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Unit 3 Wildland Fire Behavior and Safety

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Unit 3 Objectives Identify indications that fire behavior

may be increasing.

Recognize combined influences that t fi b h i d

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may cause extreme fire behavior and safety concerns.

List seven fire environment factors to be aware of while monitoring fire behavior.

Monitoring Fire BehaviorIndicators occur that fire is transitioning to

problem or even extreme fire behavior

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Problem vs. Extreme Fire BehaviorProblem Fire Behavior: Fire activity that presents a potential hazard

to fire personnel if the tactics being used are not adjusted.

Extreme Fire Behavior:

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The highest level of problem fire behavior, described with: 1. Rapid rate of spread2. Intense burning3. Spotting4. Crowning

Problem vs. Extreme Fire Behavior

Problemfire

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behavior

Problem vs. Extreme Fire Behavior

Extremefire

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behavior

*Click on image to play video

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Use as a field reference to help monitor changing

Incident Response Pocket Guide

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conditions.

The pages of the Operational section are green and placed in front for quick reference in the field.

Incident Response Pocket Guide

Scan of irpg green section open to L3

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The Operational section is where the seven fire environment factors of Look Up, Down and Around are located.

L3

The fire environment has been described with a triangle showing:

Look Up, Down, and Around

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Weather

Fuels

Topography (Terrain)

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There are seven Fire Environment Factors that fireline personnel must monitor:

1. Fuel Characteristics2. Fuel Moisture

Look Up, Down, and Around

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3. Fuel Temperature4. Terrain5. Wind6. Stability7. Fire Behavior

Fuel CharacteristicsIndicators: Continuous fine fuels

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Fuel CharacteristicsIndicators: Heavy loading of dead and down

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Fuel CharacteristicsIndicators: Ladder fuels

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Fuel CharacteristicsIndicators: Tight crown spacing

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Fuel CharacteristicsSpecial Conditions: Firebrand sources

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Fuel CharacteristicsSpecial Conditions: Numerous snags

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Fuel CharacteristicsSpecial Conditions: Frost and bug kill

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Special Conditions: Preheated canopyFuel Characteristics

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Fuel CharacteristicsSpecial Conditions: Unusual fine fuels

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Fuel CharacteristicsSpecial Conditions: High dead to live ratio

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Indicators: Low RH (< 25%)

Fuel Moisture

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Indicators: Low 10 hr FMC (< 6%)

Fuel Moisture

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Indicators: Drought Conditions

Fuel Moisture

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Indicators: Seasonal Drying

Fuel Moisture

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Indicators: High Temps (>85F)

Fuel Temperature

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Indicators: High % of fuels with direct sun

Fuel Temperature

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Indicators: Aspect fuel temp. increasing

Fuel Temperature

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Indicators: Steep slopes (> 50%)

Topography (Terrain)

Insert steep slope pic

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p p p

Topography (Terrain)Indicators: Chutes - Chimneys

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Indicators: Saddles

Topography (Terrain)

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Indicators: Box Canyons

Topography (Terrain)

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Indicators: Narrow Canyons

Topography (Terrain)

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Indicators: Surface winds above 10 mph

Wind

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Indicators: Lenticular clouds

Wind

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Indicators: High, fast moving clouds

Wind

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Indicators: Approaching cold fronts

Wind

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Indicators: Cumulonimbus development

Wind

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Indicators: Sudden calm

Wind

Wind

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Wind

Be alert for wind change

Indicators: Battling or shifting winds

Wind

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Indicators: Good visibility

Stability

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StabilityIndicators: Gusty winds and dust devils

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*Click on image to play video

Indicators: Cumulus clouds

Stability

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Indicators: Castellatus clouds in the a.m.

Stability

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Indicators: Smoke rises straight up

Stability

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Indicators: Inversion beginning to lift

Stability

Paradise fire inversion pic

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p

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Indicators: Thermal belt

Stability

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Indicators: Leaning column

Fire Behavior

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Indicators: Sheared column

Fire Behavior

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Indicators: Well-developed column

Fire Behavior

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Indicators: Changing column

Fire Behavior

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Fire BehaviorIndicators: Trees torching

03-51-S190-EP*Click on image to play video

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Fire BehaviorIndicators: Smoldering fires picking up

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*Click on image to play video

Fire BehaviorIndicators: Small firewhirls beginning

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Fire BehaviorIndicators: Frequent spot fires

03-54-S190-EP*Click on image to play video

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Exercise: Reviewing the 7 Factors

1. Fuel Characteristics2. Fuel Moisture3. Fuel Temperature

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4. Terrain5. Wind6. Stability7. Fire Behavior

Review Unit Objectives

Identify indications that fire behavior may be increasing.

Recognize combined influences that may cause extreme fire behavior and

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may cause extreme fire behavior and safety concerns.

List seven fire environment factors to be aware of while monitoring fire behavior.