 Necessary materials: PowerPoint Guide Teacher Information!

Fire Rangelands, Forests, & Fire Pgs in Ch.22 of Managing Our Natural Resources

Students will be able to…  Explain the fire triangle and how this is used for fighting fire.  Discuss the positive and negative aspects of fire.

Largest U.S. Fires  Peshtigo, million acres Wisconsin & Michigan Escaped slash fire in a hot, dry summer  Miramichi, million acres Maine & New Brunswick

U.S. Fire History  Taylor Complex—2004 Fires in 2004 burned > 6.3 million acres in Alaska  Murphy Complex—2007 > 650,000 acres Largest Idaho fire in recent history

Fire: Wild and “Tame”  Wildfire  any uncontrolled fire Bush fire, grass fire, forest fire  Prescribed fire  Controlled use of fire to accomplish specific purposes

Wildfire Benefits  Wildfires are a natural part of many ecosystems  Sets back succession Some wildlife species need earlier successional forest habitat  Aids the reproduction of some conifer species

Wildfire Benefits  Improves wildlife habitat Creates open spaces for wildlife Exposes seeds and insects  Returns nutrients to soil  Removes debris from forest floor

Negative Effects of Wildfire  Pollutes streams & ponds  Kills or injures wildlife & habitat  Can effect local & state economy  Dangerous to human lives & property

Prescribed Fire Benefits  Reduces fuel available for wildfire  Improves wildlife habitat  Site preparation  Reduces competition & provides suitable seedbed  Range management  Improves forage quality

Prescribed Fire Benefits  Most economical tool for cleaning operations in young pine stands  Disease control  Improved accessibility & visibility for timber cruising

Prescribed Fire  Weather conditions must be perfect  Sufficient relative humidity  Low wind speed  Sufficient fuel loads  Maintain low heat  Should only be done by trained professionals

The Fire Triangle  To produce fire, three things must be present at the same time- fuel, heat, and oxygen FUELHEAT OXYGEN

The Fire Triangle The fire triangle is like a three-legged stool. If you remove one leg, the fire goes out. heat oxygen fuel

How is the triangle broken?  Some of the ways used to break the fire triangle are: fire rakeFUEL fire flap or pine topOXYGEN backpack water pumpHEAT tractor with a fire plowFUEL backfire torchFUEL airplane water bombHEAT prescribed burningFUEL Substance Eliminated

Review  Explain the fire triangle and how this is used for fighting fire.  Discuss the positive and negative aspects of fire.