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Jerry’s ACTFR Study > Wildfire > Flashcards

Wildfire Flashcards

1
Q

Types of bush fires

A
  1. Ground fire
  2. Surface fire
  3. Crown fire
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2
Q

What is a spot fire?

A

A spot fire is a new fire which has been ignited ahead of a main fire by embers.

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3
Q

Characteristics of a Grassland fire? (ground fire)

A
  • Light to moderate fuel loads
    (<8 t/ha)
  • Mostly fine surface fuels, and
  • Maximum wind penetration.

Wildfires in grasslands have:
* Moderate intensities
* High rates of spread (<30 kph)
* Short residual burning time,
and
* Limited short distance
spotting

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4
Q

Characteristics of a Forest fire? (surface fire)

A

Forests have:
* Heavy fuel loads
* Mixture of fine and heavy fuels
* Bark fuels
* Elevated fuels, and
* Restricted wind penetration

Wildfires in forests have:
* Very high intensities
* Relatively low rates of spread
* Long residual burning time, and
* Potential for long distance
spotting

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5
Q

Characteristics of a crown fire?

A
  • Burns in crowns (tops) of trees ahead of and above a surface fire
  • Fast travelling & extremely destructive
  • An intense surface fire can lead to a crown fire shortly afterwards
  • Short or long distance spotting often present
  • Spotting up to 30km has been recorded
  • If fire is 100m or wider it has reached its full R.O.S.
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6
Q

For Spotting there must be:

A
  • A suitable fuel type
  • Sufficient energy release to
    carry particles aloft
  • A receptive fuel bed
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7
Q

Parts of a Wildfire?

A
  1. Heel
  2. Point of origin
  3. Flank
  4. Unburnt pocket
  5. Fingers
  6. Head
  7. Spot fires
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8
Q

Understanding bush fire behaviour allows you to:

A
  • anticipate, avoid and or/control fire hazards
  • fight the fire more effectively
  • use terminology in common with other firefighters.
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9
Q

Bushfire behaviour depends on:

A
  • Fuel
  • Weather
  • Topography
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10
Q

Type of fuel

A

grass (partly or fully cured), litter, small herbs
and shrubs, decomposing humus and duff,
large shrubs, trees etc.

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11
Q

Size and quantity of fuel

A
  1. Fine fuels <6mm diameter (e.g. leaves, twigs
    and grasses)
  2. Heavy fuels >6mm diameter (e.g. sticks,
    branches and logs).
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12
Q

Arrangement of fuel

A

Separated pieces of fuel – harder to ignite as radiant heat diminishes as it travels

Tightly packed or compacted fuel - smoulder slowly due to lack of oxygen and generally higher moisture content

Fine, loosely stacked – burn quickly and fiercely

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13
Q

Moisture content of fuel affects:

A
  • If fuels will ignite
  • How quickly fuels will burn
  • The rate of spread of a fire
  • The intensity of a fire
  • The likelihood of spot fires occurring
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14
Q

What are the different fuel levels?

A
  • Surface fuel
  • Near surface fuel
  • Elevated fuel
  • Bark fuel
  • Canopy
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15
Q

4 key elements of weather are?

A
  1. Temperature
  2. Relative humidity
  3. Wind
  4. Atmospheric pressure
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16
Q

How does temperature effect fuels?

A

Higher temperatures pre heat fuels closer to their ignition temperature. As temperature rises, RH generally
decreases.

For this reason, wildfires tend to rage in the afternoon, when temperatures are at their hottest.

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17
Q

What is relative humidity?

A

Relative Humidity relates to how much moisture is
In the air. The amount of moisture found in fuels varies according to the level of humidity in the air.

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18
Q

What are the percentages of relative humidity?

A

Easy fire ignition: under 40%
Spreading grass fires: under 30%
Crown fires: under 25%
Major wildfires: under 15%

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19
Q

How does wind effect bush fires?

