Ifsta Wildland Firefighting

Front 1

What is the primary force behind changes in wildland fire behavior

Back 1

weather

Front 2

What are the weather factors that can affect the start and spread of wildland fires

Back 2

wind, relative humidity, temperature, and precipitation

Front 3

The layer of atmosphere closes to the ground is called ____

Back 3

troposphere

Front 4

Normal atomespheric pressure in pounds and mercury

Back 4

14.7 lbs, 29.92 inch column of mercury

Front 5

Water can absorb heat better than rock?

Back 5

yes, 5 times better

Front 6

Out of all the weather factors, which one has the greatest impact on fire behavior

Back 6

WIND!

Front 7

The passage of a warm front will usually bring a wind direction shift of ___

Back 7

45 to 90 degree shift

Front 8

The passage of a cold front will shift wind direction ___

Back 8

from less than 45 to more than 180 degrees

Front 9

Define wind

Back 9

the horizontal movement of air

Front 10

Local winds, define

Back 10

produced by the features of the local terrain

Front 11

Surface winds , define

Back 11

normally measured at 20 feet above the ground

Front 12

Mid flame winds, define

Back 12

Occur at the midpoint of flame height

Front 13

Which of the following winds have the greatest effect on the direction a fire will burn: surface, mid flame or local

Back 13

mid flame

Front 14

How does wind affect fire behavior

Back 14

- increases O2 to the fire
- it drives convective heat, drying fuel
- influences the direction of spread and spotting
- bends flames closer to fuel, preheating, drying and igniting

Front 15

T or F
Factoring winds into your plans of attack is not important

Back 15

False

Front 16

Name four winds that are especially dangerous to firefighters

Back 16

- cold front winds
- foehn or gravity winds
- thunderstorm winds
- whirlwinds or dustdevils or firewhirls

Front 17

Why are cold front winds dangerous

Back 17

because they change rapidly

Front 18

What is another name for foehn winds

Back 18

Santa ana winds

Front 19

Why are foehn winds dangerous

Back 19

because they move downhill at a high rate of speed, drying out fuel.

Front 20

According to IFSTA, how fast can foehn winds reach

Back 20

50-70 mph

Front 21

What is the life expectancy of a thunderstorm?

Back 21

less than 12 hours

Front 22

How far can one expect to feel the effects of a thunderstorm

Back 22

25 to 30 miles

Front 23

What makes thunderstorms dangerous to wildland firefighting

Back 23

because they are a source for lightning, hail, and strong gusty winds

Front 24

How are whirlwinds created

Back 24

when strong updrafts develop

Front 25

what makes whirlwinds dangerous concerning wildland firefighting

Back 25

they can contain very hot gases, flames and burning material and can lift this to spots across your fireline

Front 26

What is the venturi effect

Back 26

as wind passes through a saddle, pass or gorge, it increases in velocity

Front 27

What kind of winds influence the direction of the flame front the most?

Back 27

mid flame winds

Front 28

Wind speed and direction will effect fire behavior in what way

Back 28

dramatic effect

Front 29

Relative humidity, simple definition

Back 29

represents how wet or dry the air actually is

Front 30

What kind of fuels are especially responsive to relative humidity

Back 30

fine fuels

Front 31

What is the Haines Index

Back 31

used to gauge the relative fire danger

Front 32

What factor does the Haines Index use

Back 32

calculates the temperature, dew point, and dryness at two levels in the atmosphere

Front 33

What range of ratings does the Haines index give for potential large fire growth

Back 33

2-6
2-3 is very low
4 is low
5 is moderate
6 is high

Front 34

What does an inversion layer do for cooler air

Back 34

acts as a lid or blanket

Front 35

The presence of fog indicates what

Back 35

stable air

Front 36

The thermal belt, definition

Back 36

that area of a mountain slope where a nightime inversion layer "bathes" it with warmer and drier air

Front 37

Why is the area of a thermal belt more dangerous to firefighters

Back 37

because fire behavior in this area will be much more intense than areas above or below it

Front 38

What are the most important weather components

Back 38

wind
temperature
relative humidity

Front 39

What are the most important topographic components related to firefighting

Back 39

steepness of slope
aspect

Front 40

What are the most important fuel components related to firefighting

Back 40

fuel moisture and temperature

Front 41

The effects of time and space, weather

Back 41

causes a change in rate of spread, direction of spread and fire intensity

Front 42

The effects of time and space, topography

Back 42

changes the direction and rate of spread

Front 43

The effects of time and space,
fuels

Back 43

fire intensity will increase as more fuel becomes available to burn

Front 44

T or F
the smaller, finer the fuels - the easier they are to ignite

Back 44

true

Front 45

T or F
the tighter and more compact a fuel, the easier it is to ignite

Back 45

false
the looser and more open fuels ignite easier

Front 46

Blowup, define

Back 46

sudden increase in fire intensity or rate of spread sufficient to preclude direct control or upset existing suppression plans

Front 47

Name two ways fire intensity is measured

Back 47

fireline intensity and flame length

Front 48

Fireline intensity, define

Back 48

the amount of heat released per foot of fire front per second

Front 49

What are the three factors that influence the direction that a fire will burn

Back 49

wind, slope and the condition of the fuel

Front 50

At what flame lengths is the fire too intense for a direct attack on the head with hand tools

Back 50

4 to 8 feet

Front 51

At what flame lengths does a fire start presenting serious control problems

Back 51

8 to 11 feet

Front 52

At what flame lengths are crowning, spotting and major fire runs probable

Back 52

over 11 feet

Front 53

At what flame lengths can the head be attacked with hand tools and handlines

Back 53

less than 4 feet

Front 54

What kind of fuels provide the potential for the most rapid rate of spread?

