Published July 20, 2026 04:00PM
In June, I was driving down a remote highway outside of Arizona’s Vermillion Cliffs National Monument when my phone buzzed with an SOS message. A wildfire was burning nearby, the message said, and campers and hikers on the Arizona National Scenic Trail were being told to evacuate the area.
We kept driving, but the screeching sound and dramatic buzz of the emergency alert prompted a question: If I was caught in a wildfire, did I know what to do?
Experts say this could be one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent U.S. history, citing extreme drought, overstretched crews, and a sweeping Forest Service restructuring. So, we called up two fire experts—Bill Kaage and Riva Duncan—to get valuable advice on how to act safely if you encounter a wildfire.
Kaage began his career in 1983 as a firefighter on the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho. He worked in fire management in the Everglades National Park in Florida and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California before moving to Boise headquarters to serve chief for the National Park Service Division of Fire and Aviation before his retirement in 2022. With more than three decades spent working in wildfire, Duncan is now the president of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, an advocacy group representing wildland firefighters the country. She previously served as the U.S. Forest Service Fire Chief.
Here’s what they told Outside.
1. I Spotted a Fire in the Backcountry. What Should I Do First?
If you have cell coverage, first call 911—don’t assume the fire has been reported.
“If you have a map or other device that you can use to note the fire location, you should capture the data for reporting once you’re in a location you can communicate with fire managers,” Kaage said. Keep an eye on current and expected weather, and where you are in relation to the fire—are you on the other side of the ridge, above the fire, or down canyon? Note what vegetation type the fire is burning, like whether it’s grass or brush.
Are you Camping? Start packing up. Are you on a hike? Turn around. Assess the speed of your hiking group, and remember that you’re only as fast as the slowest traveler.
“Wildfires can grow quickly, and they can also change directions,” Duncan said.
2. I Called for Help. Now What?
If you’ve called for help, Kaage says to next plan for your safety and survival. If you can, get to a spot that where responders can safely find you and stay put as long as your situation doesn’t worsen.
“It’s much easier for search and rescue to find people who are not on the move. Try to be in an open area so that aircraft can find you,” Duncan said. “Put out a bright piece of clothing or gear so it’s easier for them to spot you. If you have to move, stay on developed trails as searchers may also be using those trails to find you.”
3. I Just Got an SOS Alert to Evacuate My Area. Should I?
If you receive an SOS alert to evacuate the area, Kaage says to follow the directions or warnings as provided. Duncan adds that if you can’t see or smell smoke, you probably have time to pack up your gear and leave.
“But if you see or smell smoke, evacuate as quickly as possible and go in the opposite direction of the fire,” she said. “If the alert doesn’t have specific info on exactly where the fire is, go downhill, whether that’s back the way you came or in the direction you’re traveling. Try to stay in open areas.”
Certain states or counties also allow residents to opt in for wildfire-season updates from officials. Check in with your local fire agencies about how to receive text notifications. You can also download the Federal Emergency Management Agency app to receive real-time updates from the National Weather Service for up to five locations.
4. I Need to Outrun a Fire. Do I Go Uphill or Downhill?
A common misconception is that a person running uphill will outrun the fire and get away from the flames, but fires often travel faster uphill.
“We all remember that heat rises, so that’s part of it, but also the radiant heat from the flames dries out the vegetation uphill as the fire is moving—that dried-out vegetation is now fuel to keep feeding the fire,” Duncan said.
In mountainous terrain, winds typically flow upslope and will push a fire even faster uphill. So, go downhill.
5. Where Is the Safest Place to Go if I Can’t Outrun a Fire?
It may feel counterintuitive to move toward an area that’s already burned, but these blackened spaces are among the safest to be if you can’t outrun a wildfire. Kaage points to a well-known mantra in the fire community: Keep one foot in the black.
“It becomes your zone of safety,” Kaage said. Vegetation is fuel, so finding areas without plant matter or those with sparse vegetation can be safe.
Wet meadows and bogs can also be safe zones. Rocky scree slopes may provide relief, so long as there is no vegetation growing between the rocks, Duncan adds. She advises that not all recently burned areas are equally as safe, however.
