WILDFIRE Flashcards
What is the SOG that applies to ACTFR wildfires?
SOG 7
How would you get to know the area around your station?
Area Familiarisation
How would you be alerted to a wildfire as a crew at station on on an appliance?
DITO, MDT, ComCen, Member of the public contacting the station
What information would you need to obtain from someone alerting the station to a fire (or incident)?
Name, contact details, location and any information about the incident.
What level PPE should you wear for wildfires?
Level E
What are the three methods of heat transfer?
Radiation
Convection
Conduction
What are the three types of bushfire?
Ground
Surface
Crown
What is a ground fire?
Burns the organic material in the soil layer
What is a surface fire?
Burns/Travels above the ground surface in vegetation such as grass, low shrubs and forest litter
What is a crown fire?
Burns in the crowns/canopies of trees ahead and above of an intense fire in the undergrowth
What is spotting?
A new fire which has been ignited ahead of the main fire by embers or a fire brand.
Two examples of surface fires:
- Grassland- light to moderate fuels, maximum wind penetration, high ROS, short residual burning time
- Forest Fire- Heavy fuel loads, restricted wind penetration, bark fuels,
3 factors that effect fire behaviour
Fuel
Weather
Topography
Explain Fuel:
Types- grass, litter, shrubs, trees
Size/Quantity- Fine fuels are smaller (grass, leaves, tiwgs)
heavy fuels are bigger, thicker, denser (logs etc)
Arrangement- fine loosely packed burns quickly and fiercly
Moisture content- determined by how damp the fuel is
Explain fuel arrangement further:
Canopy, bark fuel, elevated fuel, near-surface fuel, surface fuel
What does fuel moisture content determine?
if a fire will ignite
How quickly fuels will burn
The ROS
The intensity of a fire
The liklihood of spot fires occurring
What are the 4 factors of weather?
Temperature
Relative humidity
Wind
Atmospheric Stability
Define Ladder fuels:
A continuous ladder of fine fuel from the ground surface to the crown of vegetation
Explain a stable atmosphere?
Steady, predictable winds
Layer-like clouds
Hazy lower atmosphere
Morning mists and fogs
Explain an unstable atmosphere?
Gusty, erratic winds
Clear lower atmosphere
Dust devils
Clouds with strong vertical growth
List some indicators of extreme fire behaviour
Rapid increase in intensity
high sustained ROS
Long-distance spotting
Fire whirlwinds
Sudden calming of the wind
What are some examples of refuge areas and escape routes?
Previously burnt areas
Large open areas clear of unburnt fuel
Always have a minimum of 2 emergency exits
What does LACES stand for?
Lookout
Awareness
Communications
Escape routes
Safety refuge
What are the offensive fire attacks?
Direct attack
Parallel Attack
Indirect attack
What is a head attack?
All examples of offensive fire attacks.
Head would be to attack the fire from the head, usually from the burnt area. Low-intensity fires.
What is a Flank attack?
Flank attacks are working from the burn out area still, but attacking the sides, or flanks of the fire. Used when fire is too intense for head attack.
What is a parallel attack?
a method of fire suppression where control lines are constructed parallel to the fire edge
What are control lines?
constructed during a fire incident to contain and supress fire spread
Can be existing like roads, trails, rivers
Or created like trenches, foam
List the defensive fire strategies
- Line defence
- Ember Defence
- Backstop Defence
- Observe and patrol
What is line defence?
Protecting individual assets under threat form radiant heat
What is ember defence?
Protecting individual assets threatened by ember attacks in line of fire
What is backstop defence?
Retreating to a safe zone due to fire intensity to adopt line or ember defence
What is observe and patrol?
When there is no immediate threat in inaccessible terrain
What makes an effective observe and patrol?
a good knowledge of the terrain, the weather and previous fire history,
to predict the movement of the fire. Changes in weather bring dramatic changes in fire behaviour;
Fire must be constantly checked and resources maintained in a state of readiness.
What are dry and wet attack methods?
Dry: hand tools to break up fuel and
to remove fuels, create a narrow control line
machinery such as bulldozers to make to clear a large area to stop a large fire, or to provide an edge for a large back-burn
Back-burning and burning out
Wet: Class A Foam, water,
6 factors of Structural Protection
- Park Appliance on Lee side, facing exit
- Ensure hoses can reach all the way around
- Two exits planned
- Source a usable water point
- Remove flammable hazards
- If time permits, implement control lines
The entrapment procedure
-Send red message, advise location, activate distress signal
-Surround vehicle with foam if time
-Leave charged branch at front wheel
-Turn on All lights, siren
-Windows up, air con on recirc
-Ensure you have PAR
- Lower protection curtains
-Activate emergency spray system
-cover crew with blankets
Pump and engine ALWAYS Running
