You and your family
decide to take a camping trip
in the great outdoors.
You're relaxing in your tent
when suddenly, you smell smoke.
You assume the kids are making s'mores
but they're fast asleep.
Which means, the smoke you're smelling
is coming from the surrounding,
burning forest.
You're in the middle of a forest fire.
You might be camping somewhere
in the Western United States,
which is where wildfires are most common.
Although they can occur anywhere,
with over 50,000 happening
worldwide in 2019.
As big, uncontrolled infernos
that catch quickly
and tear through wild landscapes,
90% of forest fires are started either
purposely or accidentally by humans.
But what causes these fires
in the first place?
Wildfires occur when a heat source
comes into contact with fuel.
Like a match igniting dry leaves,
or lightning striking a tree.
And under extreme conditions,
they can reach flame heights
of 50 m (164 ft)
or more
and temperatures exceeding
These fires are extremely deadly,
killing roughly 15,000 people in the U.S.
from chronic smoke inhalation every year.
So what should you do
if you're caught in a raging blaze?
Well, there's no reason to get naked
unless you're wearing synthetics,
because synthetics will
burn very quickly.
But there are other critical steps
you should follow to safely
survive a forest fire.
It's important to stay calm.
Don't panic and start running,
thinking you'll beat the fire,
because you won't.
Fires travel at extremely high speeds,
making an on foot escape
nearly impossible.
And the worst thing you can do
is use up your limited oxygen
with shallow, panicked breathing.
So, it's time to take a deep breath
and prepare for what's to come.
Cover your airways.
Otherwise, you're running the risk of
severe smoke inhalation
that may prove fatal.
Use whatever clothing you have
to cover your mouth and nose.
And if you can't move any further,
look for nonflammable,
safe places to hide under,
such as large boulders or downed logs.
Scan the nearby trees and try to find
anything of a hardwood
variety to shelter near.
They're more difficult to ignite
and burn slower.
Conifers are not your friends, today.
They burn extremely fast.
Remember, forest fires seek oxygen
and travel quicker uphill
rather than downhill.
So make your way to the bottom of
any hill, if possible.
And if the area is clear
of vegetation, even better.
Next, find a ditch.
If you can't find one close by,
you might want to start digging
in an open space with soft ground.
Make sure to cover yourself with
whatever you have available.
Clothing, blankets or soil
are your best options.
Or, perhaps, cover will be provided for you
like it was for
California wildfire survivor Nichole Jolly,
who found herself trapped in a car
engulfed in flames.
She jumped out of her vehicle
through smoke and ash
and was lucky enough to make it
to a nearby fire truck,
where they helped her into the truck
and put a fire blanket over the windows
to wait out the flames.
Let the authorities know about the fire
and your last known location.
That way, they have a better chance
of rescuing you in time
from a pinpointed search area.
So, if you ever find yourself
in a forest fire,
remember to stay calm,
cover your mouth and nose,
assess your area,
make a plan,
and call for help.
And hopefully, someone will come
to assist you through the
hellish conditions.
Of course, if more people
had listened to Smokey the Bear,
you probably wouldn't be
in this situation to begin with.
But speaking of bears,
if you should happen to encounter
a less than friendly one, check out
How to Survive a Bear Attack
and know ahead of time
how to stay alive.