Wildfire Glossary Flashcards
Blow-up
A sudden and unexpected major increase in rate of spread and frontal fire intensity; sufficient to upset overall fire suppression action or plans. Blow-ups can result from small or large fire situations.
What type of fire is a campfire? It must meet 2 requirements.
(a) the open fire burns material in one pile no larger than 0.5 m in height and 0.5 m in width;
(b) the open fire is lit, fuelled or used
(i) by any person for a recreational purpose, or
(ii) by a first nation for a ceremonial purpose.
What is candling?
When the foliage on a single tree or a small clump of trees ignites and flares up, usually from bottom to top
What is a category 2 open fire?
an open fire, other than a campfire, that burns
(a) material in one pile not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width,
(b) material concurrently in 2 piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width, or
(c) stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 ha
What is a category 3 open fire?
an open fire that burns
(a) material concurrently in 3 or more piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width,
(b) material in one or more piles each exceeding 2 m in height or 3 m in width,
(c) one or more windrows, (piled up slash) or
(d) stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 ha
When is a fire contained?
The status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a control line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire’s spread.
What is a control line?
All constructed or natural fire barriers and treated (e.g. with retardant or water) fire perimeter used to control or contain a fire.
What is a danger tree?
A live or dead tree whose trunk, root system or branches have deteriorated or been damaged to such an extent as to be a potential danger to human safety.
What is Duff, and why is it important?
The layer of partially and fully decomposed organic materials lying on the forest floor below the litter (layer) and immediately above the mineral soil. When moss is present, the top of the duff is just below the green portion of the moss.
What is an escaped fire/excursion? What other scenario does this describe?
A wildfire, or a portion of a wildfire, that has breached a control line and remains out of control following initial attack. This term is also used to describe a prescribed fire that has burned beyond its intended area.
Describe the term Fire Danger?
A general term used to express an assessment of both fixed and changeable factors of the fire environment that determine the ease of ignition, rate of spread, difficulty of control, and fire impact.
What is the importance of a Firegaurd? What is this?
A strategically planned barrier, either manually or mechanically constructed, intended to stop or retard the rate of spread of a fire, and from which suppression action is carried out to control a fire. The constructed portion of a control line.
3 points that encompass a Fire Hazard:
- the risk of fire starting, and
- the hazard associated with an industrial activity; and
- if a fire were to start,
- the volatility of the fire’s behaviour,
- the difficulty of controlling the fire, and
- the potential threat to values at risk
What is a Fire rank? and how many Ranks are there?
A numerical value used to communicate a summarized visual assessment of fire behaviour.
6 Ranks
Name the 6 Fire Ranks
- Smouldering ground fire
- Low vigour surface fire
- Moderately vigorous surface fire
- Highly vigorous surface fire with torching, or passive crown fire
- Extremely vigorous surface fire or active crown fire
- A blow up or conflagration; extreme and aggressive fire behaviour
Describe the term Fire risk. What does it encompass?
Fire risk is a term that combines the probability of fire occurrence with the expected impacts from a fire. It can be defined quantitatively in economic terms or used more generally in a comparative sense; for example, given a similar probability of fire occurrence and spread between different landscapes; the fire risk at X is greater than the fire risk in Y.
How is the term fire risk typically used?
Although the impacts of fire can be positive, such as when considering the ecological effects or fuel reduction benefits of a wildfire, this term is generally used to suggest negative consequences of fire.
What is the fire season?
The period(s) of the year during which fires are likely to start, spread, and damage values-at-risk sufficient to warrant organized fire suppression; a period of the year set out and commonly referred to in fire prevention legislation.
What is the definition of Fuel?
Fuel is any organic matter, living or dead, in the ground, on the ground, or in the air that can ignite and burn.
What are the 6 types of Fuels? How are they interconnected
- Available
- Fine
- Ground
- Ladder
- Medium
- Surface
Research this point - maybe draw a figure.
Describe available and fine fuels.
Available fuel - The quantity of fuel (in a particular fuel type) that would actually be consumed under specified burning conditions.
Fine fuels - Fuels that ignite readily and are consumed rapidly by fire (e.g. cured grass, fallen leaves, needles, small twigs). Dead, fine fuels also dry very quickly.
Describe Ground vs Ladder Fuels.
Ground fuels - All combustible materials below the litter layer of the forest floor that normally support smouldering or glowing combustion associated with ground fires (e.g. duff, roots, buried punky wood, peat).
Ladder fuels - Fuels that provide vertical continuity between the surface fuels and crown fuels in a forest stand, thus contributing to the ease of torching and crowning (e.g. tall shrubs, small-sized trees, bark flakes, tree lichens).
