1. FIRE & THE FOREST

2. FOREST FIRE – PART OF ECOSYSTEM
Fires in forest are not unnatural. It has been a natural part of the ecosystem since origin of forest on this planet.
Most of the fires are very useful for regeneration.
Fire effects on all forests are not equal. While same fire, beneficial for one ecosystem, may be dreadful for the other, depending upon the climatic conditions and type of vegetation.
Fire severity affects the survival and establishment of many shrub species, organic matter consumption, soil heating and the biological response of soil flora and fauna.
Soil heating due to fire ,changes its chemical, physical and microbial properties.

4. Causes of Wildfires
Wildfires are different from other fires in their size, speed, and unpredictability.
Wildfires can occur due to natural or man-made elements.
The four most common natural elements that can cause a wildfire are
lightning
an eruption from a volcano
sparks from a rock fall
spontaneous combustion

5. Anthropogenic Causes Shifting Cultivation To flush growth of tress
To have good growth of grass and fodder
To settle score with forest department. Or personal rivalry
To clear path by villagers
To encroach upon the forest land
For concealing illicit felling
Tribal traditions/ custom
Collection of Non Timber Forest Produce
Burning farm residues
Driving away wild animals
Throwing burning cigarettes
Camp fires by picnickers
Sparks from vehicle –exhaust
Sparks from transformers
Uncontrolled prescribed burning
Making Charcoal in forests
Extracting wine in forest
Sparks from cooking near the forest
Deliberate
Accidental

6. Requirements for a Fire
Fuel-wood or other plant material
Oxygen-air is the main supply
Heat Source-sparks, lightning, cigarettes
A fire is like a 3-legged stool, remove one leg & the fire goes out

7. Effects of Wildfires Destroy or reduce value of standing timber
Destroy young seedlings
Reduce the growth rate
Reduce the water holding capacity of watershed & cause erosion
Pollute local streams & ponds
Microclimate change
Forest fire and floods
Kill or injure wildlife as well as the habitat
Can effect local & state economy
Reducing Tourism Values

8. Types of Forest Fires
Ground Fire-fires that burn the organic materials beneath the surface litter of the forest floor Surface Fire-fires that burn surface litter of loose debris on the forest floor & small vegetation Crown Fires-fires that burn from top to top of trees or shrubs

9. Fire Behavior
Fire is affected by a wide range of conditions
Air movement-both horizontal & vertical movement of air as well as wind speed
Fire season
Topography-slope of an area affects the rate of a fire, generally the steeper the slope the faster the fire

10. Weather conditions that reduce the rate of spread
Rain on the fire
Wind reversal
Increases in relative humidity

11. Types of fuels tree leaves and the fine litter,
The Three basic fuel types are:
Ground fuels-fuels found on the surface of the soil
various decayed stages of the humus,
trees, shrubs and roots,
tree leaves and the fine litter,
Surface fuels - All the combustible material on the forest floor is included in surface fuels. Thistype of fuel is the most common types of fire fuels. This may include
grasses, weeds, ferns and the other herbaceous plants,
low brush, seedlings and saplings of trees,
fine deadwood on the forest floor,

12. branches and foliage of trees, trees and shrubs of the under storey,
Aerial fuels-fuels include all burnable materials located in the canopies above 6 feet from the ground
branches and foliage of trees,
trees and shrubs of the under storey,
standing dead trees, and
mosses, lichens and epiphytic plants on trees.

13. Fire Control Divided into 2 main headings
Prevention-things done to prevent a fire from happening
Suppression-things done to stop a fire once it has begun

14. Prevention The most effective & least expensive method of control
Prevention Measures include:
Clear all fuel back several feet from trash, camp or warming fires
Never leave fires unattended
Have suppression tools & methods available
Keep fires small
Avoid burning during dry spells, windy days or when RH is low
Maintain fire equipment in safe running condition
Extinguish all matches & smokes before discarding
Use prescribed fires to reduce or eliminate fuel

15. Pre-suppression: Preparations made before a fire starts to more effectively control it.
Methods
Be familiar with the property & the best way to get equipment to each area under all conditions
Locate firebreaks & keep them maintained
Know your neighbors & ask them to report you on any unusual smoke in your area
Keep your fire fighting equipment in a handy, known location
Know how to contact the Forest Ranger;

16. Suppression: action necessary to extinguish a fire after it has started.
Basic jobs of fire suppression:
Rob the fire of fuel
Reduce the fire’s temperature
Cut off the oxygen from the fire.

17. Methods of attack in suppressing a fire
Direct: fighting the fire at the head of the flames. Used when the flames are not too intense & moving slowly. Indirect: Used where heat & rate of spread will not permit a direct attack

18. Additional control methods
Mop-up: making sure that all fire & smoking material is out or safe inside the fire breaks. Patrol: Periodic inspections made over the area until the fire is “dead out”

19. Beneficial Uses of Fire
Hazard Reduction-Reducing the forest litter & undergrowth
Hardwood Control-Hardwoods under 2” dbh can be controlled with fire. Summer burns give the best results
Site Preparation-the most economical tool to provide conditions for re-establishment of forests. Reduces competition & provides suitable seedbed.
Wildlife Habitat-Reduces predator cover, exposes hidden seeds & produces fresh low browse for wildlife.

