Wildfire Management Branch

1. Wildfire Management Branch OrientationInformation for Incoming Fire Behaviour Specialists

2. Welcome to BC • The total land area is 93 million hectares. Forests predominate, covering over 55% of the area. Extensive grasslands, wetlands and alpine areas make up the remainder. • The area protected from wildland fire is 86.5 million hectares. • The climate varies from maritime to semiarid, influenced by moist westerly flows from the Pacific Ocean and dry continental flows from the NE. Precipitation varies from <200mm to as much as 6000mm/year. • The landscape is dominated by a series of mountain ranges generally running NW to SE. These have a strong influence on local climate and weather patterns.

3. Northern and Central Plateaus and Mountains: This area, mostly north of the 56th parallel, consists of rolling plateau country and series of lower less rugged mountain ranges than the those of the coast and SE. Pine, spruce and balsam dominate. Great Plains: This area of flat to gently rolling terrain is found in the northeastern part of the province, east of the Rocky Mountains. The main relief features are deeply incised river valleys. Forests are mostly pine, spruce and aspen in the south with black spruce dominant in the boggy boreal forest of the northern most parts. BC’s 5 Physiographic Regions:

4. Coast Mountains and Islands: 2 parallel mountain belts dominate the coast. The terrain is generally steep except on coastal plains. Forests consist primarily of Hemlock, Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar. Recently harvested old growth areas can carry very heavy slash loads. Interior Plateau: This is a varied landscape, gently rolling in the north with deeply incised steep banked rivers in the south and rugged, deeply dissected terrain in the east. Large areas of grassland and lodgepole pine forest dominate the central to northern parts. The valley bottoms of the south tend to be open and semiarid. Ponderosa Pine grasslands give way to Interior Douglas Fir and Spruce as elevation is gained. BC’s5 Physiographic Regions:

5. Columbia Mountains and Southern Rockies: This is a varied area ranging from near rainforest to semi arid grassland. 4 rugged mountain belts comprise the Columbia Mountains. The northern and central parts of this area make up the interior wetbelt. Coastal tree species are present in this area along with most of the interior species. The southern valley bottoms, especially the Rocky Mountain trench area are pine grasslands similar to those of the southern Interior Plateau. BC’s 5 Physiographic Regions:

6. The average of annual fire starts for the 10 year period 2000-2009 is 1970. A record high of 4088 was experienced in 1994. Lightning and person caused fires usually each account for about half the average. The average annual area burned over the same 10 years has been about 98,541 hectares. The 2003, 2004 and 2009 fire seasons were the main contributors. The fire season in BC is generally considered to be from April through October. However, in the dry southern parts of the province the season may stretch from March into November. Fire

7. The most severe fires usually occur from mid July through mid September. The northern boreal region often experiences the largest fires in late May and June, coinciding with the “spring dip” in foliar moisture content. Fire return intervals vary from 5-15 years in the open Ponderosa Pine grasslands to over 500 years in the coastal forests. Fire

8. BioGeoClimatic Zones • British Columbia has 14 major climatic, ecological subdivisions, known as biogeoclimatic zones. • Other than the Alpine Tundra, the zones are named for the primary climax tree species within them. (see map on next slide) • Further information and maps are available on the following websites: BiogeoclimaticEcosystem Classification website (to access the site, right click on the hyperlink and select <Hyperlink> then select <open>

