Technical Flashcards
Average number of wildfires per year
1600
Containment rate
94% of rank 1-4 by 10 am the next day
Fire Centres
Northwest (Smithers) Prince George Cariboo (Williams Lake) Coastal (Parksville) Kamloops Southeast (Castlegar)
Cariboo Fire Centre
Williams Lake, Central Interior, 10.3m Ha
Western Dry Belt
- Mix of thin grass meadows, sagebrush and lone coniferous trees and well-spaced forests
Eastern Wet Belt
- Extensive cedar, hemlock, spruce, balsam forests
Coastal Fire Centre
Parksville, 16.5m Ha
West from Coast Mtn range
6 Microclimates, mostly steep and rugged thick brush, large timber, large water bodies
High WUI potential
Kamloops Fire Centre
South Central BC Glaciers in north Open range and semi-arid desert in the Southern Okanagen Steep dry canyons in Lytton/Lillooet Interior Rainforest Salmon Arm
Northwest Fire Centre
Smithers, 25m Ha (1/4 of BC)
Undulating interior plateau, coastal mountain range
Pine and spruce forest, with some balsam at height, hemlock and red cedar on coast
Prince George Fire Centre
31.8m Ha
Largely rugged and remote, sub-alpine fir, interior cedar-hemlock, boreal and sub-boreal spruce
Southeast
Castlegar
Wet north climate, dry Okanagen climate in SW
Diverse veg; larch, pine, spruce, fir, Douglas-fir, cottonwood, aspen, red cedar, birch
Role of PWCC and HQ
Aviation Management Provincial Airtanker Centre Interagency Agreements Safety and Training Resource Management Public Comms GIS Strategic Direction COntract Management Finance, Admin Fire Reporting Centre
Response Types
Full Response
Modified Response
Monitored
Full Response
IA and SA until declared out
Modified Response
Combo of direct and indirect attack, monitoring to steer, contain or manage within a pre-determined perimeter
- minimize costs, damage, gain benefit from fire
Monitored Response
Observed and assessed to determine appropriate response option to minimize social disruption, impact on values/resources, while having ecological, economic or resource management objectives
Stages of Fire Control
OOC
BH
UC
Out
Out of Control
Not responding (or limited) to suppression action, perimeter spread not being contained
Being Held
Not likely to spread beyond existing or predetermined boundaries under prevailing/forecasted conditions and current resources
Under Control
Received sufficient Suppression action to ensure no further spread of fire
Out
Fire has been extinguished
Rank
1 - Smouldering ground (no open flame, creeping, white smoke) GDA
2 - Low vigour surface fire (open flame, slow spread) GDA
3 - Moderately Vigorous Surface Fire (Organized flame front, some candling) GDA
4 - Highly vigorous surface fire (torching, passive crown, spotting) IG + A DA
5 - Extremely vigorous surface, active crown IA, ignitions
6 - Blow Up or Conflagration, Extreme Behaviour - ignition, structural protection, wait
Crews
1100 Type 1 IA - 3 person, 390 FF's Unit - 20 man, SA, 30 Rap - Salmon Arm, 41, remote access Para - FSJ/Mack, 2 hours anywhere, 60 FF's
Aircraft Assistance
IA, Holding when ground resources are delayed, supporting control lines, controlled drops ahead of fire, cooling hot spots, protecting specific values
Airtankers
Up to 4/group, 16,000 litres of retardant. Bird dog lead.
20 AT’s, 8 BD’s, 560 missions avg
10 Amph Air Tractors
Helicopter Uses
Transport, IR scanning, mapping, observation, bucket drops
Contracted 5 mediums, 3 rap mediums, 1 light
Fire Retardants
Retardant - ammonium salts, cools fire and suffocates
Foam - absorbs heat, absorbed by wood
Additional Support
Type 2 - mop-up, patrol, SA, 19 x 8 man crews
Type 3 - emergency resource, 1500 avail
Structure Protection Program
Joint with Office of Fire Commissioner Sprinkler system creates Humidity Bubble 6 Type 1 (70-80 structures) 1 Type 2 (30-40) 1 Urban SPU (150) 43 Contracted Effectiveness, Worth It, Risk, Resources Available Located at Depot in Chilliwack
Fire Danger
260 Weather Stations
CFFDRS, Temp, RH, Precipitation, Wind Speed
Low, Moderate, High, Extreme
Wildfire Causes
60% Lightning, reduced through PB’s, fire planning
Detection
Public - 40% Air Patrols - Fire Spotter Fire Wardens - 400 hired as needed IR Lookouts
Fuel Factors
Moisture Content
Size (Fine, Heavy)
Continuity (distribution, vertical, ladder)
Weather Factors
Wind
Temp
Moisture
Atmospheric Stability
Topography Factors
Slope
Aspect
Terrain (ridges, canyons)
2021 Challenges
COVID (import) Heat Dome Busy Season Drought in southern regions Avg 40 fires/day in July 1610 fires, 868k ha
Describe the Fire Triangle
1
Describe the Fire Behaviour Triangle
1
What happens when you remove an aspect of the fire triangle?
1
How do you start a small engine?
1
How do you troubleshoot a small engine?
1
Where is the safest place in a fire?
1
LACES
1
2 Stroke vs 4 Stroke Engine
1
What are the biggest risks involved?
1
How are wildfires prevented?
1
