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ACTF&R College > Wildfires > Flashcards

Wildfires Flashcards

1
Q

What is fire?

A

A chemical reaction as a result of three key elements combining. Oxygen, Heat, Fuel. Known as the fire triangle.

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2
Q

What are 3 types of heat transfer?

A

Radiation, Convection, Conduction

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3
Q

What are the three types of bush fires?

A

Ground Fire
Surface Fire
Crown Fire

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4
Q

Define Ground Fire

A

Ground fire burns the organic material in the soil layer and also the surface litter and small vegetation.

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5
Q

Define Surface Fire

A

Surface Fire travels just about the ground surface, in vegetation such as grass, low shrubs and forest litter.

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6
Q

Define Crown Fire

A

Crown fire burns in the crowns of trees ahead of and above an intense fire in the undergrowth.

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7
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 or a burning object often called a fire brand.

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8
Q

What does a grassland fire consist of?

A

Light to moderate fuel loads
Mostly fine surface fuels
Maximum wind penetration

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9
Q

What does a forest fire consist of?

A

Heavy fuel loads
Mixture of fine and heavy fuels
Bark fuels
Elevated fuels
Restricted wind penetration

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10
Q

What does a wildfire in grasslands have?

A

Moderate intensities
High rates of speed
Short residual burning time
And limited short distance spotting

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11
Q

What does wildfires in forests have?

A

Very high intensities
Relatively low rates of spread
Long residual burning time
Potential for long distance spotting

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12
Q

What do Crown Fires consist of?

A

Burns in crowns of trees ahead of and above surface fires
Fast travelling and destructive
An intense surface fire can lead to a crown fire
Short or long distance spotting often present.
If fire is 100m or wider it has reached it ROS

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13
Q

If a fire is a fire 100m or wider it is said to have reached its?

A

R.O.S

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14
Q

What is required for spotting to occur?

A

Suitable fuel type
Sufficient energy release to carry particles
A receptive fuel bed
Spotting favours an unstable atmosphere and upper and lower winds mixing

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15
Q

What can spotting lead too?

A

Many fires ahead of the main fire
Potential trap for firefighters
Increase in difficulty of suppression
A rapid forward rate of spread

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16
Q

What are the parts of a wildfire?

A

The heel, rear or back
Point of origin
Flank, left or right going with wind direction
Finger
Head of Fire
Spot fires

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17
Q

What three things is bush fire behaviour dependant on?

A

Fuel
Atmosphere
Topography

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18
Q

What are the four elements of wildfire fuel that affect fire behaviour?

A

Type - grass, trees, shrubs etc
Size and quantity - fine fuels <6mm, heavy fuels >6mm
Arrangement - dense forest or fine loosely stacked
Moisture content - how damp fuel is, dry fuel will burn better.

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19
Q

What are the heights of fuel?

A

Surface Level
Near Surface Level
Elevated
Canopy

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20
Q

What effect does moisture content have?

A

Effects ignition
How quickly it will burn
Rate of spread
Intensity
Likelihood of spot fires occurring

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21
Q

What are the four key elements of weather?

A

Temperature
Relative Humidity
Wind
Atmospheric stability

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22
Q

What does wind do and what are its factors?

A

Determines the intensity and rate of spread.

Factors include:
Potential spot fires
Wind direction
Locality of wind
Change in wind direction

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23
Q

What is topography and its components that affect fire behaviour?

A

Describes lay of the land.
Factors include:
Slope
Aspect
Terrain/wind direction
Elevation

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24
Q

Why is fire travelling up a slope bad and what is the rule of thumb?

A

Fire travelling up a slope means that is there a shorter distance for radiant heat to travel.

For every 10 degrees of slope, the rate of spread doubles.

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25
Q

What is aspect and its differences?

A

Aspect is the direction that a feature or slope faces.

North/Westerly: more solar radiation, dry and flammable vegetation

Southerly/Easterly: less solar radiation, lush and less flammable vegetation.

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26
Q

What is the difference between a stable vs unstable atmosphere?

A

Stable: predictable winds, layer clouds, hazy lower atmosphere and morning mists and fog.

Unstable: gusty and erratic winds, clouds with strong vertical growth, clear lower atmosphere, dust devils.

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27
Q

What SOG outlines ACTFR Wildfire response?

A

SOG 7

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28
Q

Under a rural setting, who has legislative control and what will ACTFR tend to do?

A

ACT RFS have control.
ACTFR will: place its resources under control of RFS duty coordinator.
Where RFS is not in attendance, ACTFR will assume control.

29
Q

How many litres does the Hino Tanker hold?

A

3600L

30
Q

How many litres of water does the Light Unit hold?

A

600L

31
Q

What does a response to Wildfire look like for ACTFR?

A

According business rules, appliances will be allocated.
Unless on a stand up day, appliances will be cross crewed.
If on wildfire appliance, all PPC must be taken.
LU have SO + MD, Tanker two FF’s

32
Q

What should you note on approach to wildfire?

A

Size and colour of smoke column
Size of front
Fuels
Hazards
Anchor points
Note person/vehicles leaving vicinity
Inform SO of any observations that they can include in sitrep.

33
Q

What is the order of first attack firefighting procedures?

A

Warn anyone in danger
Report fire
Decide whether to attack
Select correct agent and equipment
Safely approach and attack fire
Follow after fire procedures

34
Q

What important rules should be followed in regards to bush fire team work?

A

Mindful of hazards and take precautions
Always have an out
Keep to the plan of attack
Report any hazards or significant changes
Stay in touch

35
Q

What does LACES stand for?

A

L - Lookout
A - Awareness
C- Communications
E - Escape routes
S - Safety Refuge

36
Q

What are some fire ground rules?