“A very recently burned area can be safe if it has burned “hot,” meaning much of the low-growing vegetation like grass, shrubs, small trees is gone,” Duncan said. “Areas that have burned but still have leaves on the bushes and leaves or needles on lower branches of trees can burn again.”
Avoid these areas if possible, and beware of places with trending dead trees, Duncan adds.
“Wildfires create strong winds and can topple snags and even live trees. Areas of last resort could include dirt roads or road ditches,” she said.
6. Are Streams and Rivers Safe?
Movies often show people hiding in rivers or streams, but meandering waterways can also trap heat and smoke under certain conditions.
“Streams are seductive since water puts out fire. That said, if you’re in a steep canyon, you could be subjected to all the methods of heat transfer: convection, conduction, and radiant,” Kaage said. Radiant heat, which you feel when standing next to a campfire, can also burn you if you get too close.
Besides protecting your skin, you also need to protect your airway.
“Fires don’t just burn; they rob the air of oxygen and contain superheated gases which can still seriously harm or kill you if you breathe them in,” Duncan said.
If left without other options, Duncan says streams, creeks, and rivers may be good places to hunker down if you’ve considered the above factors. But keep in you can also drown of suffer hypothermia.
“Your body can be in the water, but you still have to breathe, and if the fire burns over the water, it could be creating unsurvivable conditions. If you have to get in the water, try to make a cover or “tent” over your head to keep a little bit of clean air,” she said.
7. Should I Drink Water or Use It to Cool Myself?
Stay hydrated.
“Let your body do the work of cooling you from within while also ensuring you have enough moisture to do everything else required of it,” Kaage said.
Dehydration can be deadly, and your body needs water to sweat and cool itself from the inside out. Extreme dehydration can cause confusion and fainting, making escape even more difficult.
Movies sometimes show people wetting cloths and holding them to their mouths. This, Duncan says, is a big mistake. The heat can create steam that can burn your airway or lungs, so if you’re going to use a cloth to protect your airway, make sure it’s dry.
8. Should I Be Afraid of Falling Trees?
People caught in a wildfire usually die of smoke inhalation or superheated air and gases before the flames ever reach them. Falling trees are also a real concern, and if you have to take refuge, Duncan and Kaage say to find a place as open as possible.
“Falling trees and rocks dislodged through the burning of vegetation are real concerns,” Kaage said. “Gravity is one of five main ways firefighters perish in the line of duty. The others are fire itself, heart attacks, driving, and aviation accidents.
9. What Weather Conditions Make Fire Worse?
Before committing to an escape route, pay close attention to changing weather conditions.
Is it getting hotter and drier? Are thunderstorms with downdrafts likely? Is the wind changing direction or speeding up? Do you have time to observe how the fire is spreading and whether it’s getting more intense? Shifts in the weather, especially increasing heat, drier air or shifting winds, can cause a wilfire to spread faster or change direction unexpectedly.
Keep an eye out for storms, Duncan adds. Cold fronts can also create dramatic wind shifts and drops in humidity that can increase fire spread.
Pay attention to weather warning signs. If you see these changes, reassess your route and be prepared to change plans if it may no longer be safe, Kaage says.
10. If I Need to Run, Should I Ditch My Gear?
Both Kaage and Duncan said to keep your gear so long as it doesn’t hinder your movement. If a fire is nearing or you’re having trouble breathing, consider ditching the extra weight.
“I’m one who hangs on to my gear as it contains safety elements that are meant to help me in an emergency. That said, if fire impingement or airway issues are imminent and speed is of the essence for personal protection, ditch the added weight,” Kaage said. “I’m talking when it means the difference between perishing and surviving.”
Even if you’re not hurt, rescue could take hours and having an emergency supply could keep you alive and comfortable. If you do have to drop your pack, Duncan says to bring a water bottle, phone or other means of communication, and a first aid kit.
Another consideration is the fabric of your clothing. Synthetic clothing melts, which is why wildland firefighters have to wear natural fibers like wool, cotton and silk under their fire shirts and pants.
“I’m a big proponent for hiking clothes also made from natural fibers for all kinds of reasons, but potential wildfires are one of them,” Duncan said.
