Wildland

Common denominators of fire behavior on tragedy fires.

1. relatively small fires or deceptively quiet areas of large fires. 2. light fuels 3. unexpected wind shifts in direction or speed 4. fire responds to topographic conditions and runs uphill.

Advantages of a parallel attack

not in the smoke and heat; reduces amount of line needed

Creeping

Burning with low flame and spreading slowly.

Tactical Patrol

mobility and continuous monitoring of an assigned area.

Smoldering

Burning without flame, barely spreading.

What are three visible weather indicators which may suggest fire spotting?

High winds, cold fronts, and thunderstorms.

Define a safety zone

Area where a firefighter can survive without a fire shelter.

Bump & Run

resources move ahead of the fire front looking for spot fires; good for early stages with limited resources; defensive tactic

Fire front following

start deploying once head is gone; come in behind fire front and search for victims; effective perimeter control

Disadvantages of a parallel attack

unburned fuels between you and fire; escape routes and safety zones must be known by all; most dangerous of the three methods.

Anchor and Hold

use control lines and large water streams from fixed water supplies to stop fire spread; extinguish structure fires; protect exposures; reduce ember production

What are the advantages of indirect attacks?

using existing features; limited mop up; not working in the heat and smoke

Structure triage (per IRPG)

1) Defensible - prep and hold 2) Defensible - standalone 3) Non-defensible - prep and leave 4) Non-defensible - rescue drive-by

What are the three kinds of fire attack?

1) Direct 2) Indirect 3) Parallel

Structure triage (per lecture)

1) Not threatened 2) Threatened - defensible 3) Threatened - non-defensible

Control Line

All the constructed and and natural fire barriers and treated fire edges used to contain the fire.

Anchor Point

An advantageous location, generally a fire barrier, from which to start constructing a fireline.

What are five factors which may produce rapid fire spread?

Cold fronts, Foehn winds, thunderstorms, dust devils, and firewhirls.

Structural Evaluation Points

Construction type? Clear of debris? Openings for fire to enter? Adequate clearance around the structure or LPG? Current fire behavior? Resources available?

What is the difference between having the fire contained and having it controlled?

Contained means you have the fire hooked. Controlled means the fire is contained with a control line around it.

What are the advantages of direct attacks?

Get instant results, don't have to fire out, close to the black which is a safety zone.

Torching

Fire burning on the surface, but periodically igniting the crown of a single or small group of trees or shrubs before returning to the surface.

Narrow Canyon

Fire can spread to the opposite side of the canyon. This can lead to a blow-up or area ignition.

Backing

Fire moving away from the head, downhill, or against the wind.

Crowning

Fire that advances across tops of trees or shrubs more or less independent of surface fire.

Characteristics of fuels

Fuel loading, availability, arrangement, moisture

When is relative humidity usually at its minimum?

Mid-afternoon around 2-3PM.

Describe typical wind conditions on the south side of a mountain during mid-afternoon and at midnight.

Mid-afternoon the winds will be upslope until around midnight when they will shift to downslope.

What are the disadvantages of direct attacks?

Not effective against wind driven fires; operating in the heat and smoke; no man-made barriers

Box Canyon

One way in and out. Fires react similar to a woodburning stove or chimney.

How is the flank different from the perimeter?

The flank is the side of the fire that is parallel to the main direction of spread. The perimeter is is the boundary line of the fire.

What are the 3 principal environmental elements affecting fire behavior?

Topography, fuels, and weather.

What is a pocket?

Unburned area between the main fire and any fingers.

Chain

Unit of measurement approximately 66 feet.

Saddle

Winds speed up as it passes through; looks like a good safety zone but it isn't.

Direct attack

direct attack on fire's edge; mobile pumping; use hand tools or hose lines

Indirect attack

fighting fire away from the fire's edge

Parallel

fire line 5-50 feet from the fire's edge

What are the disadvantages of indirect attacks?

giving up acreage; crews are in front of the advancing fire; portions of fire line already burned not used