Hiking and Camping Tips for Wildfire Safety
by Marie Ammerman
With this drought, the entire year is California’s new fire season. Some things to keep in mind:
- Always check with the ranger station for the district you plan to visit; they will know of any fires in the region. Remember that many ranger stations do not have someone to answer phones on the weekend. Of course, check the news online or on television.
- Once you know the name/location of a fire, you can check for updates at www.inciweb.ncwg; they update between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. every day.
- It’s not necessary to stay out of a forest/region completely if there is an active fire, though. Listen to the advice of rangers, make sure you know just how far away the fire is, and in what direction it’s heading. Also keep in mind air quality issues, weather, your gear, and the stamina of your participants when deciding if you should go or not. But if you are at all unsure, don’t take chances; you can always hike or camp another time.
To modify a phrase: Prior Planning Prevents Posthumous Pity!
Other tips:
- Be sure you know the level of fire danger, and any fire restrictions in the area you will visit.
- Before you even leave home, study a map of the area. What are some possible escape routes if a wildfire starts near your camp or trail?
- Make sure your camp stove is working properly; a malfunctioning stove could cause a serious fire in seconds.
- If you are staying in a campground, consider bringing a fire extinguisher for emergencies.
- Pack a light-weight, collapsible water carrier for holding water to douse your campfire.
- If fire danger is very high, try to plan meals that don’t require cooking.
On Arrival:
- Check to be sure fire danger levels and restrictions have not changed since you prepared at home.
- Always follow instructions immediately if told to evacuate by Forest Service personnel.
- Back your car into its parking space in the campground or at the trailhead in case you must leave in a hurry—seconds count!
- Keep necessary items, such as medicines, in the car, or in an easy-to-grab bag in a designated place, so you won’t be tempted to search for them instead of evacuating right away.
- Keep a bucket of water and a shovel near your campfire at all times.
- NEVER leave a campfire or lit stove unattended.
- Make sure your fire is out cold to the touch before leaving or going to bed.
- Always be aware of your surroundings
If you smell smoke while out hiking…
…try to determine the source, but don’t take too much time about it. If you have to, abort your hike and turn around or find another route to safety. If you find a wildfire beginning, don’t try to put it out unless it is very small, such as an abandoned campfire. Even then, use your best judgment. If you can get to help quickly, it may be better to do that, especially if it is a windy day—it’s hard to put out a fire with limited means, and if you become injured or killed, there will be no one to report the fire at all.
If you are trapped by a wild fire…
…while hiking, do not seek shelter in a gully or canyon. These can act like chimneys, creating a pathway for the fire to follow. Instead, seek a large lake or stream, or, if there is no water nearby, bare, stony ground, preferably on a ridge. Look for a bare spot and stay to the uphill side of it. Cover yourself with whatever clothing you have, or even a sleeping bag, and keep your pack on your back for extra protection unless you have stove fuel in it and have no time to get it out and toss it away. Keep your head covered; if you have time, wet a bandana or shirt and keep it over your nose and mouth. Lie on your stomach facing away from the fire, near the uphill side of the bare space, and cover your head and face as much as you can. With luck, the fire will jump the bare spot and you. Be prepared for intense heat and possibly some burns— the point is to survive.
