DANGERS TO FIRE FIGHTERS
More firefighters are injured and killed every year fighting vegetation fires than those fighting structural fires. This is partly due to the extreme and unpredictable conditions encountered. In many cases the teams are required to work in isolated areas, far away from any logistical support, and as such, need to be relatively “self contained” regarding food, water, medical kits, protective clothing, and communications.
Below is a list of some of the dangers the firefighters expose themselves to:-
a) being surrounded and burnt by the fire
b) smoke inhalation and suffocation
c) airway burns
d) dehydration and heat exhaustion
e) extreme fatigue
f) injury from falling / stumbling in the mountain, especially at night
g) getting hit by rocks and logs rolling down the mountain
h) stepping into thigh-deep ash/coal pits
i) injuries from falling burnt tree branches
j) eye injuries from dust, ash, smoke and sand
k) injury from hand tool usage
l) insect stings and snake / scorpion / spider bites
m) hypothermia late at night
n) injury during water bombing operations
o) infection from contaminated water during water bombing operations
p) getting knocked over by emergency and other vehicles in poor visibility conditions
q) becoming lost in unfamiliar terrain
Every effort is made to train wildfire fighters in a wide variety of skills, promote teamwork, and identify members with good leadership skills.
