What makes a pocket dangerous for firefighters?

A pocket is defined in wildland firefighting as an area that is unburned but is completely surrounded by fire on three sides. This configuration creates a particularly hazardous situation for firefighters. The surrounding flames can generate intense heat, and the lack of an outlet means that the air may become extremely hot and smoky, increasing the risk of dangerous conditions such as heat exhaustion or fire entrapment.

Firefighters entering a pocket may find themselves in a situation with limited escape routes, making it difficult to avoid being overtaken by fire. Additionally, if the fire is actively burning nearby, flare-ups or sudden changes in wind direction can create volatile conditions that lead to rapid fire spread, further endangering those inside the pocket.

Understanding the characteristics of a pocket is crucial for fire behavior prediction and strategizing safe escape routes. Therefore, recognizing that a pocket is an unburned area surrounded on three sides by fire is key to assessing its danger level during wildfire operations.