1. S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
Show Fire Behaviour video.
Use ppt as review of important topics.

2. Why we feel fire behavior training is critical
SAFETY! SAFETY!! SAFETY!!!
Behavior can change with the slightest difference in weather or fuel conditions
SLIDE- fairchild
YOU need to know what things to look for so that you are prepared and can anticipate changes in fire behavior

3. COURSE OBJECTIVES
Identify and discuss the three sides of the fire triangle.
Identify the environmental factors of wildland fire behavior that affect the start and spread of wildland fire.
Recognize situations that indicate problem or extreme wildland fire behavior.

4. Unit 1 Objectives 1. Describe the fire triangle
2. Identify three methods of heat transfer
3. List the three env. elements affecting fire behavior.
4. List three fuel factors that affect wildland fire.
5. List 3 weather factors that affect fuel moisture
6. Describe how wind affects wildland fire spread
7. Describe the effect of slope on wildland fire spread
8. List 4 topographic factors that affect wildland fire behavior
9. Describe the dangerous conditions that can develop in a
box canyon & steep narrow canyon

5. 1. Describe the fire triangle

6. Fire Triangle Heat Oxygen Fuel
Fire needs all three to sustain combustion.
What are we removing when we construct a fire line?
What are we removing when we put water on a fire?
Both dirt and foam also help remove the oxygen as well as heat from a fire
Fuel

7. HEAT SOURCES Lightning Cigarettes Powerlines Catalytic converters
Small engine sparks
Matches
Magnifying glass

8. FUELS
Grass
Shrubs
Trees
Houses
Propane tanks
Wood piles
Decks

9. OXYGEN

10. 2. Identify three methods of heat transfer

11. Heat Transfer Radiation Convection Conduction
Radiation: heat generated from burning object affecting adjacient object.
Convection: Hot gases rising from fire. Dries out fuels and also can carry hot embers to start spot fires.
Conduction: Heat energy transferred within an object; metal rod in a camp fire. Wildland fuels are NOT a good conductor of heat
Convection
Conduction

12. Radiation

13. Convection

14. Conduction

15. 3. List the three env. elements affecting fire behavior.

16. Fuels Weather Topography Three Principal Environmental Elements
Affecting Wildland Fire Behavior
Fuels
Weather
Topography

17. Group 1: Identify the factors of fuels that affect fire behavior.
Group Exercise #1
Group 1: Identify the factors of fuels
that affect fire behavior.
Group 2: Identify the factors of weather
Group 3: Identify the factors of topography
video

18. Fuels Fuel Type Fuel Moisture Size and Shape Fuel Loading
Horizontal Continuity
Vertical Arrangement
Will discuss each of these fuel factors in following slides

19. Fuel Types
Grass
Brush
Logging Slash
Timber

20. Fuel Moisture:
The amount of water in a fuel expressed as a percentage of the oven-dry weight of that fuel

21. Categories of Fuels Light fuels: Heavy fuels: Grass, Leaves, Shrubs
Limbs, Logs, Stumps
Light fuels adapt quickly to ambient envoronemnt..IE can dry out and burn quickly after moisture event. Takes only small amount of moisture to dampen or heat to dry out
Heavy fuels Take longer to adapt to environment. Takes either a lot of moisture to get wet and long period of warm & dry to dry out.

22. Light Fuels

23. Heavy Fuels

24. Fuel Loading: The quantity of fuels in an area.
Generally expressed in Tons per Acre.
The amount of fuel loading determines the amount of heat energy that will put out.
IE: grass, hot but quick
Slash, hot and long lasting

26. Horizontal Continuity:
Uniform vs Patchy
Vertical Arrangement
- Ground
- Surface
- Aerial
Horizontal - self explanatory
Vertical arrangement on following slides

27. Patchy

28. Discontinuous

29. Continuous

30. Vertical Loading

31. Fuel Characteristics
Vertical Arrangement

32. Ground Fuels Usually called a “PEAT FIRE”
All combustible materials lying beneath the surface including deep duff, roots, rotten buried logs, and other organic material.
Best called underground fire.
Ground fires usually only a problem in drought situatuions
Usually called a
“PEAT FIRE”

33. Surface Fuels
All materials lying on or immediately above the ground including needles or leaves, grass, downed logs, stumps, large limbs and low shrubs.
99% of all fires.

34. Aerial Fuels
All green and dead materials located in the upper forest canopy including tree branches and crowns, snags, moss, and high shrubs.
Namely a crown fire!
Most difficult and dangerous to contain.
Can burn independent of surface fire.

35. Wind - Increases supply of oxygen
Weather
Temperature
Wind - Increases supply of oxygen
Drives convective heat into adjacent fuels.
Influences spread direction and spotting.
Carries moist air away replacing it with drier air.
Dries Fuels.
Raises fuel moisture if the air contains moisture.

36. Weather
Temperature
Relative Humidity - As RH increases, fuel moisture increases
Precipitation - Increases fuel moisture

37. Temperature / RH Chart
24 hours

38. Topography Aspect - direction a slope faces Slope - Steepness.
Position of Fire - Top, middle, or bottom of slope.
Shape of Country - Narrow canyons & box canyons.
Elevation - Relates to curing of fuels, precipitation, length of fire season, etc.

39. Aspect

40. Topography Aspect - direction a slope faces Slope - Steepness.
Position of Fire - Top, middle, or bottom of slope.
Shape of Country - Narrow canyons & box canyons.
Elevation - Relates to curing of fuels, precipitation, length of fire season, etc.

41. Steep Slopes Cause Rapid Fire Spread

42. Topography Aspect - direction a slope faces Slope - Steepness.
Position of Fire - Top, middle, or bottom of slope.
Shape of Country - Narrow canyons & box canyons.
Elevation - Relates to curing of fuels, precipitation, length of fire season, etc.

43. Position of Fire on Slope

44. Topography Aspect - direction a slope faces Slope - Steepness.
Position of Fire - Top, middle, or bottom of slope.
Shape of Country - Narrow canyons & box canyons.
Elevation - Relates to curing of fuels, precipitation, length of fire season, etc.

45. Box Canyon & Chimney Effect

46. Radiant Heat Across Narrow Canyon

47. Spotting Across Narrow Canyon

48. Mountains Cause Channeling of Wind

49. Topography Aspect - direction a slope faces Slope - Steepness.
Position of Fire - Top, middle, or bottom of slope.
Shape of Country - Narrow canyons & box canyons.
Elevation - Relates to curing of fuels, precipitation, length of fire season, etc.

50. Elevation

51. Do Exercises pages 21-24 in workbook