10. Legend to Fire Size & Return Interval Tables(on 2 pages following)

11. Fire Return Interval by Biogeoclimatic Zone for B.C. Zone Cover type Fire type Fire intensity Min (yr) Avg (yr) Max (yr) BG Grass S L 4 - 5 5 - 15 15 - 25 PP Fd Py, Py, Py Fd S L 4 - 5 5 - 15 15 - 25 Fd Py, Py, Py Fd C M - H Rare Rare Rare SBS Pl, Bl Sx S + C M - H 75 - 100 100 - 150 150 - 250 BWBS Sb S + C M - H 50 - 75 75 - 125 125 - 175 At Pl Sw S + C M - H 75 - 100 100 - 150 150 - 250 Pl Sw Bl S + C M - H 100 - 150 150 - 200 200 - 300 SBPS Pl Sw S + C M - H 100 - 125 125 - 175 175 - 250 ICH Cw Hw S L 100 - 150 150 - 250 250 - 350 Cw Hw S + C M - H 100 - 150 150 - 250 250 - 350 IDF Py Fd, Fd, Fd Se S L 5 - 10 10 - 20 20 - 50 Py Fd, Fd, Fd Se S + C M - H 100 - 150 150 - 250 250 - 350 CDF Pl Fd, Fd, Cw Fd S L 50 - 100 100 - 300 300 - 400 Pl Fd, Fd, Cw Fd S + C M - H 50 - 100 100 - 300 300 - 400 MS Pl Se Fd, Se Bl S + C M - H 125 - 175 175 - 275 275 - 350 CWH Hw Cw, Hw Ba, Cw Ss S L - M 100 - 150 150 - 350 350 - 500 Hw Cw, Hw Ba, Cw Ss S + C H 100 - 150 150 - 350 350 - 500 ESSF Pl, Se Bl S L - M 150 - 200 200 - 300 350 - 500 Pl, Se Bl S + C M - H 150 - 200 200 - 300 350 - 500 SWB Bl Sw S + C M - H 150 - 200 200 - 350 350 - 500 AT Treeless or krummholz S L - M 250 300 - 400 500 - 600 MH Ba Yc Hm, Ba Hm S L - M 300 350 - 450 550 - 650 Ba Yc Hm, Ba Hm S + C M - H 300 350 - 450 550 - 650

12. Fuel Types

13. Fuel Type Map

14. Fuel Types • Due to the wide variety of climates and terrain in the province, most FBP fuel types are represented in BC. • A number of fuels, especially the hemlock, fir , cedar mixes along the coast and in the interior wet belt, are not well represented by the FBP fuel types, so a best fit based on close examination of the fuel complex structure is required. • To represent the spruce-balsam stands in the central and northern interior the C-3 fuel type has been modified by reducing the crown base height and increasing the crown fuel load. Tables are available. Field validation is incomplete.

15. Fuel Types • The C7 (Ponderosa Pine/Douglas Fir) fuel type has been revised as the C7b type to include an adjustable grass curing component. This should improve the accuracy of projections made before grass, the primary fire carrier in this type, has fully cured. • About 16.3 million hectares across the central interior have been subject to a severe Mountain Pine Beetle outbreak. The impacts on fire behaviour can be significant. Special attention must be paid to safety and tactics. A powerpoint presentation about this fuel is also located on this Sharepoint site. Some key points from the presentation follow on the next 3 slides.

16. Mountain pine beetle infestations recorded in British Columbia in 2010 “Shows the leading edge of the Infestation”

17. L.A.C.E.S and the MPB Forest • L. – Lookouts – You need lookouts to monitor fire behaviour to ensure you are aware of the transition of surface fire to crown fire. Remember this can occur in a matter of seconds and these seconds can count in terms of your safety • A. - Anchor Points – You must start all action from a non flammable point. It is good to use this anchor point as a safety zones as well • C. – Communication – Talking as a group, briefings, radio communication all form part of this. Marking no work zones and safety zones and escape route are also from of communications. • E. – Escape Routes – Yes routes, you should have more than one. Remember you are in a forest of weakened trees, escape routes can be cut off by falling trees. Marked? Scouted? Timed? • S. – Safety Zones – Make sure you have a big enough safety zone, remember you are dealing with higher fire intensity than the Red Book is showing you. Remember the surrounding forest could fall or blow down with the weaken root structure. (old rule of thumb 10 times the size, in diameter, of the surrounding forest or 4 times the maximum flame height.*) A new rule of thumb may be better at 15 or 20 times the forest height? If you don’t have an area, build it!!!!! * average flame height of crown fires in conifer forests is generally 2 to 2.5 times the stand height

18. Final Thoughts • Use ANCHOR points in any suppression activity • Monitor the fire environment • Utilize the information that your hourly wx readings are giving you • Take hourly weather reading • Be aware of surrounding fuel types (receptive fuel beds for spotting) • Watch for any topography features (may see even quick short fire runs with topography interactions) • Areas with understory will be the most active in terms of fire behaviour • No two areas will be the same from a fuel perspective, you will be working in areas where the fuel has fell down, is falling down, or could fall down. Assess the stands before working in any area. • Remember LACES!!!! • ... And one more time ...ANCHOR POINTS!!!!!!

