1. Holding and Contingencies Instructor:

2. OBJECTIVES Demonstrate and describe how to maintain a fire within an authorized area. List the four operational phases of a prescribed fire. Describe what to do when a prescribed fire escapes or burns out of prescription. Discuss standards for mop up and declaring the fire out.

3. Before Striking that Match! Consider Actions In Each Operational Phase: Planning/Evaluation Ignition/Holding Mop Up Declaring Fire Out

4. Always Prepare a Prescribed Burning Plan! Know Recent Fire Behavior! During the Planning Phase:

5. Know your area, be familiar with Natural and Manmade barriers e.g., - canals, creeks swamps, streams, etc.

6. Fire Flap KNOW YOUR HOLDING AND SUPPRESSION FORCES

7. Backpack Pump

8. OTHER HAND TOOLS AND CREW SKILLS

9. Mobile Attack

10. In Florida The TRACTOR/PLOW is the Primary Initial Attack Unit SUPPRESSION

11. Fire Weather/Environmental Conditions Fire weather and environmental conditions should be monitored prior to the burn. NOAA and the National Weather Service provide fire weather forecasts, general forecasts, and hydrological information. The Florida Forest Service also provides important information for prescribed burners. Examples from their website follow: (http://www.floridaforestservice.com/wildfire/infor mation.html) Under “Wildfire Information” current conditions are displayed in map format:http://www.floridaforestservice.com/wildfire/infor mation.html

12. “Wildfire Information” Current Conditions

13. ‘Wildland Fire Activity Daily Reports’ under same web page: Wildfire Statistics Statistics. Important information includes: “Weather Observations: Details the weather observations at Florida Forest Service field units at 2:00 pm. RH is relative humidity. Temperature is given at the low and high for that day.

14. Herb Stage is a measure of how green the vegetation is in that area: 3=green, 2=transition and 1=cured or frost killed. Buildup is a measure of the drought conditions. Spread tells us how difficult a fire will be to control due in large part to wind speed. FRL means Fire Readiness Level; this is a number between 1 and 5. The higher the number, the more severe the fire conditions are in that area.

15. ObservedForecast County RH@ 1:00PM ERCFDIMin RHERCFDI Alachua6312147121 Baker6211146111 Bay5931255302 Bradford6312147121 Brevard6723161231 Broward6821154211 Calhoun5922154211 Charlotte5513154131 Citrus551115991 Clay5815145171 Collier5521153201 Fire Danger Index (FDI) Report - Jul 05, 2012 ( for 11 Florida counties)

16. FIRE READINESS LEVELS FIRE READINESS LEVEL 1 Little or no fire activity is anticipated. FIRE READINESS LEVEL 2 Some routine fires anticipated. No more than 50% of resources should be committed. No difficulty expected with control or mop-up. FIRE READINESS LEVEL 3 Very active fire day anticipated. Fire occurrence above average and difficulty of control expected. May have to commit 80% of resources.

17. FIRE READINESS LEVELS (Cont.) FIRE READINESS LEVEL 4 Fire situation expected to be difficult. May have fires carrying over from the previous day, new fires starting and most fires difficult to control. All resources likely to be committed and assistance from outside the District may be required.

18. FIRE READINESS LEVELS (Cont.) FIRE READINESS LEVEL 5 Both fire danger and fire situation extreme. Requirements will exceed District capability. Numerous large fires expected. Difficulty with control and mop-up. Outside help will be required beyond a 24 hour period. Incident command team(s) may be set up.

19. During the Ignition/ Holding Phase: Maintain Situational Awareness

20. Wet Line Retardant Line

22. Surface Burn Complete Burn Identify Special Threats

23. Threats to Line Debris PileUnburned Island Burning Snags Re-burning Constantly Evaluate

24. SmolderingCreeping Running Short Range Spotting Deal With Problems ASAP

25. Long Range Spotting Torching Crown Fire Excessive Fire Behavior Or Out of Prescription? 1. Put It Out 2. Call FFS 3. Mop Up

26. Mop-Up A black line is a safe line! Have clean line and burnout adjacent fuels inside the line. Develop written standards: Refer to Pg 13 Under “Standards and Mop- up activities may include:”

27. Is this a “good” control line?

28. Mop-Up Fell snags away from the line. Cut open and scatter fire or hot coals. Expose the bottom surface of logs for hidden fire and hot coals

29. Securing the Control Line Systematic Mop Up: uStart with the hottest area and progress toward the coolest. uPlan a beginning and an ending point. uWork inward from the control line. uExamine the entire assigned area. uFor large burns and /or complicated situations, some type of grid system should be implemented.

30. Mop-Up (cont’d) Kick up and cool the hot spots first with water or dirt. Be sure to go completely around the edge - head, rear, and flanks, check for logs, stumps, roots and duff pockets.

31. Mop-Up (cont’d) Be sure to cut off roots that might go under fire line. Cold trailing is: feeling the ground for subsurface fire (hot spots). Check for spot fires outside your line.

32. Securing the Control Line Detecting Hot Materials: uSight uTouch uSmell uHearing

33. The Difference Counts What?!? The fire flared up in our mop-up area… But we did a real good job! 24:00 hrs !!! That’s good enough for now. We have important things to get to! 17:00 hrs

34. Develop Written Standards (see pg 14 for examples)

35. If Your Fire Escapes!! Stop! and Size Up the Fire

36. Dozer Crew Call FFS for help sooner rather than later

37. Size Up: uFuels uSize uRate of Spread uHazards/Exposures uExact Location uAdditional Resources Needed

38. Decisions to Make Where to Attack How to Attack Location of Line Type of Line Force Needed Help Needed!!! (Call NOW)

39. Determine Danger Spots Snags Fuel Buildup Swamps

40. Control Line Location Determine distance in front of fire Locate this place on the ground. Avoid dangerous areas Use areas of easy line construction Decide where to anchor line (wet area, creek, grade etc.)

41. Sea rch BURNER’S PROVERB My fire and my smoke are my problems wherever they go Questions?