a personal protection item carried by fire fighters which, when deployed, unfolds to form a pup-tent-like shelter of heat-reflective materials —note a fire shelter is designed to provide a last resort after a fire fighter has become trapped by fire; the current model weighs 2.8 lb (1.3 kg) and can be deployed in 20 to 25 seconds —synonym forest fire shelter This definition last updated 08/08/2008