19. Weather • Weather patterns locally are strongly affected by the mountain ranges. The wettest areas will be on the westward slopes and the driest to the east. The Okanagan area in the lee of the Coast Mountains is the hottest and driest part of the province. Temperatures in the 40’s and RH’s near 10% occur for short periods most summers. • During outflows, coastal areas can experience similar conditions along with high winds, when a high pressure system lies over the interior and a low sits off the coast. • Additional mountain influences are covered in the Topography section.

20. Weather • Though most weather systems move eastward from the Pacific Ocean, the southern part of the province is also subject to tropical moisture feeds that move north from the US. These increase the potential for high based lightning in the affected areas. • Additionally the area east of the Rocky Mountains is affected by drying flows from Alberta and the NWT. • Local weather patterns and anomalies should be discussed with the fire weather forecaster upon arrival at the fire centre.

21. Weather • Fire weather forecasters are dedicated to each fire centre during the fire season. • They are physically located in the Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre in Kamloops and the Prince George, Kamloops and Southeast Fire Centres. Service to the NW, Cariboo and Coastal Fire Centres is provided remotely by staff and contract forecasters. • All briefings are recorded on the Fire Weather website for playback as required. • Incoming specialists are encouraged to establish phone contact with the forecasters to ensure the needs of both parties are being met.

22. Weather • Fire weather data is collected hourly from an automated network of 219 fire weather stations. • There are 5 higher elevation sites that record at least wind. FWI values are not calculated. • Daily values are also provided from 25 MSC weather stations to fill gaps in the hourly network. • Additional hourly data is available from contract stations operated seasonally for industry. These tend to vary in location so need to be confirmed annually. • The weather data and calculated codes and indices are posted on the WMD Fire Weather website.

23. Weather • Temporary weather stations can be requested through the Logistics Section if no network sites are considered representative. 6 of the units are quick deploy types with Global Star satellite communications. • These units should be requested with a field tech to set them up and instruct the FBS on there use. • Once set up, the data can be accessed through the WMB Fire Weather website. • Belt weather kits are also available for feed back from the fireline. Most BC crews carry at least 1 kit with them. It is recommended to review proper data collection techniques with the crew member responsible when requesting readings from them.

24. Forecast Regions, Fire Weather Zones & Danger Index Regions • 5 synoptic level forecast regions • 30 weather zones which facilitate geographical grouping of weather stations • 3 danger regions to facilitate danger rating comparison across divergent climate regimes.

25. Fire Weather Website Permissions required to access this site: http://fshprw5.hpr.for.gov.bc.ca/scripts/menu/BC/ShowPage.asp?page=FireWeather

26. Charts & Images Available

27. Current vs Historical DC and BUI Trend Graphs

28. User Select Period Precipitation Summaries

29. Weather Station Distribution Protection & MSC Sites Accessible from the link on the following page, this ArcIms map can be zoomed in and will display weather station information. A table listing all station locations is accessed via the second link.

30. Links to Weather Station Map and List of Station Coordinates • Station Map http://webmaps.gov.bc.ca/imf5/imf.jsp?site=protection • Station Coordinates: WMB Hourly Network http://bcwildfire.ca/Weather/stations.htm Both sites are accessible through the WMB public website, bcwildfire.ca * * * * * Note: to open hyperlink, hover the curser over it, then right click and select “open hyperlink” from the drop down menu. This links to the WMB Public site so permissions are not required.

31. Meteorological Services Canada, Daily Station Locations These sites are updated once per day with the daily readings and FWI values. No hourly data is currently available.

