9216 NFES (FA240)
May 2, 2002
NATIONAL FIRE EQUIPMENT SYSTEM
CACHE MEMORANDUM NO. 02-04

To: NFES: National Incident Support Caches

From: Paul Naman, NFES Representative - NIFC

Subject: Escape Route/Safety Zone Flagging (NFES# 0566)

The Safety and Health Working Team of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has recommended the adoption of a new primary standard for escape route/safety zone flagging. The earlier standard for escape route/safety zone flagging was the biodegradable lime green type adopted in 1995. Operational experience with the biodegradable lime green flagging indicated it was difficult to see due to low contrast in various fuel types. As a result the lime green flagging has not been widely used. The adoption of the new standard for escape route/safety zone flagging is based on the results of field testing performed by the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC). These tests indicated that the "hot pink" color was the easiest color to see for people with normal color vision and was also the most visible color for flagging when viewed from a distance.

Based on the findings of the MTDC study, the Safety and Health Working Team has recommended that hot pink non-biodegradable flagging marked "ESCAPE ROUTE" in black lettering, be adopted as the primary national standard for escape route/safety zone flagging. This change was effective as of
January 1, 2002.

The hot pink escape route/safety zone flagging (NFES# 0566) is available through some commercial wildland fire equipment and supply companies and is also available through the Great Basin Fire Cache at (208) 387-5104, to all organizations eligible to order through the National Fire Equipment System (NFES). This item is not currently available through GSA.

If you have any technical/specification related questions or comments regarding this information please contact George Jackson at (406) 329-3800. Please address all other questions to Paul Broyles, Safety and Health Working Team, at (208) 387-5226.

/s/ Paul E. Naman

cc:
State Fire Management Officers - BLM
Regional Directors Fire and Aviation Management - USFS
Technology Development Centers - San Dimas, Missoula
Agency Directors - NIFC
Logistics Center - NICC
Ray Balli - GSA
Paul Solarz - USFS