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S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior. Why we feel fire behavior training is critical. COURSE OBJECTIVES. Identify and discuss the three sides of the fire triangle. Identify the environmental factors of wildland fire behavior that affect the start and spread of wildland fire.

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S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

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  1. S-190Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

  2. Why we feel fire behavior training is critical

  3. COURSE OBJECTIVES • Identify and discuss the three sides of the fire triangle. • Identify the environmental factors of wildland fire behavior that affect the start and spread of wildland fire. • Recognize situations that indicate problem or extreme wildland fire behavior.

  4. Unit 1 Objectives • 1. Describe the fire triangle • 2. Identify three methods of heat transfer • 3. List the three env. elements affecting fire behavior. • 4. List three fuel factors that affect wildland fire. • 5. List 3 weather factors that affect fuel moisture • 6. Describe how wind affects wildland fire spread • 7. Describe the effect of slope on wildland fire spread • 8. List 4 topographic factors that affect wildland fire behavior • 9. Describe the dangerous conditions that can develop in a • box canyon & steep narrow canyon

  5. 1. Describe the fire triangle

  6. Fire Triangle Heat Oxygen Fuel

  7. HEAT SOURCES • Lightning • Cigarettes • Powerlines • Catalytic converters • Small engine sparks • Matches • Magnifying glass

  8. FUELS • Grass • Shrubs • Trees • Houses • Propane tanks • Wood piles • Decks

  9. OXYGEN

  10. 2. Identify three methods of heat transfer

  11. Heat Transfer Radiation Convection Conduction

  12. Radiation

  13. Convection

  14. Conduction

  15. 3. List the three env. elements affecting fire behavior.

  16. Three Principal Environmental Elements Affecting Wildland Fire Behavior • Fuels • Weather • Topography

  17. Group Exercise #1 Group 1: Identify the factors of fuels that affect fire behavior. Group 2: Identify the factors of weather that affect fire behavior. Group 3: Identify the factors of topography that affect fire behavior. video

  18. Fuels • Fuel Type • Fuel Moisture • Size and Shape • Fuel Loading • Horizontal Continuity • Vertical Arrangement

  19. Fuel Types Grass Brush Logging Slash Timber

  20. Fuel Moisture: The amount of water in a fuel expressed as a percentage of the oven-dry weight of that fuel

  21. Categories of Fuels Light fuels: Grass, Leaves, Shrubs Heavy fuels: Limbs, Logs, Stumps

  22. Light Fuels

  23. Heavy Fuels

  24. Fuel Loading: The quantity of fuels in an area. Generally expressed in Tons per Acre.

  25. Horizontal Continuity: Uniform vs Patchy Vertical Arrangement - Ground - Surface - Aerial

  26. Patchy

  27. Discontinuous

  28. Continuous

  29. Vertical Loading

  30. Fuel Characteristics Vertical Arrangement

  31. Ground Fuels All combustible materials lying beneath the surface including deep duff, roots, rotten buried logs, and other organic material. Usually called a “PEAT FIRE”

  32. Surface Fuels All materials lying on or immediately above the ground including needles or leaves, grass, downed logs, stumps, large limbs and low shrubs.

  33. Aerial Fuels All green and dead materials located in the upper forest canopy including tree branches and crowns, snags, moss, and high shrubs.

  34. Weather • Temperature • Wind - Increases supply of oxygen • Drives convective heat into adjacent fuels. • Influences spread direction and spotting. • Carries moist air away replacing it with drier air. • Dries Fuels. • Raises fuel moisture if the air contains moisture.

  35. Weather • Temperature • Relative Humidity - As RH increases, fuel moisture increases • Precipitation - Increases fuel moisture

  36. Temperature / RH Chart 24 hours

  37. Topography • Aspect - direction a slope faces • Slope - Steepness. • Position of Fire - Top, middle, or bottom of slope. • Shape of Country - Narrow canyons & box canyons. • Elevation - Relates to curing of fuels, precipitation, length of fire season, etc.

  38. Aspect

  39. Topography • Aspect - direction a slope faces • Slope - Steepness. • Position of Fire - Top, middle, or bottom of slope. • Shape of Country - Narrow canyons & box canyons. • Elevation - Relates to curing of fuels, precipitation, length of fire season, etc.

  40. Steep Slopes Cause Rapid Fire Spread

  41. Topography • Aspect - direction a slope faces • Slope - Steepness. • Position of Fire - Top, middle, or bottom of slope. • Shape of Country - Narrow canyons & box canyons. • Elevation - Relates to curing of fuels, precipitation, length of fire season, etc.

  42. Position of Fire on Slope

  43. Topography • Aspect - direction a slope faces • Slope - Steepness. • Position of Fire - Top, middle, or bottom of slope. • Shape of Country - Narrow canyons & box canyons. • Elevation - Relates to curing of fuels, precipitation, length of fire season, etc.

  44. Box Canyon & Chimney Effect

  45. Radiant Heat AcrossNarrow Canyon

  46. Spotting Across Narrow Canyon

  47. Mountains Cause Channeling of Wind

  48. Topography • Aspect - direction a slope faces • Slope - Steepness. • Position of Fire - Top, middle, or bottom of slope. • Shape of Country - Narrow canyons & box canyons. • Elevation - Relates to curing of fuels, precipitation, length of fire season, etc.

  49. Elevation

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