Wildland Firefighter Safety: LCES

Practice vocabulary terms related to the LCES protocol for wildland firefighter safety.

LCES

An acronym representing the foundation of wildland firefighter safety, which stands for Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones.

Lookouts (L)

Personnel who constantly scan the surroundings (behind, to the sides, and above) for terrain, weather, fire behavior, and hazards without getting distracted by the task.

Communications (C)

The maintenance of clear and concise contact with a crew through established radio channels, frequencies, radio checks, repeated messages, and hand signals.

Escape Routes (E)

Multiple identified paths of travel to safety that are kept clear of hazards and fuel and are reassessed as fire conditions change.

Safety Zones (S)

Areas identified before they are needed that are free of fuel and large enough for the entire crew, serving as the last line of defense.

Quick LCES Check

A safety protocol requiring a stop and reassessment if lookouts, communications, escape routes, and safety zones cannot all be verified.

Poor Communication

A condition in wildland firefighting that leads to confusion and subsequent mistakes.

Radio Check

A procedure used to ensure communications are working and that the crew knows the correct radio channel and frequency.