Unit 9 – Scouting and Patrolling, and Communicating

Scouting and Patrolling Objectives Describe four things to consider when acting as a lookout on a fire Describe four considerations when patrolling a fire Describe a systematic method of locating spot fires Describe five ways to communicate with designated personnel

Communicating Objectives Prepare a portable or mobile radio for transmission of a message. Transmit a message clearly using proper procedure and language. Describe conditions that require a change of location to improve radio reception and or transmission Describe precautions needed to protect the radio from damage

Operating as a lookout Lookouts are persons assigned the task of detecting and reporting information back to their parent crew. They are the “early warning” system for the group. Lookouts should be experienced and knowledgeable in wildland fire behavior and firefighting.

Operating as a lookout (continued) Find a vantage point that has good visibility and is high up as possible. The mission is to observe a large area that the crew cant see, and give advance warning to developing or approaching hazards. The lookout has to have their own escape routes and safety zones!

Hazards to look for In the burned area; –Rolling material and burning snags In the green; –Spot fires –Location of the main fire in relation to crew –Approach of machinery, aircraft or any other hazard Maintain good communications with crew!

Patrolling Patrolling is travelling a given route to prevent, detect or suppress fires. Specific duties may be; –Patrolling the line, checking for hot spots or slop over

Patrolling (continued) –Reinforcing the line when necessary (widening or trenching) –Searching outside the line for spot fires

Spot Fires Spot fires are small fires started by flying embers or material rolling across the control line Take first priority as they are a serious threat to suppression efforts Always keep on the lookout for spots, whenever there is one, a second one is close by.

Spot Fires The following conditions contribute to spot fires; –Extremely dry weather –Steep topography –heavy fuels –crown fires –unstable wind conditions –winds across the line

Communications There are several methods of communicating, including; –Radio –Hand signals –Written messages taken by runner –Voice –Mirrors

Radios Keep your messages short and to the point Hold the radio about 1 to 2 inches and talk normally Get and keep a current list of your agency’s radio frequencies

Repeated Frequencies Any repeated channel is your radio transmitting to a receiver/transmitter station (a repeater) that broadcasts and boosts your signal Repeaters are often permanently mounted, and at high points in the area Your radio system may not always be able to “hit” the repeater (especially with 800mHz systems)

Non-repeated Frequencies These are also called “Simplex” or “car to car” channels They enable nearby radios to communicate without the use of a repeater Your range and signal strength will depend on your position, power of the radio, and type of radio

Common Radio Mistakes Talking too long Having the volume too far down Wrong channel Talking too loud Unnecessary traffic Talking too quickly after pressing TX Using wrong radio Not monitoring the radio Dead battery

If you don’t have a radio pack 1” or ¾” webbing works great, especially if you have a regular belt case for your radio The center chest is the best place for your radio

Hand signals Most agencies have their own adopted hand signals NWCG has adopted some universal hand signals for water use and helicopter operations

Signal Mirrors Mirrors can be used with pre-arranged signals, or as a method to communicate your location May be used in combination with other methods