A

Wind speed determines the intensity and rate of
spread of the fire. The stronger the wind, the more oxygen is supplied to the fire.

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20
Q

Important factors when considering wind

A
  • Spot fires
  • Wind direction
  • Locality winds
  • Change in wind direction
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21
Q

What is topography?

A

Topography describes the ‘lay of the land’, i.e. the shape of the
terrain

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22
Q

Topography affects fire behaviour based on:

A

› slope
› aspect
› terrain/wind interaction
› elevation

23
Q

How does slope effect bush fires?

A

For every 10 degrees uphill slope - doubles fire spread rate

For every 10 degrees downhill slope - halves fire spread rate

24
Q

What is aspect?

A

Aspect is the direction that a feature or slope faces.

25
A stable atmosphere is indicated by:
 Steady predictable winds  Layer like clouds (stratus)  Hazy lower atmosphere  Morning mists and fogs
26
An unstable atmosphere is indicated by:
 Gusty erratic and localised winds  Clouds with strong vertical growth (cumulus)  Clear lower atmosphere  Dust devils  Worst fires have all had unstable conditions
27
What should you note when approaching an incident?
* Size, colour and direction of column * Size of front * Fuels * Hazards (including airborne) * Anchor points and escape routes. * Note other persons/vehicles in or leaving the vicinity. * Inform your SO of any observations so they can include it in their sitrep
27
ACT Fire & Rescue Wildfire response is outlined in what SOG?
SOG 7
28
What is the first attack Firefighting procedure?
1. Warn anyone is danger 2. Report the fire 3. Decide whether to attack 4. Select the correct agent and equipment 5. Safely approach and attack fire 6. Follow after fire procedures
29
During the bushfire incident, team should:
› always watch for hazards and precautions › always have an ‘out’ › keep to the plan of attack › report any hazards or significant changes › stay in touch.
30
LACES
L – Lookout – everybody looks out for everybody else A – Awareness – everybody is aware of the fire’s current and anticipated behaviour, and of other fireground hazards and precautions C – Communications – everybody speaks up and everybody listens, about what is happening and about their concerns at the fire E – Escape route(s) – everybody always has an “out” planned and agreed, just in case things go wrong S – Safety refuge(s) – everybody helps everybody to survive. Everybody supports the decision to get clear of a hazard
31
What are the fireground rules?
- “One foot in the black” - Leave engine and pump running at all times on fire ground - Be conservative with water - Use tank water and refill when necessary (to allow for quick egress if necessary) - Have windows and vents closed - Plan and know your escape routes - Full PPE – think about heat stress
32
What are the main hazards in bushfire?
1. Heart attacks 2. Falling trees and branches 3. Fire overrun 4. Vehicle accidents
33
Indicators of Extreme Fire Behaviour
* A rapid increase in the fire's intensity * High, sustained rate of fire spread * Well developed convection column * Long distance spotting (over 180 meters) * Fire whirlwinds * Sudden calming of the wind
34
Refuge areas should be:
* Previously burnt areas. * Large open areas clear of trees with minimal fuel. * Recent earth works. * Have at least two escape routes and advise crew
35
What to think about when selecting a strategy?
* The rate of spread of the fire * intensity of the fire * Spotting Activity * Fuel ahead of the fire * Available firefighting resources * Safety, including access and escape routes
36
What is an anchor point?
An advantageous location from which suppression or back burning can be safely commenced. It is used to minimize the possibility of being outflanked by a fire
37
What are the offensive strategies?
1. Direct attack - Head attack - Flank attack - Parallel attack 2. Indirect attack - Backburning - Control Lines
38
Advantages of Direct attack
* Less area burnt * Potentially quicker * Parts of fire that self extinguish, can be incorporated into control line
39
Disadvantages of direct attack?
* Greater exposure to heat and smoke * Irregular control line * More difficult mop-up and patrol
40
Advantages of parallel attack?
* Shorter control lines * Less exposure to heat and smoke
