Managing the Burn: Firing techniques and managing ignition for fire effects
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Transcript of Managing the Burn: Firing techniques and managing ignition for fire effects
Managing the Burn:Firing techniques and managing
ignition for fire effects
FIRING CONSIDERATIONSFIRING CONSIDERATIONS
Desired fire behavior Topography Wind changes through the
predicted burn period Crew safety Firing methods Smoke management
FIRING TECHNIQUESFIRING TECHNIQUES
Back fire Strip fire Spot fire Flank fire Ring fire Head fire
Back Firing
• Where Used: Understory Burning, Heavy Fuels, Near Control Line, Smoke Sensitive Areas.
• Advantages: Low Intensity, Low Scorch, Minimal Spotting Potential, High Consumption.
• Disadvantages: Slow, Poor Dispersion.
Strip Head Firing
• Where Used: Large Units, Shrublands, Grasslands.
• Advantages: Fast, Flexible, Can Adjust Intensity.
• Disadvantages: Requires Access to the Unit, Fires Will Interact.
Spot Head Firing
• Where To Use: Large Units, Units With Dispersed Fuels, Understory Burns.
• Advantages: Fast, Intensity Highly Adjustable, Variable Fire Behavior.
• Disadvantages: Need Access to the Unit.
Flank Firing
• Where Used: Shrublands, Light Fuels.• Advantages: FL Between Backing and Head
Fire Behavior, Easily Modified.• Disadvantages: Susceptible to Wind Shifts,
Requires Experience Firing Personnel.
Ring Firing
• Where Used: Shrublands, Brush Piles, Clearcuts.
• Advantages: Fast, Excellent Smoke Dispersal, Very High Intensity, Good Draw.
• Disadvantages: Strong Convection Column May Develop, Spotting Potential May be High.
Head Firing
• Where Used: Large Units, Shrublands, In Communities with Light Fuels.
• Advantages: Fast, Inexpensive, Good Smoke Dispersal.
• Disadvantages: High Intensity, Greater Spotting Potential, Larger Volume of Smoke Generated.
FIRING TECHNIQUESFIRING TECHNIQUESTechnique Where used Advantages DisadvantagesHead fire Large areas, brush,
clearcuts, understands with lightfuels
Fast, inexpensive, goodsmoke dispersal
High intensity, spottingpotential
Backfire Under canopy, heavyfuels, near line
Slow, low intensity, lowscorch , low spottingpotential
Expensive, smoky,requires long burn period
Strip head Large areas, brush,clearcuts, partial cuts
Fast, flexible, intensityadjustable
Need access to the unit,fire may interact andincrease intensity
Spot head Large areas, brush,partial cuts
Relatively rapid,intensity adjustable,variable effects fromhead and flank fires
Need access in unit if notdone aerially.
Flank fire Brush, light fuels FL between back andhead fire, modify easily
Susceptible to wind, needgood coordination
Ring fire Slash plies, brush Fast, best smokedispersal, very highintensity, draws awayfrom line
Convection currents,spotting
IGNITION METHODSMethod How used Advantages DisadvantagesTerra torch Burner walks
fireline, torchpulled by vehicle
Fast, gives moredepth to firing
Expensive, requiresvehicle, uses lots offuel
Drip torch Burner walks fireline
Simple, light,inexpensive
Slow, may limitdepth of firing
Fusees Burner walksfireline, must holdfuse to fuel
Inexpensive light Very slow
Pen flare Shoot from flaregun
Gives more depthto the firingoperation
Requires carefulcoordination andaccurate firing
“Ping-pong”balls
Dropped fromairplane orhelicopter, ignites30-60 secondsafter mixing
Capsule andcontentsinexpensive, largeareas can becovered
Helicopter costs,best for large remoteareas
Firing:Methods and Techniques
Head Fire :Portion of the fire burning with the wind or up-slope
Flank Fire:Portion of the fire burning at right angles to the wind or
slope
Flanking Fire:Portion of the fire burning at right angles to the wind or slope
Strip-Head Firing
Spot-Head Firing (Grid or point source ignition)
Terra Torch
Helitorch
Drip Torch
Fusee
“Smarter then the average bear”