Contingencies, Safety, and Suppression Tactics

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

SNAG

Base of burning snag

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 