Wildland 'Safety Island'?

Anyone got any ideas what it is? I was thinking hawaii safe from the reality of bills and cold weather! jk Seriously in regards to wildland does anyone know the definition of a saftey island?

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Permalink Reply by FETC on July 4, 2010 at 3:50pm

SAFTEY, never heard of it? Is that something like SAFE-ISH?

WP help us out.....

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Permalink Reply by Reg Mathis on July 4, 2010 at 4:18pm

I believe it is a pre-burned or plowed area(with no possible fuel) that the Wildland FF's can retreat to if a situation gets out of hand...

But then again, I could be wrong!

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Permalink Reply by Allen Ray Corey j.r. on July 5, 2010 at 1:35am

according to the NWCG online glossary of wildland fire termanolagy there is not a term "Safety Island"
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/glossary/index.htm
this is the link for the site I will however ask around and look in to it more as I have never heard the term used before

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Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on July 5, 2010 at 2:26am

Sounds like the same thing as a safety refuge, or area that has either already burned, or can't burn (ploughed under, slashed, paved, etc) that crews can retreat to if the situation deteriorates.

The idea of it being an "island" does not give me confidence, I'd rather have a peninsula, so I can get the hell out of there!

In Australia, a lot of rural towns have a designated refuge area (usually the local cricket oval) that residents can retreat to if they can't evacuate. This area has had it's fuel load reduces, and can be defended. Also, the fire brigades know that people will be there, so we can plan the resources to defend it!

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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on July 5, 2010 at 8:46am

It must be the same as a safety zone, as several have suggested. Where/how did you hear the term?

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Permalink Reply by Oldman on July 5, 2010 at 10:23am

An "island" in wildland fires is a place you don't want to be. You have no escape route. I've never heard of a "safety island".

As some suggest, it may be a patch devoid of fuels where one might be able to seek refuge and to deploy a shake and bake bag.