1 / 145

Wildland Urban Interface Tactical Guidelines

CAL FIRE operational guidelines for emergency operations and structure defense in wildland urban interface environments, emphasizing safety and preparation.

sherrera
Download Presentation

Wildland Urban Interface Tactical Guidelines

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. WildlandUrbanInterfaceOperationalGuidelines SL1

  2. CALFIRELEADER’S INTENT STATEMENT • Emergencyoperationsinthewildlandurban interfaceenvironmentrequirecontinuous situationalawarenessbaseduponthefire environment,observedfirebehavior,hazards andincidentobjectives. • Firefighterandpublicsafetyisparamount andmustbethenumberonetacticalconsiderationwhenengagedinthedefense ofinfrastructureandothervaluableassets.

  3. CALFIRELEADER’S INTENT STATEMENT • Itisunderstoodthatthedefenseofthese assetsshallnotcompromisefirefighterandpublicsafetyandareinitiatedwhensafeandprudenttodosorealizingthethreattolife andproperty. • Incidentcontainmentstrategiesmustintegrateperimetercontrol,firesuppression,andthedefenseofassetsconcurrently.

  4. CALFIRESTRUCTUREDEFENSETACTICALOPERATINGPRINCIPLES • Themosteffectiveformofstructuredefenseisto suppressthewildlandfire. • Perimetercontrolmustbethenumberoneoperationalpriorityutilizingestablishedwildland firefightingtacticstosuppressthefirebeforeit reachesstructures • ThekeytosuccessintheWildlandUrban Interfaceispreparationandpre-incidentplanning.

  5. CALFIRESTRUCTUREDEFENSETACTICALOPERATINGPRINCIPLES • Tacticalresourcesshouldtake“Appropriate Actions”basedon“Leader’sIntent”whencommunicationsbreakdown. • Operationalresources assignedtodefendstructuresnotimmediatelythreatenedshouldbeactivelyengagedindefensepreparations. Sittingandwaitingforthefiretoarriveisnot anoption.

  6. CALFIRESTRUCTURESDEFENSETACTICALOPERATINGPRINCIPLES • Propertyownershavearesponsibilitytopreparetheirpropertyforstructuredefensebyprovidingadequatedefensiblespaceprior tothefireemergency.(PRC4291). • Type3enginesarethebestchoiceforwildlandurbaninterfaceoperations.However,anyproperlyequippedenginecanbeaneffectivetoolduringstructuredefenseoperations.

  7. CALFIRESTRUCTURESDEFENSETACTICALOPERATINGPRINCIPLES • Allresources assignedtostructure defenseoperations must be staffedwithadequatelytrainedpersonnelandequippedwithappropriatewildlandfirefightingequipment. • Ordertheclosestanddeploythemost appropriateresourcesneededtointegrateperimetercontrolandstructuredefense strategies,includingengines,crews,dozersandair resources.

  8. CALFIRESTRUCTURESDEFENSETACTICALOPERATINGPRINCIPLES • DivisionSupervisorsshouldsupervisebothperimetercontrolandstructuredefenseoperationswithintheirgeographicareaswheneverpossible. • StructureDefenseGroupsshouldbeassignedtogeographicbranches,OSCortheICasnecessary,coordinatestructuredefenseassignmentswiththe DivisionSupervisor,andshouldremainflexible andmobiletoinitiateperimetercontrolactionswithinthedivisionifneeded.

  9. CALFIRESTRUCTURESDEFENSETACTICALOPERATINGPRINCIPLES • TheuseofSTRUCTUREGROUPSand STRUCTUREBRANCHESasthe DEFAULTchoicefortacticalstructuredefenseoperationsshouldbe minimized.

