S-190 Flashcards
Flaming front
Part of the fire where continuous flaming combustion is taking place
Light fuels have a shallop front, heavy fuels have a deep front
Fire whirls
Spinning and moving column of air and fire gases that carry smoke, debris, and flames aloft.
Usually formed on the leeward side of elevated terrain features and can cause spot fires.
Steady state fires
Free burnin fires.
Convection
gases heated from a fire expand and rise- this can create air movement
Aspect
Compass direction toward which a slope faces
Slope
Natural or artificial topographic inclines
Barrier
Any obstruction of the spread of fire
Topography
Shape of landscape,
intensity
Rate of heat energy released per unit time per unit length of fire front.
Rate
Relative activity of fire in extending its horizontal dimensions.
Fuel moisture
The percentage of the weight of fuel when dried at 212 degrees.
slope formula
rise in feet over 100 feet multiplied by 100
Chute
streep v shaped drainage
Saddle
depression between two adjacent hills
Control
When the perimeter of fire spread has been halted and is expected to remain halted.
Fuel load
Refers to both live and dead fuel in a specific area.
Reported in tons per acre
Size and shape
Affect the rate of heat transfer and the change in moisture content.
Size and shape described as light, medium, or heavy.
Continuity
Describes the horizontal and vertical spacing of fuels in a certain area.
What are the four vertical arrangement classifications for fuel?
Subsurface
Surface
Ladder
Aerial
Three types of moisture
Precipitation
Ground moisture
Atmospheric Moisture
Slash
Logs
Tree tops
limbs
Stumps
Define the two most important elements in determining weather driven wild land fire behavior
Wind
Fuel moisture
Define extreme fire behavior
Rapid ROS
Intense burning
Spotting
Crowning
What are the seven key characteristics in anticipating fire behavior?
1) Fuel characteristics
2) Fuel Moisture
3) Fuel Temperature
4) Topography
5) Wind
6) Atmospheric Stability
7) Fire Behavior
Number one and two are biggest factors
What do lenticular clouds indicate
High winds aloft with the potential to surface
Name three most critical fire behavior indicators.
Torching, frequent spotting, well developed column of smoke
What are four factors to look for when considering atmospheric stability?
Stratus clouds
Good visibility
Castellatus clouds
Inversion beginning to lift
