
Watchout #9.
Building fireline downhill with fire below.
Mitigating risk by monitoring the big picture.
Standard Firefighting Order #5
Post Lookouts When There Is Possible Danger
Resources are working directly in front of the advancing head of the fire.
Watchout #10.
Attempting frontal assault on fire.
Before making tactical decisions, gather as much current information as possible about fire behavior, fuels, weather, and topography.
Standard Firefighting Orders #3.
Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire.
Fireline construction begins from the middle of the fire edge.
Watchout #8.
Constructing line without a safe anchor point.
You are constructing an indirect line.
Watchout #11.
Unburned fuel between you and the fire.
Accountability becomes especially important when resources are spread across a large incident.
Standard Firefighting Order #9
Maintain Control Of Your Forces At all Times
An unexpected gust suddenly alters fire spread and intensity.
Watchout #15
Wind increases and/or changes direction.
If conditions begin to change, everyone on the line should receive updates quickly and clearly.
Standard Firefighting Orders #7.
Maintain prompt communication with your forces, your supervisor, and your adjoining forces.
Several firefighters are unsure of the objective or who they report to.
Watchout #6.
Instructions and assignments not clear.
Your crew is operating in steep, brushy terrain where reaching safety would take significant time.
Watchout #17.
Terrain and fuels make escape to safety zones difficult.
Even the best safety locations are useless if firefighters don't know where they are.
Standard Firefighting Order #4.
Identify Escape Routes and Safety Zones, and make them known.
Temp and RH continue to move in opposite directions.
Watchout #14.
Weather becoming hotter and drier.
Achieve objectives only after assessing and mitigating hazards.
Standard Firefighting Order #10.
Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first.
Burning logs and rocks are tumbling downhill from above your position.
Watchout #13.
On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below.
Terrain or smoke prevents you from seeing critical portions of the fire, and no lookout has eyes on it.
Watchout #12.
Cannot see main fire and not in contact with someone who can.