How to escape a wildfire: a hiking guide

How to escape a wildfire: a hiking guide

With fire season quickly approaching, we've updated our guide to escaping a wildfire, inspired by Peter's near miss in Greenland

When Peter traveled to Greenland last summer to hike the Arctic Circle Trail, I knew he would be inaccessible for 7 to 10 days. He's a very experienced hiker, but a tiny part of me couldn't help but worry.

What if he sprains his ankle or falls into a ravine? What if he was attacked? What if he loses his backpack from a capsized kayak?

Several scenarios ran through my head - but a wildfire wasn't one of them. He was headed to the Arctic, for heaven's sake; to Greenland, which is 80% covered in ice! Fire was hardly a threat.

NASAA satellite image of a wildfire on the Arctic Circle Trail

Only, it was. Peter was caught in a wildfire and was evacuated by helicopter. Knowing how to escape a wildfire is clearly important for avid hikers, especially those who often hike alone. Here are the most important things you need to know.

stay calm

Wildfires are extremely dangerous and your first instinct might be to run as fast as possible, but panic can be fatal.

If the air isn't too smoky, calm yourself down with breathing exercises. Take a deep breath, hold your breath for four seconds, and then breathe out slowly for four seconds. Maintaining a calm and healthy state of mind is essential to getting you out.

Protect your respiratory system

Stay close to the ground and cover your nose and mouth with a cloth to filter out ash in the air. Be careful when wetting the cloth. If the fire is close, it can evaporate the water and damage your respiratory system. Breathe air close to the ground to avoid burning your lungs.

Ride uphill and downhill

First, determine the wind direction. You can do this by looking high in the sky and determining which direction the smoke is blowing, assuming there is reasonable visibility.

Against the wind (i.e. against the wind)

If the wind is blowing past you and toward the fire, then you are traveling against the wind. If the wind is behind the fire and blowing towards you, move perpendicular to the wind to escape both the fire and the path it will follow.

FCG/ShutterstockFires move uphill faster

Downhill

If you are on a hill, descend on level ground. The fire moves faster uphill due to updrafts, so the most dangerous place is uphill and downwind.

However, do not hike into a ravine or ravine. These can conduct intense heat and you could become trapped as the fire spreads around you.

Move to non-flammable terrain

Once you have determined your direction of travel, drive to the largest area that is unlikely to be on fire. The following list suggests some options.

• Großes Gewässer, das nicht dicht mit Laub bedeckt ist
• Sumpfgebiete
• Geröllfeld
• Straße
• Flussbetten
• Offene Wiesen
• Gepflügte Felder
• Kahl geschnittenes Waldgebiet
• Als letztes Mittel ein bereits abgebranntes Gebiet

Yelantsevv/ShutterstockAvoid open areas with small, dry scrub brushes

Avoid bushes and tall grass. In general, large trees retain more moisture than dry fields. So if you can't find a non-flammable area, avoid open areas with small, dry scrub brushes. These burn faster than leafy vegetables.

Stay away from ravines, ravines, and saddle-like ridges that can conduct intense heat and leave you trapped by the fire.

Do not try to escape the fire

When considering how to escape a wildfire, it can be tempting to try to outrun it. In this case, you should remember that wildfires spread at speeds of up to 20 mph and can easily overtake a runner.

If you can't escape a wildfire using the tactics above, try getting through the leading edge of the fire into an area that's already burning. It's not ideal, but it's safer than being in badly burned terrain.

Squat down if you're trapped

If the fire surrounds you and there is no safe way out, find a depression in the topography without vegetation. You may need to clear an area and dig a ditch or gutter. Lie face down in it with your feet pointing toward the flames.

Cover yourself with a jacket, dirt, rocks, or anything else that can protect you from the fire. Again, breathe the air close to the ground to avoid burning your lungs. Stay down until the fire is over.

Always practice fire safety

According to the US Forest Service, nine out of 10 forest fires are caused by humans. These are ignited by unattended campfires, fireworks, sparks from equipment or vehicles, burning leaves or debris, and even cigarettes thrown from cars.

PPA/ShutterstockNever leave a campfire unattended

Preventing wildfires is clearly the best way to escape them. Always follow these steps when hiking:

• Befolgen Sie die „Leave No Trace“-Prinzipien.
• Machen Sie kein Lagerfeuer an einem Ort mit trockenen Bedingungen. Erkundigen Sie sich bei den Parkbehörden, ob ein Verbrennungsverbot besteht.
• Verwenden Sie einen ausgewiesenen Feuerring oder eine Feuerstelle für Ihr Lagerfeuer.
• Wenn es keinen ausgewiesenen Platz gibt, suchen Sie nach einem Platz abseits von Zelten, Bäumen oder Gestrüpp.
• Halten Sie Ihr Lagerfeuer klein und unter Kontrolle. Lassen Sie es niemals unbeaufsichtigt.
• Lassen Sie das Feuer vollständig zu Asche verbrennen. Um es vollständig zu löschen, gießen Sie dann viel Wasser ein, um die Glut zu ertränken. Denken Sie daran, dass das Feuer möglicherweise unterirdisch in den Wurzeln von Bäumen oder Büschen brennt. Rühren Sie die Asche um und gießen Sie mehr Wasser nach, bis das Zischen aufhört. Stellen Sie sicher, dass sich alles kalt anfühlt.
• Wenn Sie einen tragbaren Kocher verwenden, vergewissern Sie sich, dass der Bereich frei von Gras und anderen Trümmern ist, die Feuer fangen könnten.
• Wenn Sie Rauch oder Feuer sehen, notieren Sie sich den Ort und alarmieren Sie so schnell wie möglich die Behörden.

In Underland, Robert Macfarlane takes us on a journey into the worlds beneath our feet. From the icy blue depths of Greenland's glaciers to the subterranean networks through which trees communicate, this is a deep journey into the planet's past and future.

Main image: Macknimal/Shutterstock