RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)
Category: Hazards
Core Component(s): Incident Reviews and Lessons Learned
Estimated Delivery Time: 30 minutes; Video Length: 11:34
Intent
Increase knowledge of the characteristics of a lightning strike, evaluate the risk, identify the warning signs of a potential lightning strike, and recognize lightning-related injuries and their symptoms.
Facilitator Preparation
- Review the video and module tools.
- Consider additional activities and discussion questions pertinent to the location and agency.
Facilitating the Discussion
- Show the video.
- Present the scenario below and guide students through the exercise.
Conduct Activity
- Divide the class as needed.
- Give each group the activity questions below.
- Discuss group responses.
- Review Thunderstorm Safety in the Specific Hazards (gray) section of the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461.
Scenario
You are part of a four-person rappel crew on initial attack of a ¼ acre lightning fire in subalpine fir on a sparsely wooded ridge in the late afternoon. There is a cumulonimbus cell approaching your position from the southwest and you begin to hear thunder and see lightning flashes within the anvil shaped cloud. You estimate the cell is seven to nine miles away and approaching fast.
- What are your actions and why?
- What warning signs influenced your decision?
- If a crew member is struck by lightning, what initial medical procedures do you implement?
- What medical transport concerns do you have?
- Have you been on an incident that involved personnel being involved in a lightning strike? If so, what was the outcome?
Resources
- Publication: Fire Weather Cloud Chart, PMS 438
- Publication: Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461
- Document: 6 Minutes for Safety – Thunderstorm Safety
Additional Video Information
This video is also available as a download.(Size 125 MB)
Download the .srt file for closed captioning (you may need to right click and Save As). For information on how to add closed captioning to a video, see this how to page.
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