Fire in Nature

Question 1

What’s the 2 year project called that’s been launched in Europe?

Answer 1

IGNIS (2016)

Question 2

What’s IGNIS aiming to do?

Answer 2

Improve the fire and rescue response by bringing together knowledge and expertise

Question 3

Example of a group involved in IGNIS

Answer 3

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service

Question 4

Wildfire

Answer 4

Any rural fire that’s uncontrolled and spreading

Question 5

3 Aspects of the Fire Triangle

Answer 5

Oxygen
Heat
Fuel

Question 6

Natural Causes of Wildfire

Answer 6

Lightning

Lava

Question 7

Humans Causes of Wildfire

Answer 7

Falling power lines
Campfires
Fireworks 
Arson 
Agricultural burning (controlled fires)

Question 8

El Nino Effect

Answer 8

Climate cycle in the Pacific Ocean where warm water in the Western Pacific Ocean moves eastwards along the equator to South America

Question 9

Why does the El Nino Effect cause more intense burning?

Answer 9

As it’s drier and hotter

Question 10

Why does drought favour more intense wildfires?

Answer 10

Low levels of retained water in plants- burns more quickly

Question 11

Ladder Fuel

Answer 11

Live or dead vegetation allowing a fire to climb from the forest floor to the tree canopy, meaning the fire is more influenced by winds

Question 12

Preparedness: 2 Countries Techniques on Educating

Answer 12

America- Smokey Bear

Australia- TV Adverts

Question 13

Preparedness: What are computer simulations used to do?

Answer 13

Model the fires track

Question 14

Preparedness: 2 Ways of Spotting Wildfires

Answer 14

Aircraft survey large areas

Satellites provide low resolution images

Question 15

What do Australia have on weather forecasts?

Answer 15

Fire Danger Ratings

Question 16

Prevention: 2 ways to prevent a wildfire

Answer 16

Manage vegetation

Manage built environment

Question 17

Prevention: How does managing vegetation work?

Answer 17

Controlled burning creates fire breaks, stopping a fire during a disaster

Question 18

Prevention: 3 ways to manage the built environment

Answer 18

Increase gaps between homes
Install fire beaters in areas where barbecues and campfires are common so fire doesn’t rapidly spread
Use more fire resistant burning methods

Question 19

Why’s it important to replant trees after a wildfire?

Answer 19

To avoid flash floods and mudslides on unprotected slopes

Question 20

3 Aspects to Conditions needed for Wildfires

Answer 20

Vegetation Type
Climate / Weather
Fire Behaviour

Question 21

Vegetation Type Key Points

Answer 21

Dense- fire can easily spread
How dry it is
Eucalyptus- highly volatile, burns easily

Question 22

Climate / Weather Key Points

Answer 22

Rainfall needs to be sufficient for vegetation growth
Dry seasons, vegetation dries and becomes more flammable
Strong winds = more oxygen so fire can spread more quickly
El Nino

Question 23

Fire Behaviour Key Points

Answer 23

Topography- moves faster uphill

Burning debris causes the fire to spread more quickly

Question 24

Difference between Ground fire, Surface fire, and Crown fire

Answer 24

Ground- slow, smouldering, no flame, little smoke
Surface- leaf litter, low lying vegetation burns, can be low or high intensity
Crown- moves rapidly through canopy, most intense and fastest moving