  10. InterfaceandIntermix • Whenmakingdecisionsonstructureprotection,youmustconsidertheoverall environmentwherethestructuresarelocated.Therearetwobasicstructure environmentsinthewildland. • Interface–aconditionwherestructuresabutthewildland.Thereisaclearlineofdemarcationbetweenthestructuresandthewildlandfuelsalongroadsorbackfences. • Usuallyidentifiedashousingtractsordevelopmentsadjacenttoawildlandarea • Thereisagreaterpotentialforhousetohouseignition • Intermix–aconditionwherestructuresarescatteredthroughoutawildlandarea. Thereisnoclearlineofdemarcation;thewildlandfuelsarecontinuousoutsideofand withinthedevelopedarea. • Eachstructuremustbeassessedindependently • Usuallymorecomplextotriagethananinterfacecondition • Usuallymorecomplextodefendthataninterfacecondition • Usuallyrequiresahigherratioofenginestostructuresthananinterfacecondition

  11. StructureDefensevs.Protection • Protectionimpliesthatastructurewill survivefirefrontimpact • Protectionpromptsfirefighterstocommitbeyondtheirabilitiescompromising safety • Publicexpectationisthatfirefighterswillprotectthestructuresnomatterwhat

  12. StructureDefensevs.Protection • DefenseimpliesthatFirefighterswilldo theirbesttosaveastructurewithout compromisingsafety • Thesafesttacticmaybetowithdrawtoasafelocationandreturntothe structureafterthefirefrontpasses

  13. TACTICALMANEUVER • Impliesmovementorpurposefulreaction tochange • Buildsagilityintoatacticalplan • Mosteffectivewhenchangestotheprimaryplanhavebeenidentifiedandreactiontothosechangesareplannedout

  14. TACTICALMANEUVER • Tacticalmaneuverisutilizedwhenchangingfromstructuredefensemodetoperimetercontrolmode • Tacticalplanningmustbedevelopedinconjunctionwithanticipatedchangesin thefireenvironmentorfirebehavior • Essentialtoensurefirefightersafety

  15. TACTICALMANEUVER • Focusonagiletacticalsolutionstounanticipatedchangesratherthana rigid,inflexible,siegeapproach. • Contingencyplanningshouldbepartof everytacticalplan • Tacticschangeasfirebehaviorchanges requiringtacticalmaneuver

  16. TACTICALMANEUVER • Canbeanoffensiveordefensiveaction • Movedecisivelyduringlullsinfireactivity • Usetemporaryrefugeareas(TRAs)or safetyzonesduringextremefirebehavior • Requiresconstantassessmentoffire behavior • Requirescontinuousidentificationof safetyzonesandTRAs

  17. FIREBEHAVIORFORECASTING • Usestandardizedreferencestovalidatefirebehaviorforecasts • IRPG • LookUp,LookDown,LookAroundindicators • Extremefirebehaviorindicators • Longrangespotting • Sustainedcrownruns • Rapidratesofspread • CampbellPredictionSystem

  18. FIREBEHAVIORFORECASTING • Firebehaviorforecastingchecklist: • Knowwhatthefireisdoingatalltimes • Knowcurrentweatherconditionsandforecasts • Observecurrentfireactivity,flamelengthand intensity • Considerlocalweatherfactorsandfirehistory • Evaluatewindshifts,microclimates,weatherindicatorsandotherhazards • Evaluatefuelcharacteristics

  19. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE SL19

  20. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • Skillsneededtoavoidentrapment: • Goodsituationalawareness • Anticipationoffirebehavior • Selectionofsafe,effectivestrategyandtactics • Decisivetacticalengagement • Whenorwhennottoengage • Establishingdecisionpoints • Recognitionofgoodsafetyzones,TRA’s andescaperoutes SL20

  21. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • Tools: • Areyoufollowingthe10Standard Fire Orders? • Doyourecognizethe18WatchOutSituationswhentheyoccur? • Doyouknowthe“CommonDenominatorsofFireBehavioronTragedyFires”andrecognizethem?

  22. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • Entrapmentavoidancetools • DoyouensurethatLCESisused throughouttheentirefireengagement? • Doyouassesspotentialrisksusingthe RiskManagementprocess? • AreyouusingtheLookUp,LookDown,LookAroundindicatorsforfirebehaviorforecasts?

