Forest fires and wildfires are very common in many places around the world. Forested areas are particularly susceptible to wildfires, especially where climates are sufficiently moist to allow the growth of trees but feature extended dry or hot periods. Forest fires are particularly prevalent in the summer and fall, as well as during droughts when fallen branches, leaves, and other material can dry out and become highly flammable. Wildfires are also common in grasslands and scrublands and are most severe on days with strong winds, which help increase the tempo and intensity of fires. Forest fires present significant risks to urban areas bordering forested or grassland areas, as well as facilities and travelers caught in the fire's path. Forest fires fall into three basic categories:
1. Wildfire.: An unplanned and unwanted fire, including unauthorized human‐caused fires, escaped wild land fire use events, escaped prescribed fire projects, and all other wild land fires.
2. Wild Land Fire Use.: The application of the appropriate management response to naturally ignited wild land fires to accomplish specific resource management objectives in predefined designated areas.
3. Prescribed Fire.: Any fire ignited by management actions to meet specific objectives.
The common causes for such fires include human carelessness, arson, volcanoes, heat waves, drought, lightning, and industrial accidents. The effects can be devastating and can quickly overwhelm emergency responders attempting to extinguish the fires. The propagation of a fire has three mechanisms that managers should be aware of (if operating within regions susceptible to forest fires):
1. Crawling Fire.: A fire that spreads via low‐level vegetation (e.g., bushes, grass, and scrub).
2. Crown Fire.: A fire that spreads across the top branches of trees. Crown fires can spread at an incredible pace through the top of a forest. They can be extremely dangerous to all inhabitants underneath, as they may spread too fast to be outrun, particularly on windy days.
3. Jumping Fire.: A fire that produces burning branches and leaves that are carried by the wind to start distant fires. A jumping fire can be carried over roads, rivers, or even firebreaks.
The IMP should be designed to support companies whose facilities or work sites operate within regions that suffer from forest fires. Prior to a forest fire event, companies should undertake the following measures as part of their contingency planning phase:
§ Consult with your local fire department regarding the measures required to make the facility more fire resistant.
§ Check for and remove fire hazards in and around the facility, such as dried‐out branches, leaves, and debris.
§ Develop fire response plans and rehearse these with personnel and local authorities.
§ Learn fire safety techniques and teach them to employees.
§ Make sure every floor and all working areas have smoke detectors.
During a forest fire event, the local or incident response manager should undertake the following simple activities to increase the protection of personnel and facilities:
§ Monitor local radio stations in order to understand where the fire is located, and which areas are affected by the downwind effects—in terms of smoke hazards as well as the direction in which the fire is moving.
§ Prepare personnel to evacuate along prescribed escape routes once the location and direction of travel are known.
§ Remove all outdoor furniture, tarps, and other combustible material from the facility exterior; these present a flammable hazard for jumping fire threats.
§ Close all doors in the facility; shut off gas valves and pilot lights; and remove flammable drapes, curtains, awnings, and other window coverings.
§ Keep lights on to aid visibility in case smoke fills the facility.
§ If sufficient water is available, turn sprinklers on to wet the roof and any waterproof valuables to reduce the risks of ignition.
§ Limit the time spent outdoors until conditions improve to avoid breathing in harmful smoke.
§ Turn off air exchange units that bring air in from the outside if they are worsening indoor air quality.
The IMP is designed to protect facilities from being susceptible to fire hazards during a forest fire crisis, as well as help determine the point at which personnel evacuate if the fire comes into immediate proximity of the facility. The guidance and instructions provided by government authorities should be followed at all times; however, companies can increase the levels of awareness and response to their employees during such events by developing simple and sensible response measures and protocols.
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