How to Fight a Forest Fire

Battling wildfires has got to be one of the toughest jobs in the world. Imagine being dropped from an airplane into the midst of a conflagration of biblical proportions, armed primarily with a shovel. It sounds more like a punishment than a career, but there are many people who are highly committed to it. You'll never approach their skill level, but you can try.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

1. Take a course in forest fire control or fire science from an accredited university forestry program. You'll find that there's as much science involved as there is bravery and brawn. Meteorology, geography, engineering and management skills are all integral to forest fire control.
2. Study the weather. Wind shifts will play a big part in fire-fighting strategy; an unfavorable shift may defeat all your efforts. See 390 Create an Evacuation Plan.
3. Establish a defensive line. Without a large professional crew and airborne tankers, your only chance is to dig a firebreak. Look for a favorable spot, such as a road or a ridgetop.
4. Eliminate all flammable material along your firebreak. The wider you can make the line, the better. Remove deadwood and bushes and scatter them on the burning side of the line.
5. Soak the area along and behind the firebreak with water. If there are buildings in the area, soak them as well. Remove any vehicles.
6. Be wary of the fire jumping past your location and cutting you off. Watch for airborne embers. Also watch out for igniting treetops, which suggest a fast-moving crown fire.

Tips & Warnings

• Use earthmoving equipment to dig a defensive line.
• Keep an evacuation route available. If this route looks threatened, get out.
• Keep a charged cellular phone handy.
• Highly trained professionals using the best possible gear regularly encounter fires they can't control. Don't kid yourself that you're better than them. Evacuate early.