  23. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • Entrapmentavoidancetools • Areyoumonitoringtheairtogroundfrequencyfor aircraftalertsofpotentialentrapmentsituations? • Areyouavoidinglong,drawnoutradiotransmissionsinanefforttokeepfrequenciesopenforalertsofpotentialentrapmentsituations? • Areyoumonitoringthefireareaforthunderstormdevelopment?

  24. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • Entrapmentavoidancetools • Establishdecisionpointsandmakethemknowntoallpersonnel • Decisionpointsmustberealistic • Whenthefirefrontreachesthedecisionpoint,isthereenoughtimetoreact accordingtoplan?

  25. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • RiskManagement(5StepProcessIRPG) • Situationalawareness–stayfocused • Hazardassessment-whatarethehazards? • Hazardcontrol-howcantheybe mitigated? • Decisionpoint–identifythem,ensuretheyare knownbyallcrew members • Evaluate–evaluateagainandagain

  26. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • LookUp,LookDown,LookAround • Fuelcharacteristics-moisture,temperature,continuity,andlivetodeadratio • Terrain–especiallyhazardousterrain • Wind–localtrends,generalwinds,andunusual windevents • Atmosphericstability–usetheHainesIndex • Currentfirebehavior • Usethesecriteriaforfirebehaviorforecasts

  27. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • SituationalAwareness –Thecontinualprocessofcollecting,analyzinganddisseminatingintelligence,information,andknowledgeofaparticularsituationtoalloworganizationsandindividualstoanticipaterequirementstoreact effectivelyandsafely

  28. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • Situationalawarenessisbeingawareofwhatishappeningaroundyouandunderstandinghowinformation,events,andyourownactionsimpactyourobjectivesbothnowandinthefuture

  29. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • Situational awareness implies that personnel: • Understand their assignment • Have positive accountability of subordinates • Are aware of adjoining resources and their assignments • Are aware of current and forecasted weather and fire behavior • Maintain radio communications with subordinatesandsupervisors • Have identified temporary refuge areas and established escape routes to safety zones

  30. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • TheSituationalAwarenessProcess • Gatherrelevantinformationaboutyour situation • Beobjectiveaboutwhatyouseeandhear • Maintaincommunicationwithyourcrewandadjoiningforces • Who’sinchargeoftheincident,whoisyourbranchor division?

  31. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • TheSituationalAwarenessProcess (cont.) • StudyPrevious/currentfirebehavior • Observeweathertrends • Determinelocalfactorsaffectingfirebehavior • Determineevacuationneeds • RESTAT/SITSTAT–knowwhatothersaroundyouare doing

  32. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • Situationalawareness-thebottomline: • Stayfocused • Avoiddistractions • Filterunnecessaryinformation • Havecontingencyplansinplace • Reactdecisively

  33. ENTRAPMENTAVOIDANCE • MostentrapmentavoidancetoolsarefoundintheIRPGandshouldbe studied,analyzedandcommittedtomemory • Entrapmentavoidancetoolsshouldbe appliedtoanydiscussionoranalysisof fatalornearmissfires

  34. SafetyZones/EscapeRoutesTemporaryRefugeAreas

  35. SAFETYZONES • Firebehaviorforecasting,safetyzonedetermination,andstructuretriageareinterrelated • Sizeandadequacyofasafetyzone MUSTbebasedoncurrentand forecastedfirebehavior

  36. SAFETYZONES • Determinetheadequacyofasafetyzonebydevelopingafirebehaviorforecast todeterminefireintensityandrateofspread • Determinethetimerequiredtoprepare asafetyzoneormovetoasafetyzone viaanescaperoute

  37. SAFETYZONES • Bydefinition,asafetyzoneshouldbeanarea freeofflammablevegetationwherecrewscangathersafelywithouthavingtodeployafire shelter • Asafetyzoneshouldbeatleast4timesthe maximumflameheight/lengthandmustbe maintainedonallsidesifthefirehasthe abilitytoburnaroundthesafetyzone(2010IRPGpage7).