32. Topography • Mountain dominated • Variable throughout BC • Significant impact on weather and fire behaviour

33. Topography Effects to consider: • Subsidence heating and drying in lee of mountains. • Channeling of winds along mountain ranges. • Funneling of winds through narrow valleys and gaps with resultant velocity increases. • Turbulence around gaps and terrain breaks. • Rapid heating of steep southerly slopes. • Upslope winds from daytime heating. • Significant downslope flows can develop at night. • Strong downslope flows below glaciers at any time.

34. Topography Effects to consider: • Overnight thermal belt development part way up the valley sides keeps temperatures and relative humidities near daytime levels. Wind sheer at the top of the inversion can lead to sudden increases in fire intensity and rates of spread as the inversion breaks and the upper winds are mixed down. Fire weather forecasters at the fire centres can provide estimates of breakthrough temperature and time at specified elevations. Local observation is crucial for validation.

35. Topography Effects to consider: • Temperature and RH change with elevation as a result of adiabatic cooling. Upper slopes will have a cooler, more humid burning environment than lower slopes. As a fire progresses, spot forecasts must be requested for the appropriate elevation. If the weather station in use is not within 500 meters elevation of the active part of the fire, a portable station should be deployed or a virtual station can be created at the appropriate elevation in WeatherPro3. To reflect the cumulative effect on fuel moisture, the codes from the parent station should be rerun using adjusted startup values provided by the forecaster.

36. Fire Behaviour Forecasts and Advisories • Fire Behaviour Forecasts are issue daily. The timing may vary based on organizational requirements. The standard national format can be used. • Operational Safe Work Standard #5 which outlines the requirements for Weather Advisories, Fire Behaviour Advisories and Extreme Fire Behaviour Warnings, which are issued by the specialist in addition to the forecast if the outlined conditions are met. A copy of the document is included at the end of this package. • Fire Centres also issue these products on a wide area basis. Crews on your fire must be made aware that your forecasts, advisories and warnings supercede anything broadcast they hear from the fire centre on your incident.

37. Wildfire Management Branch Organization The agency is structured as follows: • Headquarters office located in Victoria. • The Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre located in Kamloops. • 6 regional Fire Centres: • Coastal, located in Errington • Kamloops, located at the Kamloops airport • Cariboo, located at the Williams Lake airport • Southeast, located at the Castlegar airport • Prince George, located in Prince George • Northwest, located at the Smithers airport

38. Wildfire Management Branch Organization • Each fire centre is divided into Fire Management Zones run by a Zone Protection Officer. There are 34 zones in the province. • 3 person initial attack crews and 20 person unit crews (sustained action) are based seasonally around the zones. • The provincial Rapattack base is located in Salmon Arm. Crews and helicopters will be repositioned to secondary bases as required. • A 20 person Parattack team and jump ship are based at the Fort St John airport. • The Provincial Airtanker Centre is located at the Kamloops airport. This office coordinates the positioning of air resources around the province.

39. Wildfire Management Branch Organization • Fire equipment depots are located in Chilliwack and Prince George. • ICS The Incident Command System has been implemented to manage fire events in BC. • The Fire Behaviour Specialist reports, as a technical specialist, to the Plans Section Chief.

40. Access to WMB Information • Wildfire Management Branch public website: http://bcwildfire.ca/ • Wildfire Management Branch internal website: https://icw.for.gov.bc.ca/protect/ • Fire weather and CFFDRS information is accessible from the internal website. • Necessary systems access will be granted on arrival.

41. Operational Safe Work Standard #5 • Weather Warning: A weather warning is issued when forecast weather conditions could increase working condition hazards, for example; - Burning off and backfiring operations - Utilization of aircraft in suppression operations - Transportation of workers in aircraft - Fireline operations where wind throw of trees is possible - Weather conditions that could cause fire “blow up conditions • A weather warning can include; - Severe turbulence, downbursts and strong winds - Hail and severe lightning - Very low Relative Humidity values - Unstable air masses • Weather warnings may be issued in the absence of aggressive fire behaviour.

