At EVERY fire you participate in fighting, PLEASE bear this acronym in mind: LCES.
It’ll help you to stay safe. It’s one of the most important defence strategies against an unpredictable wildfire.
What does it stand for?
L
Lookouts
C
Communication
E
Escape routes
S
Safety zones
Here’s what each letter means for you:
LCES must be updated and amended, as the fire’s behaviour and movements change. Stay on top of these changes – and communicate them well.
Here are some questions you should ask yourself to guide those changes:
- Does the lookout see all the possible threats?
- Is the wind changing?
- Are our communications channels in place, and working well?
- Are our key players calm and communicating clearly?
- Could the fire get here sooner?
- Is our safety zone STILL a safe location?
- Are there two or more escapes routes available at ALL TIMES?
- Could we be tiring and therefore make poor decisions?