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FIRE

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Wildfire-the uncontrolled burning of fire. Incendiary-the unlawful ... Prevention-any action associated with stopping a wildfire before it is started ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: FIRE


1
FIRE THE FOREST
Forestry Revision Team May 2007
2
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

3
  • 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.

4
  • 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

5
  • 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 1-100
  • Spread index-a relative rating of the forward
    movement of a fire rated on a scale of 1-100

6
  • Wind velocitythe speed of the wind measured in
    miles per hour
  • Psychrometeran instrument that measures
    temperature relative humidity
  • Heavy fuelscontains a high percentage of thick
    material such as logs, large limb tree tops

7
  • Medium fuelscontains light materials such as
    limbs tree tops less than 4 in diameter
  • Light fuelsgrass, leaves, small limbs twigs
  • Duffforest litter other organic debris in
    various stages of decomposition on top of the
    mineral soil

8
  • Igniteto burn or burst into flames
  • Mortalitydeath or destruction of forests due to
    fires
  • Fire Seasonthe period of the year which fires
    are likely to occur

9
  • Mixing heightheight the smoke mixes with the
    wind, should be at least 1500 feet
  • Transport wind speedspeed of the wind at mixing
    height, should be at least 9 mph

10
Effects of Wildfires
  • Destroy or reduce value of standing timber
  • Destroy young seedlings
  • 3. Reduce the growth rate
  • 4. Reduce the water holding capacity of
    watershed cause erosion

11
  • Pollute local streams ponds
  • Kill or injure wildlife as well as the habitat
  • Encourage insects disease in the stand
  • Can effect local state economy

12
Causes of Wildfires
  • 65 of fires caused by
  • 40 escaped debris burning fires
  • 25 woods arson
  • Average size wildfire in the Southeast is 19
    acres per fire
  • Ga. Average wildfire is 4.7 acres

13
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

14
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

15
Georgia Forestry Fire Laws
  • Criminal Damage to property in the first degree
  • Knowingly without authority interferes with any
    property in a manner so as to endanger human
    life
  • Punishment of not less than 1 or more than 10
    years

16
  • Criminal Damage to property in the second degree
  • Intentionally damages any property of another
    person without his consent the damage exceeds
    100
  • Punishment of imprisonment of not less than 1 or
    more than 5 years

17
  • Criminal Trespass
  • Intentionally damaging property of another
    without his consent damage is less than 100
  • Punishment is a misdemeanor

18
Use of fires ignited objects
  • It shall be unlawful
  • Start or cause a fire on any woodland not ones
    own or leased without owners permission
  • Burn without taking necessary precautions to
    prevent the escape of the fire
  • Cause a fire by discarding any burning object
  • Destroy or damage any material or device used in
    detection or suppression of wildfires

19
Notice of intention to burn Law
  • County forestry unit must be notified of time
    location before setting fire to any combustible
    materials
  • Violation is a misdemeanor
  • Must obtain a permit before burning

20
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-for Georgia is fall spring of the
    year
  • Topography-slope of an area affects the rate of a
    fire, generally the steeper the slope the faster
    the fire

21
Weather conditions that reduce the rate of spread
  • Rain on the fire
  • Wind reversal
  • Increases in relative humidity

22
Types of fuels
  • The two basic fuel types are
  • Ground fuels-fuels found on the surface of the
    soil
  • Aerial fuels-fuels include all burnable materials
    located in the canopies above 6 feet from the
    ground

23
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

24
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

25
  • 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

26
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

27
  • 3. Know your neighbors ask them to report you
    on any unusual smoke in your area
  • 4. Keep your fire fighting equipment in a handy,
    known location
  • 5. Know how to contact the County Forest Ranger

  • 478-934-3124

28
Suppression action necessary to extinguish a
fire after it has started.
  • Basic jobs of fire suppression
  • Rob the fire of fuel
  • Reduce the fires temperature
  • Cut off the oxygen from the fire.

29
Major parts of a Fire
  • Head the portion of the fire toward which the
    air is moving the fastest moving part of a fire
  • Rear the portion of the fire which air is moving
    away slowest part of a fire
  • Flank the sides of the fire

30
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

31
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

32
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

33
  • 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.

34
  • 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 know
    control for this disease once established.

35
  • Improved Accessibility-Improves accessibility
    visibility for marking cruising timber. Also
    helps for harvesting operations. Can improve
    recreational aesthetic values.

36
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

37
  • Can be used for less than 3 per acre.
  • Should only be done by persons trained in its use.

38
Conditions to consider prior to prescribed burning
  • Relative humidity
  • Temperature
  • Wind, velocity direction
  • Fuel moisture

39
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

40
  • 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

41
Weather Factors
  • Temperature20 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.

42
  • WindSteady at 2-10 mph northerly is best.
    Steady wind direction speed are vital for good
    burning.
  • Relative Humidity30to 50 is the best range. A
    20 degree rise in temperature can reduce the RH
    by half.

43
  • Rainfallone half to one inch, one week before
    burning is recommended. For most prescribed
    burns the upper litter layer should be dry to the
    touch.

44
Season of the Year
  • Winter burnsoffer the advantage of less stand
    damage, more predictable weather steady winds
  • Summer burnsoffer hotter fires to burn more of
    the rough for seed bed site preparation

45
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

46
Types of Fires
  • Head fire
  • Backfire
  • Strip Head Fire
  • Flank Fire

47
Head Fire
  • Fires moving in the same direction of the wind.
  • Generate the most heat travel at the fastest
    rate.
  • Good fire for site prep fires

48
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

49
Strip Head Fire
  • Used in conjunction with backfires
  • Only 75-100 wide
  • Winds should be 2-5 mph
  • Used to burn large areas much faster

50
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

51
Burning Interval
  • The amount of time between burns
  • Usually every 2-5 years
  • Dependent on available fuel

52
Planning a Prescribed Burn
  • Select areas to be burned
  • Select burning method to use
  • Locate scout firebreaks
  • Determine smoke sensitive areas

53
Smoke Sensitive Areas
  • Airports
  • Highways
  • Communities
  • Resorts or Recreation Areas
  • Schools
  • Hospitals
  • Factories
  • Stockyard or holding pens

54
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

55
  • 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

56
Evaluating the Burn
  • Check for crown scorchif 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
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