42. Operational Safe Work Standard #5 • Fire Behaviour Advisory: A Fire Behaviour Advisory is issued when intensities in excess of Intensity Class IV for a particular fuel type are forecast. These fire behaviour characteristics in excess of 4000kW/m will likely challenge direct suppression efforts. • Extreme Fire Behaviour Warning: An Extreme Fire Behaviour Warning indicates that fire behaviour is expected to exceed Intensity Class IV for a particular fuel type. And conditions may escalate rapidly in association with one of the following: passage of a cold front; significant change in wind direction (> 90 degrees); severe localized thunderstorms and downdrafts; and development of low-level jets. • An Extreme Fire Behaviour Warning is issued independently of any other advisory. These conditions pose the greatest threat to worker entrapment.

43. Operational Safe Work Standard #5 PROCEDURES • Responsible Parties: It is the responsibility of operational and key administrative staff (such as dispatchers) to be aware of potential threats to personnel and air operations. It is the Regional Wildfire Coordination Officer’s responsibility to ensure adequate Advisories and Warnings are issued. When personnel are dispatched to an area for which an Advisory or Warning has been issued, the dispatch information must include the Advisory or Warning. Incident Commanders or project leaders must confirm their understanding of the situation and provide the dispatch centre with feedback on actual conditions.

44. Operational Safe Work Standard #5 • Notification: When a Weather Warning or an Extreme Fire Behaviour Warning is issued, ALL affected resources WITHIN and ADJOINING the AFFECTED AREA will be advised by the most expeditious means. Radio Operators and Dispatchers transmitting these Warnings must obtain acknowledgement from all intended recipients that the transmission was received and understood. An applicable Warning MAY NOT BE IGNORED. • When a Fire Behaviour Advisory is issued supervisory personnel must ensure that ALL affected resources WITHIN and ADJOINING the defined area are advised. Resources to be deployed to an area under an Advisory must also be advised. • Where a Fire Behaviour Specialist is deployed to an incident, only Fire Behaviour Advisories and Extreme Fire Behaviour Warnings issued by that Specialist are to be heeded by resources on that incident unless otherwise advised by the Specialist. Weather Warnings will continue to be issued by the Fire Weather Forecaster or by an incident Fire Behaviour Specialist in consultation with the forecaster.

45. Operational Safe Work Standard #5 • Key Components: Every Advisory and Warning must include:  type of Advisory or Warning;  date and time of issuance;  applicable geographic area (simple geographic description of the specific area affected);  expected arrival time and duration of disturbance;  description of conditions expected;  Who should receive it and how it is to be distributed (e.g., radio, telephone, or fax to all ZWCOs, bases, active Fires, PATC, PWCO and neighbouring Regional Wildfire Coordination Offices). • Weather Warning: A Weather Warning is issued to alert personnel that forecast conditions may present hazards to air operations, fireline or project operations. • A Weather Warning must include:  type and intensity of disturbance (e.g., outflow winds gusting to 50 km/h).

46. Operational Safe Work Standard #5 • Fire Behaviour Advisory: Issuing Offices must adopt a format that highlights the period during which forecast conditions are expected to exceed Intensity Class IV. • A Fire Behaviour Advisory must include:  relevant fuel type(s). • Extreme Fire Behaviour Warning: • An Extreme Fire Behaviour Warning must include:  intensity of disturbance (e.g., generating 70 km/h winds);  expected effect on fire behaviour (e.g., change in spread direction or fire intensity);  relevant fuel type(s);  if extreme fire behaviour is imminent, all personnel must be fully prepared to follow any specific instructions issued by the Incident Commander.

47. Operational Safe Work Standard #5 • Issuance: Three levels of the organization can initiate an Advisory or Warning: • Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre (PWCO), Fire (IC) and Regional Wildfire Coordination Centres (RWCO). • Response: Suppression strategies and tactics must be adjusted accordingly to ensure personnel safety is not jeopardized. • Staff should report actual on-site weather conditions and fire behaviour characteristics to the Dispatch Centre to confirm or correct forecast information. Updates can then be passed on to others. The issuer should provide an explanatory note when forecast conditions do not occur. Advisories and Warnings must be retracted if forecast amendments mitigate the situation. • If in doubt — back out!