A

One foot in the black
Leave engine and pump running at all times
Be conservative with water
Use tank water and refill when necessary
Have windows and vents closed
Plan and know your escape routes
Full PPE - think about heat stress

37
Q

Name some hazards that can be found on the fire ground.

A

Heart attacks
Hearing loss
Hazardous treats and branches
Fire over run
Vehicle accidents
Extreme temperatures
Bush fire smoke.
Fatigue

38
Q

Name four fatal situations

A

Heart attacks
Falling trees
Fire overruns
Vehicle accidents

39
Q

What are the six indicators of extreme fire behaviour?

A

Rapid increase is in fire’s intensity
High sustained rate of fire spread
Well developed convection column
Long distance spotting (over 180m)
Fire whirlwinds
Sudden calming of the wind

40
Q

What should a refuge have?

A

Be in a previously burnt out area
Large open area clear of trees
Recent earth works
Have atleast two escape routes

41
Q

What is the rule of thumb in regards to flame height and radiant heat?

A

4 to 1. If the flame is 1 meter high, you will need to be at least four meters away from it.

42
Q

What needs to be considered when selecting a firefighting strategy?

A

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

43
Q

What is an anchor point?

A

An anchor point is an advantageous location from which suppression or back burning can be safely commenced. It is used to minimise the possibility of being out flanked by the fire.

44
Q

What are the different offensive strategies and their components?

A

Direct attack - quick, done from either burnt or unburnt side, greater exposure to heat or smoke
Parallel attack - bring the black with you, less expose to heat and smoke, fire gets larger
Indirect attack - back burning, least exposure, makes fires larger, heavy resource load

45
Q

What are some examples of control lines?

A

Exisiting main roads or cleared areas
Man made
Natural
Foam

46
Q

What environmental considerations should be made when using foam?

A

Should not be allowed to enter or handle near creeks or rivers.

47
Q

What are the different parts of a drip torch?

A

Top to bottom:
Gauze and wick
Nozzle
Wand
Filler cap
Tap
Air vent
Handle
Fuel tank

48
Q

What are the four different defensive strategies and their components?

A

Line Defence - protecting an individual asset
Ember Defence - protect asset from ember attack
Backstop defence - retreat to safe zone, adopt line of defence
Observe and patrol - no immediate threat or inaccessible terrain

49
Q

What are the six components of Triaging?

A

Can it be accessed and not excited safely?
Is there somewhere to turn around?
Is the fuel and topography effect ability to save assets?
Is there an accessible water source?
Has protection works been conducted by owner?
What construction type is the asset?

50
Q

Name 8 structural protection must’s

A

Source usable water source
Remove receptive fuel beds
Clean gutters and fuel from around trees
If time permits, put in control line
Extinguish spot fires early
Don’t waste water on large fire fronts
Have two exit routes
Ensure hoses are long enough to reach all the way around structure.

51
Q

Describe the entrapment procedure.

A

Park in clear or burnt out area
Send red message and active distress signal
Spray around vehicle with water or foam
Leave charged branch behind front wheels
Turn on all lights and siren
Windows up, AC on and on recirculating air
All crew inside cabin
Lower protection curtains
Activate emergency spray system
Cover crew with wildfire blankets

52
Q

What occurs post incident?

A

Mop Up tasks - raking, digging up and extinguishing, separate clumps of fuel.

Patrolling - looking out for spot fires

Replenish appliance

Preserve scene

53
Q

What can FF’s use to communicate if not using a radio?

A

Hand signals.

54
Q

What can help with scene investigation?

A

Note point of origin
Note vehicles/people leaving or around scene
Disturb area as little as possible
Don’t move or take any debris
Note and mark an possible causes eg fuel cans, matches
Cordon off area

55
Q

What level does a wildfire require and what is included?

A

Level E - but must bring ALL PPC with them.

Level E includes: structural boots, socks, trousers, belt, shirt, LW helmet, riggers gloves, goggles, tabard, t- shirt, flash hood, bush fire mask

56
Q

What class of foam is used for wildfires?

A

Class A foam

57
Q

What can be used to create control lines?

A

Hand tools - rakehoes, axes, slashers
Bulldozers
Farming machinery

58
Q

What support duties can ACTFR do?

A

Evacuation, logistics, staging areas

59
Q

At what flame height would a direct attack with water be useless?

A

1.8 meters

60
Q

What tools can you use for navigating to a wildfire?

A

MDT but a map and compass are best when negotiating fire trails and remote areas.

61
Q

What type of maps should be used when navigating to a remote area?

A

Topographical map.

62
Q

What should be done if a wildfire is reported by a member of the public?

A

Ask for: Location, their details, tell SO, inform COMCEN

63
Q

What ways can a FF be informed about a wildfire?

A

Via the ditto, MDT, COMCEN, call from a member of the public.

64
Q

What should a FF do if working in an unfamiliar area?

A

Conduct an area familiarisation, learn about surrounding areas.

65
Q

How would you inform someone that they may be overrun?

A

Radio: Red Red Red, Hey you, it’s me, you are about to be over run.

66
Q

What are the three methods of attacking fire?

A

Cut off the oxygen supply and smother the fire.
Reduce the temperature and cool the fire.
Remove the fuel from the path of the fire and starve the fire.

67
Q

What is the deadman zone?

A

It describes any area within 5 minutes of possible overrun from a fire.

68
Q

How much water should be left in a tank for over run procedures?

A

25%

69
Q

How should hand tools be carried?

A

Close to your body and parallel to the ground.
Not carried over your shoulder.
Carry tools on down hill side of a slope.

ACTF&R College (6 decks)

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