WILDLAND ENGINE OPERATIONS PART 2 - Tactics

1. WILDLAND ENGINE OPERATIONS PART 2 - Tactics WARDEN AND DEPUTY FOREST FIRE WARDEN TRAINING 2008

2. General Recommendations • Fight fires in fuels consistent with engine capabilities • Use direct attack whenever possible • Attack flank with greatest potential for escape • Use extreme caution during frontal assaults • Burn out unburned fuels if necessary Reference: FLHB Pages 79-115

3. General Recommendations • Recognize topography hazards • Avoid fire path of least resistance • Preserve area of origin • Recognize education & experience • Consider needs for additional or specialized resources • Continually assess L.C.E.S.

4. Arrival on Scene • Implement L.C.E.S • Size of fire/Plan of Attack • Fire environment • Location of fire head • Time of day • Values at risk • Sufficient resources? • Correct tactical decisions always provide for safety first. Comply with Fire Orders and heed watch-out situations.

5. Size-up Considerations • Fuels • Topography • Weather • Fire Behavior Reference: IRPG inside front cover

6. At the Scene Size-Up • Weather • Wind • Speed • Direction • Temperature • Solar heating and drying of fuels • Humidity • Atmospheric stability

7. LCES Lookout(s) Objective Hazard Communications Firefighters Escape Route(s) Safety Zone(s) LCES must be established & known to ALL firefighters BEFORE needed

8. Fuel Groups • Grass • Shrub • Timber Litter • Logging Slash

9. Fuel Groups For determining strategy and tactics you must identify the following for each fuel group: • Rate of spread • Reaction to water • Mop up time required • Duration of heat and flame • Best engine type utilized • Best method of attack (indirect, direct, or parallel)

10. Fuel Groups • Grass Fuel Models 1-3 Found in most areas of the country

11. Fuel Group (Grass) • Has moderate to high spread and low to moderate fireline intensity (flame length) • Reacts very quickly to water and additives. • Doesn’t require as much mopup as in the other three fuel groups. • Short duration of heat and flames. • Engine types 3-7 are most effective. • Direct mobile attack is effective.

12. Fuel Groups Shrub Fuel models 4-7 • Usually shoulder height • Some contain natural flammable resins

13. Fuel Group (Shrub) • Moderate to high rate of spread. • Moderate to high fireline intensity (flame length). • Short duration of heat and flame. • Engine types 3-7 are most effective. • Direct mobile attack is effective.

14. Fuel Groups • Timber Litter Fuel models 8-10 • Sticks, twigs, leaves

15. Fuel Group (Timber) • Low to moderate rate of spread. • Low to high fireline intensity (flame length). • Water and additives effectively reduce rate of spread. • Usually requires more mopup then the grass and shrub fuel groups. • Engine types 3-7 are most effective. • Direct mobile attack with engine may be effective depending on flame length and terrain.

16. Fuel Groups • Logging Slash Fuel models 11-13 • Ranges from light to heavy fuel loading

17. Fuel Group (Logging Slash) • Low to high rate of spread. • Low to very high fireline intensity (flame length). • Water and additives may react slowest in this fuel group. • Requires the most mopup of the four fuel groups. • Long duration of heat and flame. • Engine types 3-7 are most effective. • Indirect attack is most often effective due to fuel loading.

18. Types of Attack • Direct • Indirect • Parallel

19. Fire Attack Tactics • Mobile • Stationary • Inside-Out • Tandem • Pincer • Envelopment Correct Tactical DecisionsAlways Consider Safety First!

20. Direct Attack ? • Constructing a fireline right on the fire perimeter. Keep one foot (or tire) in the black and one in the unburned area. • What are some of the advantages? • What are some of the disadvantages? Reference: IRPG page 9

22. Direct Attack Advantages • If necessary, crews can escape to safety in burned areas. • The fire is stopped with least spread and minimum acreage. • Full advantage is taken of burned out areas along the control line. • Need for burning out is reduced.

23. Direct Attack

24. Direct Attack Disadvantages • Personnel subject to heat, smoke and flame. • Control line is long and irregular and must follow fire edge. • Does not always take advantage of natural fire barriers. • Less effective against extremely fast moving hot fires. • Potential for reburn.

