Selecting Your Deployment Site

The characteristics of an effective deployment site have not changed. Your goal in selecting a deployment site is to keep the fire shelter away from heat, especially flames. Practice evaluating deployment sites so that you can recognize them quickly under stress. Identify effective sites whenever you are on the fireline so you know where they are before you need one.

A rocky mountain forest

1. Keep away from narrow draws, chutes, and chimneys. They tend to funnel smoke, flames, and hot gases that can damage your shelter.

A rocky mountain forest

2. Avoid saddles on ridgetops. They also funnel smoke and heat.

A dirt road in through wildland forest.

3. Flat areas on slopes, such as benches, or road cuts, offer some protection from radiant and convective heat. These level areas can keep you below the path of flame and convective heat. Do not deploy in the middle of a road if vehicles may be passing. A drainage ditch on the uphill side of a road cut can be an effective deployment site unless it contains fuels that could ignite and burn the shelter. Four firefighters deployed their fire shelters on this road during a burnover. All four survived with only minor burns.

A rocky mountain forest

4. Stay out of draws, even when deploying on a road.

Birds eye view of a smoke rising above trees in a forest

A rockslide with tall trees in the forefront

5. Try to pick natural firebreaks such as wet meadows, wide streambeds, swampy areas, and rockslides.

6. Do not deploy in or next to tall or thick grass, small trees, trees with low branches, brush, piles of slash, or firefighting equipment such as packs, parachutes, tools, or chain saws. Firefighters have been burned because they deployed too close to such fuels. Large rockslides can be effective deployment sites, but you must stay away from brush and trees, and from fuels scattered in the rocks. Even though it can be difficult to hold the edges of the shelter down, large, jumbled rocks, rockslides sometimes offer the largest area free of fuels and may be the best option for deployment.

A rocky mountain forest

7. Ground fuels, such as grass, or tree litter, can ignite rapidly. Clear the deployment site to mineral soil if time allows. If time is critical, pick a site with the sparsest fuels.

A rocky mountain forest

8. Deploy fire shelters well away from thick vegetation such as the shrubby understory and trees.

A rocky mountain forest

9. Boulders, large rocks, buildings, vehicles, and equipment can provide buffers from the heat of the fire. Keep in mind that when vehicles, equipment, and buildings catch fire, they burn hot, and for a much longer duration than the vegetation around them. This can lead to shelters being exposed to heat for a prolonged period, well after the flame front has passed. This may keep firefighters in their shelters longer, exposed to prolonged levels of dangerous heat.

A rocky mountain forest

10. Avoid areas where rocks or logs can roll on you or snags can fall on you.

A rocky mountain forest

11. The lee side of a ridgetop can be an effective deployment site because the flames and hot gases tend to rise above the ridge. Fire intensity usually drops when fire reaches a ridge. But be alert for the possibility that firebrands might ignite fires below you on the lee side of the ridge.

A rocky mountain forest

12. Burned-out areas can be effective deployment sites if there is no fuel left to reburn. Be aware of residual heat and hotspots on the ground. Scrape the ground if possible to clear away any heat and burning materials. Burn injuries have occurred from firefighters deploying in the black that was still hot.

13. Wide areas that have been cleared of fuel, such as dozer lines or roads, can be good deployment sites, depending on the size of the area that has been cleared and the behavior of the fire.

14. Bodies of water can be adequate deployment zones, however you should be aware of several hazards if you find yourself having to use a body of water. Deployments can last from several minutes to an hour or more. If the water is over your head in depth, you may be at higher risk of drowning especially once your boots and clothing become waterlogged. Since water removes heat from the body much faster than air, you may be at risk of hypothermia from deployments in bodies of water. If there is a current to the water your fire shelter may be hard to hold on to or you may become entangled in your shelter and drown. The fire shelter’s ends can fill with water and become very heavy. For further information read this tech tip on deploying in bodies of water.

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NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Week of Remembrance

Date: June 27, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee

As we approach the 2025 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30–July 6, we dedicate this time to reflect on the past incidents from 2015 and honor the fallen through learning. Since its inception in 2014, WOR has honored wildland firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while encouraging critical discussions that reinforce lessons learned.

Throughout the week, we encourage thoughtful and generative conversations—whether in briefing rooms or at tailgates—that promote a culture of continuous learning and safety.

References:

2025 Week of Remembrance: Letter to Leadership

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003 Flame-Resistant Shirt Survey

Date: June 12, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The U.S. Forest Service National Technology and Development Program (NTDP) is seeking input on the Forest Service-designed flame-resistant (FR) shirt, currently available through the National Interagency Support Cache system and FedMall.

NTDP is conducting a product review to improve future FR shirt designs. As part of this effort, a short survey is now open for federal employees who have worn any of three recent FR shirt models. Feedback will guide design improvements to better meet the needs of wildland firefighters.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act, responses are limited to federal employees. The survey is open through September 12, 2025.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003

NEW! S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended) Now Available

Date: June 10, 2025
If you have questions, please visit our FAQ page.
If your question is not answered there, you can
submit your question using our Contact Us form.

The S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended), equips new wildland firefighters with essential skills through a mix of online learning and hands-on training. The course features a required online component and an instructor-led exercise, reinforcing online concepts with practical performance-based training.

The course builds competencies in wildland fire operations, safety, and equipment use, applicable across various operational environments. Both the online component and instructor-led field exercise must be completed to receive a certificate of completion. Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended).

References:

S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

EMC Memo 25-001: Interim Rapid Extraction Module (REMS) Training and Qualification Requirements

Date: June 3, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Emergency Medical Committee

The Emergency Medical Committee has issued interim guidance for Rapid Extraction Module Support (REMS) teams. Until further notice, Type I and II REMS teams must designate a team leader qualified at Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss (FFT1) or higher. This temporary change replaces the Single Resource Boss (SRB) requirement, which is currently not feasible due to administrative barriers.

This memorandum does not include any other changes to the NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552. This interim change takes effect immediately and will remain in place until further notice.

References:

EMC Memo 25-001: Interim Rapid Extraction Module (REMS) Training and Qualification Requirements

NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552

National Wildfire Coordinating Group

PMS 411

Selecting Your Deployment Site

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National Wildfire Coordinating Group

PMS 411

Selecting Your Deployment Site

NWCG Latest Announcements

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National Wildfire Coordinating Group