Wildland- Ground Cover Fires. Flashcards
(27 cards)
LACES
Lookout
Anchor Point
Communication
Escape route
Safety zone
Breakover
A fire edge that crosses a control line or natural barrier intended to confine the fire.
Candling
When a single tree ignites and flares up from the bottom to the top.
Crowning
A fire ascending into the crowns of trees and spreading from crown to crown.
Lookout
A person designated to observe the fire or a portion of a fire and warn the crew when there are changes.
Topography
The land surface configuration
Torching
When a small clump of trees’ folliage ignites and flairs up.
Three types of wildland fires.
Ground fire.
Surface fire.
Crown fire.
Wildland Fire Behaviour Triange:
Weather, Topography, Fuel.
Wild land fuel can be classified into how many main categories.
2; Dead and live.
What is the single most important factor that determines fire behaviour in wildland?
Fuel moisture content.
Four variables that influence fire weather are:
Relative humidity, temperature, wind, precipitation.
The actual amount of water vapour in the air compared to what it could hold is:
Relative humidity.
What is RH considered a humid condition?
Greater than 60%
Term when temperature in ⁰C and RH in % are equal.
Crossover- extreme fire behavior is likely and control may be impossible.
Topography is broken into these 4 major categories:
Aspect, Steepness, Shape of the country, Barriers.
Define Aspect.
The direction (of the landscape) with respect to sinlight and wind.
Rule-of-thumb for spread increase:
A fire burning uphill on a moderate slope (0-40%) will double in speed when transitioned to a steep slope (40%-70%), and will double again when transitioned to a very steep slope (70%-100%).
Fire Danger Rating:
Low: Fires will not start readily and will burn slowly.
Moderate: Rate of fire spread will be moderate, control will not be difficult.
High: Fires will start easily and spread rapidly. Spotting will occur. Direct attack will be difficult.
Extreme: Fire will start readily from all causes, burn intensely, spread rapidly. Control will be confined to the flanks. Direct attack will be unlikely.
Parts of a ground cover fire
Area of origin: Where the fire started.
Head: Leading edge, generally most intense flame.
Rear: Opposite of the head. Generally least intense.
Flank: Side of the fire.
Finger: An extention of the fire away from the main body, often from shifting winds or Topo change.
Bay: The space between fingers or between finger and main body.
Island: An unburned area located within the area where the fire has already burned.
Spot Fire: Small fire that starts to burn ahead of the fire, usually a result of stray embers.
Green: The area of unburned fuel around the fire.
Black: Area where the fire has already burned, eliminating most of the fuel.
What are the 4 levels of fire status?
Out of control
Being Held
Under Control
Extinguished
Two methods of attack:
Direct Attack
Indirect attack
Direct attack is:
taking action on the actual burning perimeter of the fires edge. Flanking attack uses a single crew working from an anchor point along one edge. Pincer/Parallel attack uses two crews attacking both edges of the fire.
Indirect attack is:
Constructing an anchor line or constructing firebreaks.
