The first and highest call of a firefighter is the safety of those they are sworn to serve. To answer that call, it is essential that firefighters understand how to protect themselves so they can protect others.
Nowhere is safety on the front lines a more urgent concern than on a wildfire. Ever-larger incidents -- fanned by swirling winds and whisking through drought-parched fuel -- can instantly transform an ordinary response into a life-threatening emergency.
Add to this the increased emphasis on structure protection, evacuation and rescue and California's wildlands become the most dangerous of work environments.
Knowing where you are, what's around you and how to protect yourself can prevent death or injury even in the most catastrophic events.
Learn more from Cal-JAC's Fighting Wildfires Program.
These pages are intended as an overview of core techniques -- not a substitute for full Wildfire Safety Training