How to escape a running fire: a hiking guide

How to escape a running fire: a hiking guide

Since the fire season quickly gets closer, we updated our guide on how to escape a running fire, inspired by Peters scarce emergency in Greenland

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

What if he bridges his ankle or falls into a gorge? What if it has been attacked? What if he loses his backpack from a capsized kayak?

I went through several scenarios through my head - but a surface burn was not one of them. He was on the way to the Arctic, for heaven's sake; To Greenland, which is 80 % covered with ice cream! Fire was hardly a danger.

NASA A satellite image of a running fire on the Arctic Circle Trail

only, it was. Peter got into a running fire and was evacuated with the helicopter. Knowing how to escape a running fire is clearly important for enthusiastic hikers, especially for those who are often on their own. Here are the most important things you need to know.

stay calm

forest fires are extremely dangerous and their first instinct could be to run as soon as possible, but panic can be fatal.

If the air is not already too smoky, calm down with breathing exercises. Breathe in deep, stop the air for four seconds and then slowly breathe out for four seconds. Maintaining a calm and healthy state of mind is essential to get it out.

Protect your respiratory tract

Stay near the ground and cover the nose and mouth with a cloth to filter out ashes in the air. Be careful when you get the cloth wet. If the fire is nearby, it can evaporate the water and damage its airways. Breathe the air near the ground to avoid burning your lungs.

drive uphill and downhill

first determine the wind direction. You can do this by looking high in the sky and finding in which direction the smoke is blowing, provided there is an appropriate view.

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

If the wind blows past them and on the fire, they travel against the wind. When the wind is behind the fire and blows to them, move perpendicular to the wind to escape both the fire and the path that will follow.

FCG/Shutterstock Fire move uphill faster

downhill

When you are on a hill, drive down on the flat floor. The fire moves uphill due to soaping, so the most dangerous place is uphill and in the wind direction.

However, do not hike into a gorge or gorge. These can lead intensive heat and they could be locked up if the fire spreads around them.

they embark on non -flammable terrain

As soon as you have determined your direction of travel, drive to the largest area that probably does not burn. The following list suggests some options.

• Large waters that are not closely covered with leaves
• swamp areas
• scree field
• street
• river beds
• Open meadows
• Plowed fields
• bare forest area
• as the last remedy an already burned -out area

Yelantsevv/Shutterstock Avoid open areas with small, dry scrub brushes

Avoid bushes and high grass. In general, large trees store more moisture than dry fields. So if you cannot find non -flammable terrain, avoid open areas with small, dry scrub brushes. These burn faster than leafy vegetables.

keep away from gorges, gorges and saddle -like burrs, which guide intensive heat and let them caught by the fire.

don't try to escape the fire

When considering how to escape a running fire, it can be tempting to try to run away. In this case, you should remember that forest fires spread at a speed of up to 32 km / h and can easily overtake a runner.

If you cannot escape a running fire with the tactics mentioned above, try to get through the front edge of the fire into an already burning area. This is not ideal, but safer than to stay in strongly burned terrain.

crouch when you are trapped

If the fire surrounds it and there is no safe way out, find a deepening in topography without vegetation. You may have to clear an area and dig a ditch or a gutter. Place your face down, showing your feet in the direction of the flames.

Always practice fire protection

According to the US Forest Service, nine out of ten forest fires are caused by people. These are inflamed by unattended campfires, fireworks, sparks of devices or vehicles, burning leaves or rubble and even cigarettes thrown out of cars.

The prevention of forest fires is clearly the best way to escape them. Always follow these steps when hiking:

• Follow the "Leave No Trace" principles.
• Do not make a campfire in a place with dry conditions. Inquire from the parking authorities whether there is a ban on combustion.
• Use a designated fire ring or fireplace for your campfire.
• If there is no designated place, look for a place away from tents, trees or scrub.
• keep your campfire small and under control. Never leave it unattended.
• Let the fire burn completely to ashes. To completely delete it, pour in a lot of water to drown the embers. Remember that the fire may burn underground in the roots of trees or bushes. Stir the ashes and pour more water until hissing stops. Make sure everything feels cold.
• If you use a portable stove, make sure that the area is free of grass and others that could catch the fire.
• When you see smoke or fire, write down the place and alert the authorities as soon as possible.

in Underland, Robert MacFarlane takes us on a trip to the worlds under our feet. From the ice blue depths of the Greenland glaciers to the underground networks to communicate over the trees, this is a depth trip into the past and future of the planet.

main picture: Macknimal/Shutterstock