Fireline construction with bull dozers

In Victoria only two forest firefighters have been killed during fireline construction with bulldozers on wildfire since 1960. These men were not burnt but were overcome by hot gasses in unknown circumstances (Rod Incoll pers. comm). It appears that the men drove their tractor onto the burnt ground but were overcome when the fire swept around behind their line. If tractors are used to build line for parallel attack under conditions where the head fire cannot be controlled directly there is a danger of getting too far away from the burnt ground so that the tractor crew is vulnerable to a change in wind direction. Safe work practice should ensure that the tractor crew does not get isolated and always works under conditions where there is safe egress to a burnt area.