25. Safety Considerations • Consider the following to ensure the safety of your assigned personnel: • Fight fire in fuels consistent with engine capabilities. • Use direct attack when possible. • Attack flank with greatest potential for escape. • Burn out unburned fuels after coordinating with adjoining forces.

26. Safety Considerations, Continued • Use extreme caution during frontal assaults. • Avoid fire path of least resistance and recognize topography hazards (chimneys, chutes, Saddles). • Preserve area of origin. • Be aware of environmental factors. • Recognize education and experience.

27. Pincer Attack • Direct attack around fire in opposite directions by two or more engines • Safest to anchor at rear of fire, flank the fire, and cut off the head • Identify & flag anchor point(s) • Make sure everyone knows the anchor point(s)

28. Pincer-direct attack around a fire on opposite flanks by two or more fire control resources.

29. Tandem Fire Attack • Two engines used in a mobile attack • First engine crew hits hot spots, second crew totally extinguishes fire • Very safe - one engine can help another in times of need.

30. Direct attack along a part of the fire perimeter by two or more fire control resources. Control resources follow each other (can leap frog)

31. Envelopment Tactic • Involves striking critical segments or structures at the same time • Different anchor points are required for each resource • Engines move towards each other, tying lines together • Attack MUST be well coordinated

32. Envelopment Tactic • Most complicated attack • Trying to do as much as you can as fast as possible • Requires good communications & experienced crews • Good method for interface situations

33. Critical areas are attacked first, Using the hotspotting technique, then the engines start moving towards each other.

34. Parallel Attack • Constructing a fireline parallel to, but further from, the fire perimeter than in direct attack.

35. Parallel Attack

36. Constructing a fireline parallel to, but further from, the fire perimeter than direct attack, due to fire intensity. May shorten line by cutting across unburned fingers. Intervening strips of fuel are immediately burned out.

37. Parallel Attack • Works well with engines in tandem • Safer to anchor a wet line & flank the fire instead of attacking head • Line firing personnel must be qualified! • Quicker than direct attack • Reduces heat & smoke exposure • Safety may be compromised prior to burning out

38. Parallel Attack, Advantages • May shorten line by cutting across unburned fingers. • Shortened line reduces actual line construction. • Personnel exposed to a reduced amount of heat and smoke.

39. Parallel Attack, Disadvantages • Requires personnel experienced in burning out. • Personnel do not always have access to the black for safety. • Safety may be compromised prior to the time that the unburned fuel can be burned out.

40. Indirect Attack • Constructing a fireline some distance from the fire perimeter. Reference: IRPG page 10

42. Indirect AttackTiming and Coordination are critical!

43. Firing Operations • Make sure firing is necessary. • Do not fire without consulting command and obtaining approval. • Coordinate firing operation with those around you. • May have to wait for favorable conditions. • Make sure you have adequate holding forces.

44. Indirect Attack, Advantages • Permits easier work for crew because there is less smoke, heat and flame contact. • May reduce length and irregularity of fire edge and control line. • Permits crews to take advantage of natural fire barriers. • Reduces danger of slopovers.

45. Hand Crews can be used to: • Construct handline • Conduct site preparation • Set up hose lays • Support engine crews • Conduct burn out operations • Mop up and patrol Crew Production Rates-IRPG Page 88

46. Indirect Attack, Disadvantages • Fire can catch firefighters working in unburned fuel.. • Fire can outflank firefighters and put crew in jeopardy. • Increased acreage burned. • Burning out can cause control problems. • Burnout operations must be well coordinated.

47. Simple Hose Lay • A hose lay consisting of consecutively coupled lengths of hose without laterals. • The lay is extended by inserting additional lengths of hose in the line between pump and nozzle. • Can be utilized instead of the live reel in mobile attack.

49. Stationary Attack • Popular on smaller incidents. • Utilizes progressive hose lays for more efficient water delivery. • Removes engine from ability to quickly & safely respond elsewhere on incident. • Consider folding tanks or natural water sources & replace engine with a portable pump.