Drill Manual - Wildland Flashcards by Tony Hardy

Firewhirls indicate the presence of?

extreme fire behavior

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Unburned indentations in the fire edge formed by fingers or slow burning areas?

Pockets of a fire

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What’s one of the most commonly used, and safest methods of direct attack?

anchor, flank, and pinch the fire.

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After being notified of a turn down what should you do as a supervisor?

Immediately notify the Safety Officer. If none assigned, notify the IC

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Fire burning with a low flame and spreading slowly?

Creeping fire

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The burn index reflects?

the changes in fine fuel moisture content and wind speed and highly variable day to day

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Extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines, felling snags, and trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned, to make a fire safe, or to reduce residual smoke.

Mop up

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The diurinal wind in the coastal San Diego area is characterized as _________________?

a land and sea breeze wind

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______________ operations may be performed without the approval of the I.C. or direct supervisor however, a notification of both is essential to avoid confusion regarding observed fire behavior on the incident.

Burn out

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More than one emergency ________________ shall be established and shall lead to a safety zone?

escape route

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When is the Fire Danger Pocket card most useful?

initial fire size up, initial attack, and extended attack

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Follow-up tactic after passage of the fire front.

Involves searching for victims, perimeter control, hot spotting, and ember control

Fire Front Following

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An additional concern regarding firefighting on steep slopes is the possibility of burning material __________________?

rolling downhill below you.

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Weather is the combined factors of ?

temperature
wind
relative humidity
atmospheric stability
precipitation

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The steeper the slope, the ______ the fire burns.

faster

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The burn index, or BI, is most appropriate for short-term fire danger and can be loosely associated with _________ by dividing the BI by __?

flame length; 10

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As a general rule, the size, or distance separation of the safety zone should be at least _____ times the maximum continuous flame height.

four

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How many emergency communication plans should be set up?

Primary

Back up

Emergency

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_______________ are boundaries that contain no combustible material and are used in an attempt to control wildfires.

Control lines

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Resources use large volume fire streams to ex- tinguish structure fires, stop structure-to-struc- ture ignitions, protect exposures, and control embers

Anchor & Hold

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What do we use to enhance our situational awareness from past experiences?

18 watch-outs = past experience

case studies = past experience

mistakes from the past

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One of the most useful pieces of information the burn index card provides is

that it allows you to compare the day’s index number with historical data from years past and to significant fire events.

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Generally, the first-in engine company should begin a progressive hose lay up the ________ flank of the fire and subsequent arriving crews will attack the _________ flank.

most active; less active

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Box canyons, also referred to as __________?

chimneys

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An extra roll of 100’ of 1 1⁄2” hose placed every __________ along the hose lay in the black to use when a hose ruptures or burns.

200' to 300'

Type 1 strike teams are commonly used for _____________ and _____________ tactics

structure protection and direct attacks

Fire ignited outside the perimeter of the main fire by a firebrand?

Spot fire

Examples of medium fuels?

shrubs, chaparral, Manzanita, poison oak *** 3 - 6 feet in height

A _____ is a more shallow upslope canyon than a box canyon

draw

A canyon feature that funnels hot smoke and gasses upwards. Also used as another term for a box canyon

Chimney

For every 1000’ in elevation gain, the temperature drops ___ degrees F

5.5 degrees F

Once the flanks of the fire have been extinguished, the two progressive hose lays on the “alpha” and “zulu” flanks shall continue until they join together. This action is referred to as?

pinching

Fuels are also categorized by their size and shape. In the wildland firefighting arena, fuels generally fall into one of three categories:

light = 0' to 3' medium = 3' to 6' heavy = 6' and up

Resources remain mobile and continuously monitor assigned area after fire front passage. Involves aggressive mop up around structures Most structures do not burn until after the fire front has passed

Tactical Patrol

A one inch water thief placed every ____ in the hose lay for mop-up and rekindles�

200 feet

The part of a fire’s perimeter that is roughly parallel to the main direction of spread.

Flank of the fire

An _____________ is a layer of air where the temperature increases with altitude

inversion layer

_______ is the most critical factor affecting fire behavior, the most difficult to predict, and is the most variable

Wind

________________ are the most common method used for fighting wildland fires by engine companies

Progressive hose lays

Do not attempt a direct attack, consider indirect tactics with flame lengths?

11' +

When should LCES be communicated?

prior to every operational period and updated as necessary as conditions change

Base Camp Expectations: In _________ uniform while in the ICP, briefing area, dining area, or attending any other meetings�

Class B

Ladder fuels are located?

located above the surface fuels but still well below the top of the trees.

__________ are one of the most common indicators of unstable air

Dust devils

Resources move ahead of the fire front extinguishing spot fires and defending structures. Extreme caution must be utilized

Bump & Run

Which type of fuel lies beneath the surface?

ground fuel

In San Diego, the local wind is considered a ___________?

diurnal wind

Upslope winds begin when?

just after sunrise

Attacking the Head of the Fire Should only be used when?

This tactic should only be considered when a life safety hazard exists, or when the flame lengths are less than four feet providing that all safety measures are in place (LCES, Standard Firefighting Orders, etc.).