  38. SAFETYZONES • Safetyzonesmaynot beonsiteatastructurethatisbeingdefended • Mayneedtobeconstructedoridentifiednearby • Inmanycases,toreachasafearea, firefightersneedonlydriveawayfromthethreat,puttingtimeanddistancebetween themselvesandthefire

  39. SAFETYZONES/ESCAPEROUTES • Anidentifiedescaperoutemustexistandmustbeknownbyallpersonnel. • Iffirebehaviordictates,utilizeescaperoutes andleaveearlyenoughtoreachsafetyzonesbeforethefiredoes

  40. SAFETYZONES/ESCAPEROUTES • Withoutthepresenceofanescaperoutetoa safetyzone,firefighterscannotsafelyengageinstructuredefense,andshouldchangetacticsor redeploytoanotherstructure • DONOTcommittostayanddefendastructureunlessasafetyzoneforfirefightersandequipmenthasbeenidentified.(2010IRPG,page10)ThismaynotalwaysbepracticalinWUI.IRPGstatesthat SafetyZonesdonotapplyinWUI.IRPGpage 7(IRPGcontradictsitselfinthisversionofIRPG)

  41. TEMPORARYREFUGEAREAS(TRA) • Apreplannedareawherefirefighters maytakerefugeandtemporaryshelterforshort-termthermalrelief,withoutusingafireshelterintheeventthat escaperoutestoanestablishedsafetyzonearecompromised.

  42. TEMPORARYREFUGEAREA(TRA) • ATRAallowsresponderstodevelopanalternateplantosafelysurviveanadversechangeinfirebehavior. • ThemajordifferencebetweenaTRA andasafetyzoneisthataTRArequires anotherplannedtacticalaction.

  43. TEMPORARYREFUGEAREAS(TRA) • Examples: leesideof structure,insideof structure,largelawnor parkingarea,cabof apparatus. • Unlikeasafetyzonewhichmaybesomedistanceaway,aTRAshould beavailableand identified onsiteatadefended structure.

  44. TEMPORARYREFUGEAREA(TRA) • TemporaryRefugeAreas(TRA’s)are NOTasubstituteforaSafetyZone! • CALFIREandFIRESCOPErecommendpre-identifyingTRAsatthedefendedstructure.Makethemknowntoallpersonnel

  45. TEMPORARYREFUGEAREA(TRA) • Apparatusmustbepositionedina safelocation,easilyaccessedbyallpersonnel,withunobstructed accesstotheescaperoute • Modernapparatuswillnotwithstandprolongedexposuretoextremeheat andshouldonlybeusedforshortdurationrefuge

  46. TEMPORARYREFUGEAREA(TRA) • Alwayshaveanexitstrategy: • Employtacticalmaneuverto avoid heat injury,takeshelter fromthefire • Withdrawalong anescaperoute • Moveinto asafetyzone • Moveto atemporaryrefugearea

  47. TEMPORARYREFUGEAREA Engine • Whendeterminingwhetherornottouse avehicleasaTRA,consider: • Firebehavior,intensity,andrateofspread • Vegetationclearancearoundthevehicle • Fueltype(grassvs.heavyfuels)and loading • Expecteddurationofexposuretoheatanddirectflameimpingement –Proximitytoconcentratedheatsources

  48. TEMPORARYREFUGEAREA Engine • Toprepareavehicleforuseasatemporaryrefuge area,firefightersshould: • Parkthevehiclefacinginthedirectionofthe escaperoute • Runtheengineatahighidle(1,000rpmif available) • Close allwindows • Deployfiresheltersoverwindowsifnecessary • Turnonalllightsincludingheadlightsandemergencylights

  49. TEMPORARYREFUGEAREA Engine • Bereadytoremovedeployedhoselays • TakestructurefirePPE,SCBAsanddrinkingwater intothecab • Bepreparedtomovethevehicletothesafetyzone asconditionspermit • Notifysupervisorthatvehicleisbeingusedasa temporaryrefugeareaasappropriate

  50. TEMPORARYREFUGEAREA • STRUCTURE • Whendeterminingwhetherornottouseastructureasatemporary refugearea,consider: • –Firebehavior,intensity,andrateofspread • –Flammableconstructionfeatures • –Vegetationclearancearoundthe structure

More Related