Chapter 1

Question 1

Pyrolysis

Answer 1

During fire wood undergoes pyrolysis. Solids/liquids are converted into a gas form with the use of heat. Result is char.

Question 2

Endothermic reaction

Answer 2

System absorbs energy from surroundings (~200C)

Question 3

Exothermic reaction

Answer 3

System releases energy. Occurs during flaming and smoldering phases (~400-1000C)

Question 4

Fire regime

Answer 4

Structured way of describing characteristic fire processes operating across a large area and time period. Specific to a set time period and spatial extent.

Question 5

Fireline intensity

Answer 5

Rate of heat transfer per unit length of fireline (kW/m)

Question 6

Fire management

Answer 6

Efforts to modify one or more of the basic elements of a fire regime, indirectly or directly

Question 7

Three mechanisms of heat transfer

Answer 7

Convection, radiation, and conduction

Question 8

Fire regime attributes (7)

Answer 8

Intensity, type, severity, size, cause, frequency, seasonality

Question 9

Fire management domains (know 3)

Answer 9

Policy/planning, prevention, mitigation, response, recovery

Question 10

Top two priorities for fire protection (AB)

Answer 10

Protect public forests and communities by preventing and suppressing fire

Question 11

Forestry Division objectives

Answer 11

Contain fire spread by 10 am following day and initiate suppression before fire exceeds 2 ha

Question 12

Difference between frequency, return interval, and cycle

Answer 12

Frequency: number of times a fire occurs within a defined area and time period
Return interval: time between fires in a specified area (usually small spatial scale ie. tree or stand)
Cycle: time to burn an area equal to the study area, years for the entire study area to have had fire

Question 13

Self-limiting properties of fire (ecosystem memory)

Answer 13

The behavior and spread of fire on a landscape will partly depend on the legacy of past fire events. Each fire alters the conditions for the next fire in the same location.