Paper – draft due: Nov. 9Group presentation: Nov. 18

Updates

NREM 390 – 2 November 2010

FIRE SUPPRESSION

Wildland FireCategories of wildland fire

WildfireA fire that is unwanted (from an anthropocentric point of view) with various means of ignition

Prescribed Fire (human-ignited, natural-ignited)A fire that is wanted for management goals, and thus promoted

Escaped fireA term to describe a fire in transition to wildfire

The elimination or management of one or more parts of the fire triangle to prevent unwanted fire ignition and/or spread

FUELSeparate fuel from other fuel (fireline)

Eliminate by burning or mechanical removal

HEAT Reduce heat with water, dirt, foamInhibit combustion process by adding chemical retardants

OXYGENSmother the fire to remove oxygenOnly special cases where this is possible

What is Fire Suppression?

Strategies for Fire Suppression: Direct and Indirect Attack

Direct AttackAttempt at immediate fire suppression; should be done by experienced personnel given enhanced risks

Indirect AttackMore typical, involves build-up of resources and planning for fire suppression

May use other techniques

Strategies for Fire Suppression: Control, contain, confine

Control Use of all resources to completely put the fire out (federal government approach, e.g., old “10:00 AM rule”)

ContainUsing suppression methods to maintain a fire within defined areas

ConfineAllowing a fire to burn without active suppression as long as it remains within defined areas

Where would a prescribed fire operation typically fall?

Methods of Fire Suppression: Direct Control, Perimeter Control, Prescription Control

DIRECT CONTROLImmediate & complete extinguishment of fire (removal of one or more parts of the fire triangle)

Typically used on small, isolated incidents (local actions) or smaller parts of large fire complexesExamples?What concept was a famous means of direct control?

Methods of Fire Suppression: Perimeter control

Encirclement of a fire, confinement of active parts of a fire to prevent further fire spread

Most common means of fire control in most situations

Hotspotting selectively attacking active potions through direct control

When would the fire be contained? Or controlled?Contained: fire surrounded by a complete break in fuels

Controlled: fireline strengthened such that flareups can not cross the fire break

Methods of Fire Suppression: Prescription Control

Fire considered to be under prescription control as long as it meets certain criteria, e.g., geographic boundaries, fire behavior, weather conditions (= “the prescription” of a fire management plan)

Suppression actions may be take to confine the fire (= “confinement” or a “confined fire”)

Many of the same tactics utilized as with perimeter control

Parts of a FireOrigin

Point of ignition at which fire began

FlankSides of the fire or burning area

Heading fire (Head Fire)Leading edge of the fire as determined by wind, slope, fuels

Backing fireFire that is moving against prevailing abiotic factors

Parts of a FireSpot Fires

New fires or bodies of fire ignited by embers transported away from main body into receptive fuels

PocketsUnburned “peninsula” of fuel

FingerFire that has split off from main body and begun moving in its own (parallel) direction

IslandUnburned fuel within a fire area

BlackArea within the perimeter of a fire already burned out

Tactics for Fire Suppression: Firelines

Handline = built by crew using handtools (mineral soils)

Wetline = created by inundating fuels with water

Plowline, catline, tractor line = created by heavy equipment (mineral soil)

Mowed line = fuel cut & removedRetardant line – lines made with chemicalsFoam line – lines made with chemical foamsHotline – Fireline constructed in direct attack

Blackline = burning out area to eliminate fuels

Building firelinesHandline built by crew using handtools (mineral soils)

Blackline: Burning out an area to eliminate fuels

Hotline: Fireline constructed under direct attack

Tactics: Firing Operations

Burning out cleaning out pockets of fuel by burning (parallel method of attack)

Backfiring (“counterfiring”, “suppression firing”)

Fire used as part of indirect attack Burning large amounts of fuel in advance of the main fire (usually into the wind; not always) Replaces a fire over which direct control is impossible with a fire for which some control is likely

Photo Example

Burning out

Backfiring

Functional Model for Fire SuppressionReport/Dispatch

Initial report & response to a new fire (wildfire) or report to dispatch of new fire (prescribed)

Size-upTaking stock of what the fire is doing upon arrival

Matching the available suppression resources with the character of the fire

Initial AttackFirst resources on scene begin to address incident after sizing-up incident

“Smokechasing”

Functional Model for Fire SuppressionExtended Attack

When fire has grown too large to be managed strictly on I-A and more resources are needed over a longer period of time

Mop-upCompletely extinguishing all flame and burning fuels within a burn area

DemobilizationBreaking down of a fire operation: I-A resources leave scene, reverse of build-up

RehabilitationIf needed, rehabilitation of burned area: removal of equipment, repairing line, replanting if needed

Cerro Grande FireFire Management Plan (10 years)

Phase 1 – grasslands in upper portion of unitPhase 2 – forested area on east and west sidesPhase 3 – central wetter area

Prescribed Fire – 2000Only Phase 1

Escaped fire wildfire fire suppressionThreatened the towns of Los Alamos and White Rock (18,000 residents)

Threatened the Los Alamos National Laboratory

Bandelier National Monument: Cerro Grande Prescribed Fire

Scenarios1) Slopover of main fire into the Sante Fe National ForestDirect attack, hotspotting, direct control, mop-up

2) Slopover of main fire into the Sante Fe National ForestBurning out, coldtrailing, coldtrail, safety zone

3) Spotting from main fire into the Phase III burn unitSmokechasing, prescription control, fireline, confinement

4) Spotting from main fire into the Phase III burn unit, wind from the north increasing in speedAnchor point, backfiring, perimeter control, extended attack, escape route

Scenarios5) Spotting from main fire into the SE Phase II burn unit, wind shift so that it is gusting from the westSizeup, Fireline (explain what kind), perimeter control, backfiring, anchor point

6) Change in wind direction: originally from the N, now coming from the NE and becoming gusty, causing fire to spread into Baca RanchHotline, Contain, fireline (explain what kind), counterfiring, backing fire, lookout