Dead man zone

The Dead Man Zone is the area directly around a bushfire that is unburnt, and therefore can burn if the wind were to change direction, or a new fire to start.

Firefighters will try to stay out of this zone at all times, working from safe points like burnt ground or a large area of non-burnable ground, like an oval or large car park.

The result of several inquiries into firefighter death at Australian Bushfires, found that fire fighters should stay out of the Dead Man Zone, and that they should always keep 250 litres of water in their truck for personal safety.