Wildfire Flashcards
List some ways bushfire fuels are grouped/classified?
Type
Size
Quantity
Arrangement
Moisture content
How can heat be transferred?
Radiation
Convection
Conduction
What are the 3 main factors that affect fire behaviour?
Fuel
Weather
Topography
List the main types of wildfire fuels (7)
Grass
Litter lying on ground
Small herbs & shrubs
Decomposing humus & duff (fine ground litter)
Shrubs (heathlands or as an understorey layer)
Trees (eucalypts, wattles, she-oaks, pine)
Materials remaining after logging
Briefly describe the 3 different types of fires
- Surface Fire: just above ground surface (grass, low shrubs, forrest litter)
- Ground Fire: burns organic material in soil layer
- Crown Fire: crowns of trees ahead & above intense fire in undergrowth
What is LACES?
Checklist used as a precautionary measure to reduce risk of fire overruns
L = Lookout
A = Awareness
C = Communication
E = Escape Route(s) - minimum of 2
S = Safety Refuge(s)
What governs ACTF&R response to wildfires?
SOG 7
& Emergencies Act 2004
What is an achor point?
A safe area or refuge that can be used as a starting point for fire attack or prescribed brun
What is the flame height limit for a direct attack?
1.5m
What is a head attack?
Involves directly knocking down head of fire
Only issued for low intensity bush fires where you can get close enough
Only issued when you are certain the fire will not flare up unexpectedly
What are defensive strategies?
List 4 defensive strategies
Line Defence
Ember Defence
Backstop Defence
Observe & patrol
6 factors of structural protection?
Park Appliance on Lee side, facing exit
What are the offensive fire attacks?
Direct attack
Parallel attack
Indirect attack
2 types of surface fires?
Grassland- light to moderate fuels, maximum wind penetration, high ROS, short residual burning time
Forrest fire- heavy fuel
What can we classify fuel size & quantity?
Fine- less than 6mm
Heavy- more than 6mm
Describe unstable atmospheric conditions (8)
- Vertical movement of air occurs easily
- Cumulus (cotton wool) type clouds show noticeable growth
- Smoke columns can rise to great heights
- Winds may be gusty & unpredictable
- Lightning strikes may occur from thunderstorms
- Strong winds may occur from thunderstorms & rain clouds
7.Whirlwinds may occur
8.Fire behaviour unpredictable
List 2 firefighting agents that can extinguish fire
Water
Class A foam
Describe stable atmospheric conditions (6)
- Vertical movement of air is limited
- Stratus type clouds (layered) are often present
- Smoke columns drift apart after limited rise
- There are fog layers
- Winds are generally light & predictable
- Fire behaviour should be predictable
What is SMEACS?
S = Situation - incident details, weather, other units attending
M = Mission - objectives
E = Execution - strategies/tactics/plan
A = Assistance/Administration/Logistics - technical advice
C = Command/Control/Comms - who to report to, what channels to use
S = Safety - Hazards/precautions - LACES - Safety officers - PPE check
Describe spot fires?
A new fire that has ignited ahead of the main fire from embers
What is grasslands fire characteristics?
Light to moderate
Mainly fine surface fuels
What is forest fires?
Heavier fuel loads
Bark fires
Elevated fuels
List the parts of a fire (7)
- Heel/rear or back
- Point of origin
- Flank/s
- Unburnt pocket
- Fingers
- Head of fire
- Spot fire
What are the key elements of weather?
- Temperature
- Relative humidity
- Wind
- Atmospheric stability
What is relative humidity?
The amount of moisture in the air.
Easy fire ignition- under 40%
Spreading grass fire - under 30%
Crown fires- under 25%
Major wildfires- u der 15%
What affects topography?
- Slope
- Aspect
- Terrain/wind
- Elevation
Effects of slope.
The rate of fire doubles for every 10 degrees of slope change.
Describe the Hino tanker?
3600L water tank
Two rear hoses (30m and 60m)
5 deliveries
Describe the land cruiser?
600L capacity water tank
What are the things you do when you are approaching a fire?
- Look at the size, colour and direction of column
- Fuels
- Hazards
- what are your anchor points and escape routes
- inform your SO of any observations
What are the first attack fire fighter procedures? (6)
- warn anyone in danger
- report the fire
- Decide whether to attack
- Select the correct agent and equipment
- Safely approach and attack the fire
- follow after the fire procedure
What are the fireground rules?
- one foot in the black
- leave the engine and pump running
- be conservative with water
- use water and refill when necessary
- have windows and vents closed
- plan and know your escape routes
- wear full PPE
What are the main hazards in a wildfire?
- heart attacks
- falling trees
- fire overruns
- vehicle accidents
What are the indicators of extreme fire behaviour?
- Rapid increase in the fires intensity
- High, sustained rate of fire spread
- well developed convection column
- Lond distance spotting
- fire whirlwinds
What are refuge and escape routes?
- Previously burnt areas
- Large open areas
- recent earthworks
What is an anchor point?
An area that has already been burnt that you can fight the fire from
What is the entrapment procedure?
- park in a clear area
- Send RED radio message with location
- Surround vehicle with foam
- Leave charged branch behind front wheel
- Turn all lights on
- Ensure windows are up and A/C recirculation is on
- Make sure all crew are inside
- Lower protection curtains
- Activate the emergency spray system (8min of protection)
- Activate siren
- Get under the blankets
What is mop up?
- To rake materials back into the burnt area
- dragging smouldering logs
- felling trees
- digging out and extinguishing burning roots and stumps