Back 54

continuous fine fuels

Front 55

When the relative humidity drops below ___ % can mean trouble for light fuels

Back 55

25%

Front 56

What are 1000 hour fuels?

Back 56

Large dead fuels (big trees and stumps)

Front 57

If 1000 hour fuels are ___%, you know they will burn

Back 57

20%

Front 58

Wildland fuels usually dry out in sequence, list them in order from worst to best.

Back 58

fine fuels
10 hour and larger fuels
live fuels

Front 59

What is the beauford scale used for

Back 59

describes wind condition and estimates the wind speed using indicators

Front 60

What is the range for the beauford scale?

Back 60

- 1-8
- wind speeds of 3 or less to 39 and over
- wind behavior from very light to a fresh gale

Hint 60

IFSTA page 150

Front 61

If a smoke column is leaning what is the indications

Back 61

rapid rates of spread and short range spotting

Front 62

If you see firewhirls, what is that an indication of?

Back 62

the fire has the potential to move from a surface fire to a crown fire

Front 63

What time is the hardest to control a fire

Back 63

10am to 6pm
1000 to 1800 hrs

Front 64

What time of day is it easist to control a fire

Back 64

4am to 6am
0400 to 0600

Front 65

What time of day does fire intensity begin to increase

Back 65

6am to 10am
0600 to 1000

Front 66

What increases the chances of a crown fire

Back 66

a high dead to live ratio

Front 67

Short range spotting, define

Back 67

spotting that is quickly overrun by the main fire

Front 68

Long range spotting, define

Back 68

any spot fire that creates a new fire whether it be 15 miles away or even 50 feet away. If it starts a new fire, its called long range spotting

Front 69

Plume driven fires, define

Back 69

occur when fuels and topography allow a fire to develop great energy in a vertical sense

Front 70

Which direction do plume fires spread?

Back 70

unpredictable

Front 71

Downdraft, define

Back 71

occurs below the convective column, it is a rush of wind that heads straight towards the ground and spreads in all directions when it hits the ground

Front 72

Structural fire protection and structure protection - name the main difference between the two

Back 72

Structural fire protection means an attempt to protect a structure inside and out. Structure protection means protecting the structure from a wildland fire by protecting the outside only.

Front 73

T or F
Firefighting resources dispatched to protect structure also actively participate in fireline construction

Back 73

False, they usually are NOT active in fireline construction

Front 74

If numerous structures are already involved in an urban interface fire, and the number of homes at risk outnumber the available engine companies what is critical

Back 74

you MUST remain mobile and will have to triage the structures, choose which ones will get protection

Front 75

With no time to plan and organize an attack in a bad situation what is prudent

Back 75

to make sure that your actions CONTRIBUTE to the effort to control the fire

Front 76

Under special conditions of wildland interface firefighting what will NOT work

Back 76

normal structural firefighting strategies

Front 77

Based on your observations you should try to predict where fire will be in __ hour increments

Back 77

1

Front 78

Establish a staging area when

Back 78

as soon as you possibly can

Front 79

What percentage of homes are lost to advancing wildland fires due to lack of adequate clearance from flammable fuels

Back 79

approximately 90 %

Front 80

When should you abandon the effort to save a building

Back 80

use your judgement, err on the side of safety

Front 81

What kind of things do you need to consider when you triage structures for protection

Back 81

- proximity of the fuels
- fire behavior and intensity...spotting
- flammability of roofing and siding
- timing and firefighting resource availability
- safety

Front 82

Is it okay to call for an evacuation if you don't have a plan?

Back 82

absolutely not

Front 83

Is the fire dept authorized to evacuate people against their will? i.e.ORDER and evacuation

Back 83

no, only law enforcement can give the orders. Fire can only suggest

Front 84

If someone will NOT leave their home, and it is defensible, what is the best thing to do with them

Back 84

have them help by assgning them to do certain non-risky tasks

Front 85

Name the four firefighting tactical situations associated with protecting structures from encroaching fires

Back 85

- spotting
- full control
- partial control
- no control

Front 86

Explain spotting concerning the four structure protection situations

Back 86

airborne firebrands are the biggest problem. Remain mobile, attack spots as quickly as possible

Front 87

Explain full control

Back 87

perimeter control is possible, you are able to pick the location of the control lines

Front 88

Explain partial control

Back 88

the location of control lines is not your choice, time is limited or fire intensity prevents full control

Front 89

Explain no control

Back 89

the fire has passed you by or is too hot to control

Front 90

During structure protection, if a roof is not more than ___ % burning, you have a chance to save the structure

Back 90

25%

Front 91

During structure protection do we connect to a hydrant?

Back 91

NO, stay MOBILE

Front 92

Name some important guidelines on what you do when you are protecting structures

Back 92

- keep all hoselines as short and as few as possible
- do not connect to a hydrant
- fold the hose accordian style or hang it on racks for quick deployment
- if you must move quickly disconnect the hose and retrieve the nozzle in order to save yourselves
- if time allows, make one more search for hidden fires

Front 93

T or F
Extinguish fires at its highest intensity

Back 93

false, extinguish at its lowest intensity

Front 94

As far as water application goes, how do we apply it so that we do not waste our water supply

Back 94

apply water only if it controls fire spread or significantly reduces heating of the structure

Front 95

Which class of foams is helpful on wildland fires

Back 95

class A

Front 96

When would you "fire out"

Back 96

- control lines will not hold if the full force of the fire hits them
- main fires intensity would threaten structures
- ther is no time to wait for the main fire
- lower intensity fire will help prevent a crown fire

Front 97

What must be in place prior to "firing out"

Back 97

control lines

Front 98

What conditions do you look for to "fire out"

Back 98

against the wind and downslope