__________ tactics are used to support an offensive strategy�

Direct attacks

When does downslope winds begin?

just before sunset

Firewhirls are unpredictable, but often develop on the ___ side of ridgelines?

lee side

small and large scale temperature differences are referred to as?

pressure gradient

Indirect attack tactics are used to support a ________ strategy

defensive

Often times the anchor point will be the _____________ of the fire

point of origin

Type 3 strike teams are commonly used for _______ and _______ attack tactics?

direct and indirect

An ideal anchor point will have?

safety zone or large clearing nearby, good access for incoming resources, a water supply, and good visibility of the main body of the fire.

• Used for Threatened Non-Defensible structures • Structure preparation can be safely completed prior to fire front impact Remove small combustibles near structure (wood piles, furniture, etc�) ○ Close windows and doors and leave unlocked ○ Clear around LPG tanks and shut off fuel valve ○ Remove larger vegetation if time permits ○ Turn on sprinklers • Potential fire activity is too dangerous to remain and/or there is no Safety Zone/TRA present� • LEAVE before escape routes are compromised�

Prep & GO

Ten percent of the burn index number given represents the _______ flame length, in feet, expected at the _______.

minimum ; fire front

Thunderstorms create erratic and gusty ______ as well as strong outward and inward flowing wind?

downdrafts

Unstable air is the result of a _____ air mass over a ____ air mass?

cold over warm

Area of unburned fuel inside the fire perimeter.

Island

As air temperature increases; relative humidity does what?

decreases

The burning index should NOT be used as?

fire behavior tactical tool

Cold front winds: Where does the danger lie to firefighters with these winds?

pre-frontal conditions

Foehn wind speeds often reach _______ mph and tend to be stronger at night when they combine with the local downslope and land breeze

40 to 60 mph and stronger at night

When do you get downslope and down-valley winds?

midnight

How well a fuel will ignite and burn is dependent on its ____________?

moisture content

Where is the corridor that breaks the two micro climates in San Diego?

805

Upslope winds typically range in speed from _________ mph

3 to 8

When does inversion layers "lift" or break apart?

when the temperature of the day warms to a point where the air above the inversion layer is now cooler than the surface temp

A _____ is a more shallow upslope canyon than a box canyon

draw

A _____________ is an area where a firefighter can survive without a fire shelter

safety zone

The long narrow extensions of a fire projecting from the main body?

Fingers of the fire

Used for Threatened Defensible structures • Appropriate when a Safety Zone is nearby and TRA is present • Adequate time exists to prepare the structure for defense prior to fire front impact. ○ Same as prep & go above ○ Put in hose lines ○ Pre-treat structure with foam • Escape routes must be maintained

Prep & Defend

That portion of a fire spreading directly into the wind or down slope. That portion of a fire edge opposite the head. Slowest spreading portion of a fire edge. Also called heel of a fire.

Rear of a fire

Inversion layers indicate what type of weather?

calm, settled weather

Inversion layers commonly form ____ as cold air tends to settle in low-lying areas and valleys

at night

Leave enough slack, approximately ___ in between each coupling. Because not all rolls of hose are a true 100’, this slack allows for a shorter piece of hose to replace a burst section.

10 feet

_____ and ____ slopes are more directly exposed to sunlight, generally have sparser lighter fuels, higher temperatures, lower humidity, lower fuel moisture, and are the most critical in terms for the start and spread of wildland fire, Figure 13-24�

South and West

Upslope and Up valley winds begin?

midday

What will the Fire Pocket Danger Card "NOT" do?

it will NOT provide site specific fire behavior predictions

Used for Threatened Non-Defensible structures • Most appropriate action when no Safety Zone/TRA is present and fire front impact is imminent. • Conduct rapid evaluation to check for occupants and eval- uate for follow up action� • LEAVE promptly

Check & GO

What do we use to identify "safety rules" in wildland?

10 Firefighting Standing Orders LCES

Firewhirls are generated by intense heat from fires and occur most often where ________________ of fuel are burning

heavy concentrations

In short, anything that protects firefighters from radiant or convective heat can be considered a __?

TRA

That portion of the fire with slower rates of fire spread and lower intensity, normally moving into the wind and/or down slope. Also called heel fire.

Backing fire

The three environmental components that influence wildland fire behavior are _______, _________ and __________?

weather, topography, and fuels

Fuels can be categorized into four major types?

Grass Shrub Timber Logging Slash

When should one of these be completed? SAFENET or SAFECOM form

unresolved safety hazard exists unsafe act was committed

The side of the fire having the fastest rate of spread.

Head of the fire

When does down-valley occur?

around midnight

A decision to turn down an assignment should be backed up by?

10 Firefighting Orders, 18 Situations That Shout Watchout, LCES Risk Management criteria to document the turn down

The supervisor must notify the ____________ immediately upon being in- formed of the turn down.

Safety Officer

Stable air is the result of a _____ air mass over a _____ air mass

warm over cold

This cooled dense air is stable causing the downslope wind to be slower and more stable, with speeds ranging from ______ mph

2 to 5

Unit of measure in land survey, equal to 66 feet (20 M) (80 chains equal 1 mile)� Commonly used to re- port fire perimeters and other fireline distances. Popular in fire management because of its convenience in calculating acreage (example: 10 square chains equal one acre)

Chain

Wind direction is defined as the direction from which _____________?

the wind is blowing

The ________ wind in the coastal San Diego area is characterized as a land and sea breeze wind�

diurnal wind

When is the highest temperature of the day suppose to be?

between 2 - 4 pm

An extra roll of 100’ of 1” hose and nozzle placed every __________ along the hose lay to use as a lateral line

200' to 300'