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DOWNHILL/INDIRECT LINE CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES
Downhill/Indirect line construction
in steep terrain and fast burning fuels should be done with extreme caution!
Direct attack methods should be used
whenever possible. The following guidelines should be followed:
THE DECISION IS MADE
BY A COMPETENT FIREFIGHTER AFTER THOROUGH SCOUTING.
DOWNHILL LINE CONSTRUCTION
SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED WHEN FIRE IS PRESENT DIRECTLY BELOW THE PROPOSED
STARTING POINT.
THE FIRELINE SHOULD
NOT BE IN OR ADJACENT TO A CHIMNEY OR CHUTE THAT COULD BURN OUT WHILE
A CREW IS IN THE VICINITY.
COMMUNICATION IS
ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE CREW WORKING DOWNHILL AND THE CREWS WORKING TOWARD
THEM FROM BELOW. WHEN NEITHER CREW CAN ADEQUATELY OBSERVE THE FIRE, COMMUNICATIONS
WILL BE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE CREWS, SUPERVISING OVERHEAD, AND A LOOKOUT
POSTED WHERE THE FIRE'S BEHAVIOR CAN BE CONTINOUSLY OBSERVED.
THE CREW WILL BE
ABLE TO RAPIDLY REACH A ZONE OF SAFETY FROM ANY POINT ALONG THE LINE IF
THE FIRE UNEXPECTEDLY CROSSES BELOW THEM.
A DOWNHILL LINE SHOULD
BE SECURELY ANCHORED AT THE TOP. AVOID UNDERSLUNG LINE IF AT ALL PRACTICAL.
LINE FIRING SHOULD
BE DONE AS THE LINE PROGRESSES, BEGINNING FROM THE ANCHOR POINT AT THE
TOP. THE BURNED OUT AREA PROVIDES FOR CONTINUOUS SAFETY ZONE FOR THE CREW
AND REDUCES THE LIKELYHOOD OF FIRE CROSSING THE LINE.
BE AWARE OF AND AVOID
THE "WATCH OUT SITUATIONS!".
FULL COMPLIANCE WITH "THE 10 STANDARD FIRE ORDERS"
IS ASSURED.
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