41
Disadvantages of parallel attack?
* Increased risk of fire escaping * Fire gets larger
42
Control lines are:
Constructed during a fire incident * Existing main roads or cleared areas * Man made * Natural * Foam
43
Advantages of an Indirect attack?
* Used for high intensity fires * least exposure for firefighters * allows better choice of control lines * more time to prepare control lines
44
Disadvantages of an Indirect attack?
* Make larger fires * Longer control lines to mop-up and patrol * Requires backburning – more fire fighters
45
What is backburning used for?
- Used to remove fuel in front of the fire - Only conducted under supervision and permission of Incident Controller & Crew Leader - Where the fire and the burn meet => unpredictable fire behaviour
46
What are the defensive strategies and what do they consist of?
1. Line defence - protect individual line defence 2. Ember defence - protect individual assists threatened by embers 3. Backstop defence - retreating to a safe zone due to fire intensity before returning to adopt line defence or ember defence. 4. Observe and control - when there is no immediate threat or burning in inaccessible terrain
47
What are some things to think about when it comes to property protection/triaging?
* Can it be accessed and exited safely * Is there somewhere to turn around * Is the fuel and topography conducive to a safe and successful protection * Is there an accessible water source * Has protection works been conducted by the owner beforehand * What construction type is the asset eg wood panelling, bricks, steel
48
How to use emergency spray bar?
* Ensure the Tank to Pump valve is open. * Ensure the pump is primed and start the pump. * Ensure the Recirculation Valve is NOT FULLY open. * Ensure all doors and windows are closed. * Move the Cab Spray Lever from the OFF position to the ON position.
49
What is the Entrapment procedure?
1. Park in a clear or burnt out area 2. Send Red message with location and activate distress signal on R/T 3. Surround vehicle with foam if possible 4. Leave charged branch behind front wheel for easy access 5. Turn on ALL lights 6. Ensure windows are up, A/C recirculation on 7. If possible, ensure all crew are inside crew cabin 8. Lower Protection Curtains or Rear Platform Curtain 9. Activate Emergency Spray System 10. Activate siren 11. Cover crew with wildfire blankets
50
What does mop up consist of?
* Raking materials back into the burnt area. * Digging out and extinguishing burning roots and stumps. * Using extinguishing media to cool large pieces to permit handling. * Dragging smouldering logs and branches into burnt out area. * Felling trees that pose a threat to Firefighters safety. * Repositioning burning logs on a hillside so they wont roll into unburnt areas. * Separating clumps of fuels to reduce heat. * Allowing fuels to continue to burn provided they will burn out quickly and safely. * Extinguishing hot spots (look for shimmering heat profiles) on trees or ground.
51
What is Patrolling and what are you looking for?
Patrolling is the traversing of fire edges either on foot, by vehicle or by air and should commence as soon as the control line is established. ❯ Burning material within the fire area that could threaten the control line (especially overhead in trees). ❯ Spot fires beyond the control line. ❯ Weak spots in the control line where further work is required. ❯ Trees and overhead limbs in trees that may fall and endanger you. If you are patrolling in a vehicle, follow these precautions: ❯ When travelling in smoke or dust, reduce speed and switch on lights. ❯ Do not block access or escape routes.
52
What do you do after Incident?
› remove any consumables › recover, check and clean equipment › report missing and damaged equipment › replenish › debrief › secure Station.
53
How do you preserve a scene?
* Note the point of origin * Note any vehicles or people leaving the scene * Ensure the area is disturbed as little as possible through suppression techniques * Don’t move or take any debris including water bottles etc * Note and mark any possible causes such as fuel cans, matches etc * Don’t leave any rubbish that may confuse an investigation * Cordon off the area so it is not disturbed and if resourcing permits have someone protect the area

Jerry’s ACTFR Study (12 decks)

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