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SOG-420Special OperationsSOG

Wildland & Wildland-Urban Interface

LCES, structure triage, shelter deployment, when to disengage.

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This is a template. It is not your department's policy.

Tailboard templates are drafted as generic starting points aligned to national standards. They are nota substitute for your department's own review or for adoption through your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). For topics carrying significant exposure (use of force, medical scope, civil rights), route through qualified counsel before adoption.

Every placeholder marked [BRACKETED] must be completed before adoption. Every section must be reviewed against your department's staffing, apparatus, water supply, EMS scope, geography, and the specific laws of your state. What applies to a career department in a city may not apply to a volunteer department in a rural jurisdiction, and vice versa.

Standards, regulations, and best practices are updated regularly. Verify the current edition of every standard cited before adopting this document. Once adopted, this document becomes your department's responsibility — not Tailboard's.

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Number

SOG-420

Version

1.0

Last reviewed

2026-01-01

Next review

2026-07-01

Summary

This guideline governs [DEPARTMENT NAME] response to wildland fires and wildland-urban interface (WUI) incidents. Wildland-interface fires are a growing threat in almost every region. Firefighter fatalities in this environment follow recognizable patterns; LCES (Lookouts, Communications, Escape routes, Safety zones) and the Watchouts are the bedrock of safe operations.

Definitions

LCES
Lookouts, Communications, Escape routes, Safety zones. The minimum standard for safe wildland operations at every level.
Safety Zone
An area large enough that a firefighter will not be burned over if fire reaches it. Typically 4× the flame length in radius for a crew.
Fire Shelter
A portable shield of aluminized fabric carried by wildland-qualified firefighters, deployed only when all other options are exhausted.
Structure Triage
Rapid evaluation of threatened structures to categorize as defensible, non-defensible, or defensible with preparation.

Purpose

To establish safe, effective response to wildland and WUI fires, integrating structural and wildland operations while preserving firefighter safety.

Scope

Applies to any incident involving wildland fuels — grass, brush, forest, timber — and any incident in the wildland-urban interface. Covers initial attack, extended attack, and large-fire operations.

LCES — Required at All Times

Lookouts

  • Posted at vantage points with full view of the fire and crew positions.
  • Communicate changes in fire behavior immediately.

Communications

  • Every crew member has a radio.
  • Channel discipline maintained throughout the operation.
  • Communication plans are briefed before each operational period.

Escape Routes

  • At least two escape routes identified for every crew position.
  • Routes are walked or driven during the initial size-up.
  • Escape times recalculated as fire behavior changes.

Safety Zones

  • Identified and briefed before committing crews.
  • Sized for actual flame length expected.
  • Roads, previously burned areas, and water are common safety zones.

The 10 Standard Firefighting Orders + 18 Watchouts

Every wildland-trained member carries and is accountable to the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders and the 18 Watchout Situations. Violations are treated as serious safety events regardless of outcome. The Orders and Watchouts are attached as Appendix A.

Initial Size-Up

  • Fire location, size, behavior, rate of spread.
  • Topography, fuels, weather.
  • Wind speed and direction. Afternoon winds.
  • Structures threatened. Population at risk.
  • Access and egress for apparatus.
  • Water supply — hydrant, draft site, tanker support.

Structure Triage

When structures are threatened, triage rapidly. Classify each structure:

  • Defensible, stand-alone: safe to prep and defend.
  • Defensible, prep-and-hold: defensible with active preparation.
  • Non-defensible, rescue-only: clear occupants and move on.

Structure Protection

  • Remove or wet combustibles adjacent to the structure (deck furniture, firewood, debris).
  • Close windows, vents where possible.
  • Position apparatus with escape route clear and in the direction of retreat.
  • Charged hoseline staged and ready.
  • Do not deploy inside the structure during active fire approach.

Disengagement

Disengagement is never a failure. It is the appropriate action whenever:

  • Fire behavior exceeds defensive capability.
  • Safety zone is no longer adequate.
  • Escape route is threatened.
  • Lookout loses sight of the fire.
  • Communication is lost.
  • The IC or Safety Officer orders disengagement.

Fire Shelter Deployment

Fire shelter deployment is a last-resort action. Members trained and equipped with shelters deploy when:

  • Escape routes are cut off.
  • Safety zone is not reachable before burn-over.
  • Deployment is practiced annually by all wildland-qualified members.

Integration with Incident Management

  • Large or extended incidents use the FIRESCOPE-style Type 3 or Type 4 incident management team.
  • Unified Command with agencies having jurisdictional responsibility (local fire, federal/state forestry, law enforcement, emergency management).
  • Operational periods of 12 or 24 hours with written IAP.

PPE

  • Structural firefighting PPE is NOT approved for sustained wildland operations.
  • Wildland PPE meeting NFPA 1977 is required for members assigned to wildland operations.
  • Helmets, goggles, gloves, boots (8-inch lace-up leather), flame-resistant pants and shirt.
  • Fire shelters for wildland-qualified members.

Rehab

  • Wildland operations are high-exertion in high-heat environments.
  • Rehab is more demanding than structural; hydration, rest cycles, and medical monitoring per the Rehab SOG, more frequently.
  • Watch for heat stress, dehydration, and overexertion symptoms.

Responsibilities

Incident Commander

  • Execute LCES and enforce the 10 Orders / 18 Watchouts.
  • Conduct structure triage.
  • Call for resources early. Request Type 3 or Type 4 IMT for escalating incidents.
  • Order disengagement when warranted.

Division / Group Supervisors

  • Maintain LCES in the division.
  • Brief crews on escape routes and safety zones.
  • Report fire behavior changes.

All Members

  • Know the 10 Orders and 18 Watchouts.
  • Operate under LCES at all times.
  • Disengage when warranted — without waiting for permission if LCES fails.

Training Requirements

  • All members: basic wildland awareness training (S-130, S-190, or equivalent).
  • Operations-level members: additional wildland training per NWCG or state standards.
  • Annual fire shelter deployment practice for shelter-equipped members.
  • Structural-to-wildland crossover training for combination operations.

References

  • NFPA 1143Standard for Wildland Fire Management
  • NFPA 1977Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting
  • NWCG PMS 310-1Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide
  • Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG)PMS 461 — carried by every wildland-qualified member

Adapt this template

Before this template becomes your department's policy, review the following items and adjust accordingly. Anything else that does not match your operation should be updated as well.

  • State your department's wildland qualification level.
  • Attach your department's structure-triage checklist.
  • Name your regional / state wildland partners and their expected response.
  • If your district has significant WUI exposure, include a pre-incident plan for the highest-risk areas.
  • Cross-reference PPE, Rehab, and ICS SOGs.

Adoption signature

Adopted by (Name, Rank)
Signature
Effective date
Next scheduled review

Before adoption checklist

  • ☐Replace [DEPARTMENT NAME] throughout the document.
  • ☐Complete every [BRACKETED] placeholder.
  • ☐Confirm the current edition of every cited standard.
  • ☐Check against your state statutes and state fire marshal rules.
  • ☐Route for chief review. Topics with significant exposure (use of force, medical scope) also go through qualified counsel.
  • ☐Confirm alignment with any mutual-aid agreements.
  • ☐Schedule a training plan for the new policy before effective date.
  • ☐Announce adoption in writing to all members. Archive the prior version.
  • ☐Set the next review date — annually at minimum.