20. Disease control-Only practical method of controlling Brown Spot Needle Blight. Burns away infected needles without killing the well protected bud. Litter reduction seems to reduce the incidence of Annosus Root Rot. No known control for this disease once established.
Improved Accessibility-Improves accessibility & visibility for marking & cruising timber. Also helps for harvesting operations. Can improve recreational & aesthetic values.

21. FOREST FIRE – AS MANAGEMENT TOOL
Fire services as a natural process it serves an important function in maintaining the health of certain ecosystems.
Natural resource managers use fires as a means to renew the natural environment.
This prescribed fire called "management-ignited prescribed fires" allows natural processes to occur.

22. Prescribed (Prescription) Burning
The controlled use of fire in the forest to accomplish specific purposes
Most economical tool used for cleaning operations in young pine stands.
Should only be done by persons trained in its use.

23. Conditions to consider prior to prescribed burning
Relative humidity
Temperature
Wind, velocity & direction
Fuel moisture
Conditions to consider prior to prescribed burning

24. Fuel Conditions
Refer to the amount & arrangement of the fuel, along with the desired intensity of the fire.
A continuous litter of needles or grass is usually needed
On well-stocked pine sites, fuels reach critical levels in about 5 years.
Low growing shrubs with pine straw can cause a level of aerial fuels which can create a great level of heat & should be considered when burning

25. Weather Factors
Temperature—20 to 60 degrees is the ideal range for winter burning; Hardwood control or site prep is often best accomplished in the summer with temperatures of 80 degrees or above. Wind—Steady at 2-10 mph northerly is best. Steady wind direction & speed are vital for good burning. Relative Humidity—30to 50% is the best range. A 20 degree rise in temperature can reduce the RH by half. Rainfall—one half to one inch, one week before burning is recommended. For most prescribed burns the upper litter layer should be dry to the touch.

26. Season of the Year Time of Day
Winter burns—offer the advantage of less stand damage, more predictable weather & steady winds Summer burns—offer hotter fires to burn more of the rough for seed bed & site preparation
Time of Day
Day time fires offer better weather conditions. Burns should start about 10 a.m. & stopped so to burn out by night.
Night fires have problems with light winds & higher humidity

27. Head fire
Backfire
Strip Head Fire
Flank Fire
Types of Fires

28. strip

29. Back fire

30. Head fire

31. Head Fire Backfire Fires moving in the same direction of the wind.
Generate the most heat & travel at the fastest rate.
Good fire for site prep fires
Backfire
Fire moving in the opposite direction to the wind. (Burning into the wind)
Steady 4-10 mph wind
Generally burn at 100 feet per hour
Well suited for sapling size stands & plantations 15’ or more in height

32. Strip Head Fire Flank Fire Used in conjunction with backfires
Only ’ wide
Winds should be 2-5 mph
Used to burn large areas much faster
Flank Fire
A supplemental burning technique
A fire set into the wind that burns at right angles to the wind
Used to even up backfires & strip head fires

33. Burning Interval The amount of time between burns
Usually every 2-5 years
Dependent on available fuel

34. Planning a Prescribed Burn
Select areas to be burned
Select burning method to use
Locate & scout firebreaks
Determine smoke sensitive areas
Smoke Sensitive Areas
Airports
Highways
Communities
Resorts or Recreation Areas
Schools
Hospitals
Factories

35. Conducting a Successful Prescribed Burn
Get weather forecast & observe conditions prior to burning
Notify adjoining landowners
Obtain a permit to burn
Start with a small test fire
Set backfires as close as possible to firebreaks
Fire only as many lines as you have manpower to watch
Watch for changing wind conditions
Watch for burning snags & stumps near firebreaks
Mop-up smoldering materials along firebreaks

36. Evaluating the Burn
Check for crown scorch—if 1/3 or less of the crowns are discolored in a winter burn, there is little or no damage Trunks should not be blackened over 3’ high, if so, the fire was probably too hot

37. TERMS Wildfire-the uncontrolled burning of fire
Incendiary-the unlawful & intentional setting of fire
Debris burning-burning of trash
Prevention-any action associated with stopping a wildfire before it is started
Pre-suppression-any action associated with being ready in case a wildfire occurs
Suppression-any action associated with stopping a wildfire
Prescribed burning-the controlled use of fire.

38. Origin-where a fire starts
Perimeter-the outmost area of the blaze including the head, flank & rear
Relative humidity-the amount of moisture in the air
Alidade-an instrument used in locating fires

39. Buildup index-a rating of the cumulative effect of drying since a rain of 1/10” or more; indicative of the intensity with which a fire can burn. Scale Spread index-a relative rating of the forward movement of a fire; rated on a scale of 1-100

40. Wind velocity—the speed of the wind measured in miles per hour Psychrometer—an instrument that measures temperature & relative humidity Heavy fuels—contains a high percentage of thick material such as logs, large limb & tree tops

41. Medium fuels—contains light materials such as limbs & tree tops less than 4” in diameter Light fuels—grass, leaves, small limbs & twigs Duff—forest litter & other organic debris in various stages of decomposition on top of the mineral soil

42. Ignite—to burn or burst into flames Mortality—death or destruction of forests due to fires Fire Season—the period of the year which fires are likely to occur

43. Mixing height—height the smoke mixes with the wind, should be at least 1500 feet Transport wind speed—speed of the wind at mixing height, should be at least 9 mph