AFAC Position on the Use of Lookouts, Awareness, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones (LACES) System for Wildfire Firefighters Safety on the Fireground
April 2008
Introduction
There are a variety of memory aides used for fire survival across the jurisdictions as part of safety regimes that are designed to avoid fire entrapment. The adoption of LACES by all fire agencies is recommended as it would provide greater uniformity between jurisdictions and it is a simple and proven tool.Purpose
This is a position to implement Lookouts, Awareness, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones (LACES) into all Australian and New Zealand fire services to increase firefighter safety during wildfire operations by providing a simple way to help firefighters remember the key elements to survival and the avoidance of entrapment situations.Scope
The scope of this position is to support a simplified memory aide for fire survival.It excludes other active fire safety and survival training and systems. It also excludes other mechanical and engineering solutions to fire survival and fire safety in appliances, buildings and vehicles.
Utility easements is not within the scope of the position.
