Wildfire interview

Question 1

Approximately how many forest fires does BC get per year?

Answer 1

~1600

Question 2

Name the 6 fire centre regions (hint NW-SE)

+ capitols

Answer 2

Northwest fire centre (smithers)
Prince George Fire centre (prince george)
Coastal Fire centre (Parksville)
Cariboo Fire centre (Williams lake)
Kamloops Fire centre (Kamloops)
Southeast Fire centre (Castlegar)

Question 3

When could a wildfire be deemed beneficial?

Answer 3

• Naturally occuring

- Not a threat to public safety or property.

Question 4

Fire Response type (1/3)

FULL RESPONSE

Answer 4

The wildfire requires immediate initial attack and/or sustained suppression action until the fire is declared “out”.

Question 5

Fire Response type (2/3)

MODIFIED RESPONSE

Answer 5

The wildfire is managed using a combination of suppression techniques, including direct and indirect attack, and monitoring to steer, contain or otherwise manage fire activity within a pre-determined perimeter (to minimize costs and/or damage and to maximize benefits from the fire).

Question 6

Fire Response type (3/3)

MONITERED

Answer 6

The wildfire is observed and assessed to determine the appropriate response option to minimize social disruption and/or significant impacts on values and resources, while achieving beneficial ecological, economic or resource management objectives.

Question 7

Fire Stage of Control (1/4)

OUT OF CONTROL

Answer 7

Describes a wildfire that is not responding (or only responding on a limited basis) to suppression action, such that the perimeter spread is not being contained.

Question 8

Fire Stage of Control (2/4)

BEING HELD

Answer 8

Indicates that (with the resources currently committed to the fire) sufficient suppression action has been taken that the fire is not likely to spread beyond existing or predetermined boundaries under the prevailing and forecasted conditions.

Question 9

Fire Stage of Control (3/4)

UNDER CONTROL

Answer 9

The fire has received sufficient suppression action to ensure no further spread of the fire.

Question 10

Fire Stage of Control (4/4)

OUT

Answer 10

The fire has been extinguished.

Question 11

3 elements required for a wildfire

Answer 11

Fuel - [organic matter]
Oxygen - [air]
Heat - [to ignite and burn. from lighting or human sources.]

Question 12

How are natural wildfires ignited

Answer 12

Almost always lightning

Question 13

How are human caused wildfires ignited

Answer 13

open burning, dropping cigarettes, vehicle engines etc

Question 14

How are wildfires detected?

Answer 14

• Public calls (*5555)
• Air patrols
• Fire wardens
• Computer technology
• Lookout stations

Question 15

How does slope affect wildfire spread?

Answer 15

• Fire generally moves faster upslope rather than downslope

- Steeper the slope, faster the spread

Question 16

Rank 1 Fire

Answer 16

Smouldering ground fire

• Smouldering ground fire
• No open flame
• White smoke
• Very slow spread
• Direct attack by ground crews using hand tools and water delivery systems.

Question 17

Rank 2 Fire

Answer 17

Low vigor surface fire

• Surface fire visible
• Open flame
• Inconsistent flame front
• Slow rate of spread
• Direct attack by ground crews using hand tools and water delivery systems, or heavy equipment.
• Hand constructed control lines

Question 18

Rank 3 Fire

Answer 18

Moderately vigorous surface

• Organized flame front
• Occasional candling
• Moderate rate of spread
• Ground crews
• Air support
• Control lines constructed by heavy equipment.

Question 19

Rank 4 Fire

Answer 19

Highly vigorous surface fire

• Grey to black smoke
• Organized flame front
• moderate to fast rate of spread
• Short aerial bursts through the forest canopy
• Short range spotting
• Indirect tactics
• Parallel attack may be used along fires flanks to direct fire head into favorable direction.
• Air support

Question 20

Rank 5 Fire

Answer 20

Extremely vigorous surface fire/Active crown fire

• Black to copper smoke
• Organized crown fire front
• Moderate to long range spotting
• Indirect attack
• planned ignitions in fires path

Question 21

Rank 6 Fire

Answer 21

Blow up or conflagration

• Organized crown fire front
• Long range spotting
• Possible fireballs/whirls
• Violent fire behavior
• Dominant smoke column
• Prepare structural protection measures
• Indirect large scale ignitions
• Wait for fire behavior to lessen before re-engaging

Question 22

what is the fitness test called

Answer 22

WFX-FIT

Question 23

what are the 4 types of fire crews?

Answer 23

Unit crew: 20 man ground crews

Initial attack crew: 3 man crew. First on scene.

Parattack crews: Parachutefrom fixed wing planes into hard to access locations.

Rapattack crews: Rappel from rotary wing aircraft (heli’s) into hard to access terrain.

Question 24

What does a unit crew do?

Answer 24

• Establish pump and hose lines
• Dig fire guards
• Burn off fuel from fires path
• Chainsaw down danger trees

Question 25

Purpose of air support?

Answer 25

• Initial attack on wildfires that threaten to exceed ground crews capabilities
• Hold ground until until ground resources arrive
• Controlled drops to limit fire spread
• Cool down hotspots

Question 26

Types of fixed wing aircrafts

Answer 26

• Land based air tanker

- Amphibious air tanker (skimmers)

Question 27

Uses of Helicopters

Answer 27

• Primarily for crew transportation
• Fire observation
• Dropping fire retardant via bucket

Question 28

Types of fire retardant

Answer 28

• Retardant (dropped ahead of fire line in order to slow the spread)
• Foam (absorbs heat from combustion while releasing water into fuels)
• Water (suppress/extinguishes. typically used by ground crews or buckets/skimmers)