NYS Forest Ranger dies fighting brush fire in Greenwood Lake

Capttomo

Capttomo

Joined
Sep 7, 2020
Messages
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May our brother rest in peace.
We who fight fires know what can happen and we try to do things as safely as possible. At Brush/Forest/Interface Fires, we need to always have a Safety Officer whose ONLY job is to watch for dangerous situations. At a Brush Fire this includes monitoring the direction and speed of the wind AND taking note of escape routes and areas of safety. A simple flag in the ground near the Safety Officer AND at the Command Post can help monitor the wind/s speed and direction. The Safety Officer and everyone on the scene must also be on the lookout for burned trees, large limbs, and roots, that may fall on firefighters or cause soil or rock to roll or cause landslides. Wilderness Firefighters call trees or tree limbs burning internally, sometimes not visible easily, "Widow Makers". The rotation of active firefighters to avoid fatigue, that can lead to injuries is another duty for the Safety Officer and I.C. to monitor. Fatigued firefighters are, we know, a lot more likely to get injured. The already burned area is NOT always a safe area, but sometimes the already burned area can be a TEMPORARY area of refuge but check it out before you enter it.
Captain Bob Rainey FDNY retired & 50-year firefighter/officer Chester N.Y. Vol. F.D.
 
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