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Learn how to define contingencies, identify hazards, and apply suppression tactics for escaped prescribed burns. Discover strategies for catching escaped fires, mitigating hazards, and ensuring safety during prescribed burning operations.
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Objectives • Define and identify contingencies. • Identify hazards and measures to mitigate those hazards. • Discuss suppression tactics for escaped prescribed burns.
Contingencies • Areas outside your prescribed burn boundaries where you can “catch” an escaped fire. • Natural barriers: water bodies, rocky areas, sparse fuels • Man-made barriers: roads, powerline rights-of-way, previously burned areas
Contingencies • Resources, people/equipment, you can use to help you with escaped prescribed burns. • Volunteer or town fire departments • Cooperators – other agencies or organizations • May need to have written agreement • Can reciprocate when needed
Know your contingencies before you implement your burn!! • Have a plan as to where you think you can catch the escape. • Make sure your resources are available and close enough to be effective.
SAFETY Possible hazards • Standing dead or dying trees (snags) • Fire weakened trees • Lightning • Smoke • The fire itself • Animals, insects, toxic plants • Members of the public • Fatigue • Heat Stress • Sharp tools • Unexpected weather
Mitigating Hazards • Personal Protective Equipment • Long sleeve shirts, long pants. Try to use cotton or wool or flame resistant clothing. • Leather gloves • Eye protection • Sturdy boots, preferably all leather • Hard hat
Mitigating Hazards • Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones -- LCES • Re-evaluate continuously as things change • It’s important to use all four components together
Lookouts Use when: - Firefighters are spread out and can’t see the main fire - Weather is getting hotter and drier - Firefighters unfamiliar with local country Use experienced firefighter who can see firefighters and hazards and communicate those hazards.
Communications • Make sure assignments are understood! • Word of mouth • Hand held radios • Cell phones • Flagging
ESCAPE ROUTES A path a firefighter takes from location exposed to danger to an area free from danger. • -Known to all firefighters • Easily identifiable
Safety Zones • An area free from hazards • Already burned areas • Water bodies • Rocky areas • Areas of light fuels that can be burned off
Suppression Tactics • If your prescribed fire escapes and becomes a wildfire, you must begin suppression actions. • Come up with a strategy to suppress the fire and tactics to accomplish the suppression • Inform all firefighters of new plan and roles • SAFETY FIRST! Use LCES
Methods of Attack: • Direct Attack - Constructing a fireline or using water right on the fire perimeter. Keep one foot in the black and one foot in the unburned area. • Indirect Attack - Constructing a fireline some distance from the fire perimeter. Should use a barrier (natural or constructed) in fireline construction, if available. Intervening strip is wide and fuels are burned out…..
Types of Fire Control Line: • Constructed Fireline • Hand Line • Machine Line • Wet Line
Types of Fire Control Line cont.: • Natural Control Line • Cold Fire Edge • Fuel Break • Previously Constructed Barriers
