Fake fire shelters raise safety concerns for wildfire crews

Energy & Environment Fake fire shelters raise safety concerns for wildfire crews Comments: by Alicia Sitz - 07/15/26 10:33 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Alicia Sitz - 07/15/26 10:33 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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(NewsNation) — A national wildfire agency is warning crews to check their gear for counterfeit fire shelters.

The National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group, which is responsible for national-level strategic coordination, priority setting and resource allocation for wildland fires, issued the notice on July 10. The warning comes after multiple “nonspecification” fire shelters were found in several incidents this year. Fortunately, none have been involved in entrapments or deployments.

Engineer Doug Skinner from Anaheim Fire Department pulls a plastic tarp over himself to simulate a fire blanket in a dynamic shelter deployment exercise (used in high winds with an approaching fire) while another firefighter (left) is covered and Capt. Bill Van Horn (right, background) follows his team from Truck 8 from Anaheim Fire Department Tuesday morning as part of a wildland fire training exercise. (Photo by Kari Rene Hall/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Fire shelters are mandatory equipment for crews battling wildfires in rugged terrain. According to federal data, they have been used in about four dozen wildfires over the last two decades and have saved hundreds of lives since their implementation.

How fire shelters work

Fire shelters are designed to protect users when they are unable to escape a fire. It blocks out the intense heat and traps breathable air inside until the fire passes or the person is rescued. The one-time-use shelters weigh around 6 pounds and come folded up in a firefighter’s pack. They’re made using aluminum foil, silica fabric and fiberglass.

Left is a specification carrying case with heat-pressed label, right is a non-specification carrying case with label stitched on. (Credit: National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group)
Specification shelters, left in each pair, and non-specification shelters, right in each pair, showing incorrect, sloppy folding and buried shake handles. (Credit: National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group)
Specification shelter (left) with stenciling, non-specification (right) without stenciling. (Credit: National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group)
Specification carrying case (left) and non-specification (right). Note missing “USE INSTRUCTIONS” stenciling, shape of carrying case (absent squared structure of hard plastic liner), and size difference (Credit: National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group

While beneficial in extreme cases, the shelters aren’t a guaranteed lifesaver. The U.S. Forest Service reports that its ability to protect the user depends on how long they’re exposed to heat and other factors. Moisture, sand, debris and rough use can also damage them.

Differences with counterfeit fire shelters

The counterfeit shelters come in packaging similar to the specification packs and even include labels claiming compliance with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. However, the NMAC says there are telltale signs that they are not. The nonspecification shelters are missing stencils on the packaging, missing insert labels and have a “sloppy” fold compared to NWCG-compliant fire shelters.

This isn’t the first time nonspecification fire shelters have been discovered on crews, according to the NMAC. In 2023, shelters claiming to meet Forest Service specifications were discovered. This latest round was first identified in February of this year.

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