Control measure Emergency response plans: Wildfires
Control measure knowledge
Wildfire fire plans (sometimes referred to as wildfire response plans) can help to improve the safety and effectiveness of the response should a wildfire occur.
Wildfire fire plans should be prepared before an incident and include a range of important information such as:
General information
- Contact names and details for land owners and/or land managers
- Contact names and details for neighbouring land owners
- Communication methods and procedures
- Rendezvous points (RVPs)
- Significant hazards
- Access points and access, egress and escape routes for personnel
- Equipment available
- Building and site plans
- Location and type of animals (refer to the hazard 'Presence of animals' for further information)
- Location and type of any hazardous materials (refer to National Operational Guidance: Hazardous materials for further information)
- Stock maps and plans (for woodland)
- Designated or sensitive sites (refer to the hazard 'Environmental impact' for further information)
- Specialist resources
- Maps of the area
- Digital photography of the area
Information on the provision of water
- Water supplies on site
- Any pre-planned arrangements to provide additional water supplies to the site
- Plans for potential deployment of high volume pumps (HVPs)
- Areas of hard standing that may be suitable for parking HVPs and for temporary dams
Information on vehicle movement and parking
- Access, egress and escape routes for vehicles
- Any narrow access or egress routes that that may require vehicle marshalling and/or one-way systems
- Any limitations to the types of vehicles that may be able to use specific access, egress or escape routes
- RVPs and suitable holding or parking areas for vehicles
- Turning and passing areas for vehicles
- Areas of hard standing that may be suitable for vehicles
- Road and bridge weight limits and surface hazards
Information on utilities
- Location of overhead power lines
- Location of gas or oil pipelines
Information related to aircraft
- Helicopter authorisation details
- Pre-planning for using aircraft
- Potential impact of a wildfire and/or firefighting operations on aircraft and airports
Information on military training areas and shooting ranges/areas
- Location of areas containing unexploded ordnance
- Location of shooting ranges/areas (both civilian and military)
- Potential impact of a wildfire and/or firefighting operations
Strategic actions
Fire and rescue services should:
- Identify relevant wildfire sites and their risks, and prioritise them according to the level of risk
- Gather information for inclusion in the wildfire fire plans
- Carry out familiarisation visits to identified sites
- Record and capture the information gathered from familiarisation visits and other sources
- Establish a delivery method to present the information in a clear and timely manner
- Schedule reviews and audits for the validity and accuracy of wildfire fire plans
- Consider organising joint training to test the use of wildfire fire plans, involving other organisations as appropriate
Access any available wildfire emergency response plan and implement appropriate predetermined actions
Tactical actions
Incident commanders should:
Access any memoranda of understanding or other arrangements that exist for wildfire incidents