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