Unexploded Ordnance Safety
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Unexploded ordnance (UXO) is most likely to be encountered on military or former military sites. UXO poses risk of injury or death to anyone in the vicinity.
Situation Awareness
- Early identification of potential UXO is the first and most important step in reducing risk posed by UXO.
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Many types of UXO may be encountered:
- Small arms munitions
- Guided missiles
- Rockets
- Projectiles
- Mortars
- Bombs
- Grenades
- Sub munitions
- UXO may be found fully intact or in fragments. ALL UXO presents a potential hazard and should be treated as such.
- Deteriorated UXO presents a particular hazard because it may contain chemical agents that could become exposed.
Hazard Control
- If you see UXO, stop and do not move closer.
- Isolate and clearly mark the area.
- Deny entry to others.
- Never transmit radio frequencies near UXO.
- Never remove anything near UXO.
- Never touch, move, or disturb UXO.
- Keep a minimum of 1000 feet away from areas on fire that contain suspected UXO.
- Report discovery of UXO to your immediate supervisor and/or dispatch.
- U.S. Army Operations Center for incidents involving explosives and ammunition: (703) 697-0218.
- 10 & 18 Poster, PMS 110-18
- 10 Standard Firefighting Orders, PMS 110
- 18 Watch Out Situations, PMS 118
- Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book)
- NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461
- NWCG Standards for Helicopter Operations, PMS 510
- RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)
- Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center
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Share it with the NWCG 6MFS Subcommittee.