1. Development and Implementation of an Improved Fire Shelter for Wildland Firefighters Leslie Anderson USDA Forest Service Missoula Technology and Development Center

2. Standard Fire Shelter Developed in 1960s Developed in 1960s Laminate of fiberglass and aluminum foil Laminate of fiberglass and aluminum foil Designed to reflect radiant heat Designed to reflect radiant heat Rapidly damaged by flames Rapidly damaged by flames

3. Standard Fire Shelter Deployed more than 1,100 times Deployed more than 1,100 times ½ Precautionary ½ Precautionary ¼ Prevented ¼ Prevented serious burns serious burns ¼ Saved life ¼ Saved life of occupant of occupant Approximately 20 fatalities Approximately 20 fatalities

4. Fire Shelter Development 1999: Discovery of potential flammability 1999: Discovery of potential flammabilityResponse: New training materials New training materials January 2000 – MTDC is asked to develop new January 2000 – MTDC is asked to develop new shelter shelter

5. Goals for New Fire Shelter Maintain protection in radiant heat Maintain protection in radiant heat Improve protection in flames Improve protection in flames Also consider: Also consider: –Strength –Durability –Weight/Bulk –Toxicity –Flammability –Cost

6. Performance Test Development Reliable performance tests needed Reliable performance tests needed MTDC collected fire environment data MTDC collected fire environment data Contracted for test development Contracted for test development

7. Performance Tests Performance Tests Strength Strength Durability Durability Flammability Flammability Thermal Protection Thermal Protection Toxicity Toxicity

8. Shelter Design Substantial interest from private industry Substantial interest from private industry Fully designed shelters were tested as received Fully designed shelters were tested as received Other materials were sewn into design developed at MTDC Other materials were sewn into design developed at MTDC

9. MTDC Shelter Design More efficient use of material More efficient use of material Shape to minimize absorption of Shape to minimize absorption of radiant heat radiant heat Allows person Allows person to lie prone to lie prone

10. MTDC Shelter Design (continued) Rounder shape Rounder shape Rounded ends Rounded ends scatter radiant heat scatter radiant heat

11. Selection Process: Small-scale Tests 40 materials 40 materials Small-scale thermal tests Small-scale thermal tests Strength Strength Flammability Flammability Toxicity Toxicity

12. Selection Process: Full-scale Tests 17 material combinations 17 material combinations Radiant tests Radiant tests Direct flame Direct flame tests tests Durability Durability tests tests Shake tests Shake tests Toxicity tests Toxicity tests

13. Selection Process Peer Review of Test Methods Peer Review of Test Methods 10 Options Presented 10 Options Presented Selection made June 7, 2002 by Federal Fire and Aviation Leadership Council Selection made June 7, 2002 by Federal Fire and Aviation Leadership Council

14. New Generation Fire Shelter Two laminated Two laminated layers layers Rounded shape Rounded shape Shake handles Shake handles 4.2 pounds 4.2 pounds (1.9 kg) (1.9 kg) Seams for structure – and to limit damage. Seams for structure – and to limit damage.

15. Materials Outer Layer: Woven silica and foil Outer Layer: Woven silica and foil Inner Layer: Fiberglass and foil Inner Layer: Fiberglass and foil

16. Performance in Radiant Heat Temperature Rise Temperature Rise % Reduction Standard Shelter 97 ºC ---- New Generation Shelter 76 ºC 22%

17. Performance in Radiant Heat Heat Flux Heat Flux % Reduction Standard Shelter 3.7 kW/m 2 ---- New Generation Shelter 1.5 1.5 kW/m 2 59%

18. Performance in Direct Flame Temperature Rise Temperature Rise % Reduction Standard Shelter 300 ºC ---- New Generation Shelter 57 ºC 81%

19. Performance in Direct Flame Heat Flux Heat Flux % Reduction Standard Shelter 44.1 kW/m 2 ---- New Generation Shelter 1.3 1.3 kW/m 2 97%

20. Training Video/DVD and Booklet: Video/DVD and Booklet: “The New Generation Fire Shelter” “The New Generation Fire Shelter” New practice fire shelter New practice fire shelter MTDC Tech Tip: MTDC Tech Tip: “New Generation Fire Shelter Developed for Wildland Firefighters”

21. Training: (continued) Keep focus on avoiding situations that lead to entrapment. Keep focus on avoiding situations that lead to entrapment. New shelter is not an excuse to take risks. New shelter is not an excuse to take risks.

22. Transition Expensive Expensive 3-5 year transition 3-5 year transition

23. Questions ?