Wildland Fire Suppression Tactics Reference GuideDownload .pdf copy of Wildland Fire Suppression Tactics Reference Guide, (5.19 mb) PREFACE & CONTENTSINTRODUCTION TO REFERENCE GUIDE
SECTION 1—FIRE SUPPRESSION PRINCIPLES
SECTION 2—USE OF WATER AND ADDITIVES
SECTION 3—USE OF FIRE IN CONTROL OPERATIONS
SECTION 4—MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
SECTION 5—TACTICAL AIR OPERATIONS
SECTION 6 -WILDLAND/URBAN INTERFACE
SECTION 7 -FUELS, FIRE BEHAVIOR, AND TACTICS BY GEOGRAPHIC
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SECTION 1 -FIRE SUPPRESSION PRINCIPLES (continued)HOW TO ATTACK A FIREIf you are the first person to arrive at a fire or a single resource boss in charge of the first crew at a fire, you have several problems. You are confronted with deciding; 1) what is the most important work to do first, and 2) where the most effective work can be done. Keep in mind at all times that firefighter safety is the highest priority in fire suppression. After sizing up the fire you need to select an anchor point and make your attack. Following are some good practices in making an initial attack or suppressing a large fire.
Now a decision must be made concerning how to attack a fire. The methods of attack are direct, parallel, and indirect. Direct attack is made directly on the fire's edge or perimeter (see Figure 3). The flames may be knocked down by dirt or water and the fire edge is generally treated by a follow-up fireline. Or, a fireline is constructed close to the fire's edge and the fuel between the fireline and the fire is burned out or the fire is allowed to bum to the fireline. Figure
3—Direct Attack Direct attack generally works best on fires burning in light fuels or fuels with high moisture content burning under light wind conditions. Direct attack works well on low intensity fires (flame lengths less than 4 feet) which enable firefighters to work close to the fire. A major advantage of direct attack is firefighter safety. Firefighters can usually escape back into the burned area for a safety zone. This is known as “keeping one foot in the black.” Parallel attack is made by constructing a fireline parallel to, but further from, the fire edge than in direct attack (see Figure 4). This tactic may shorten fireline construction by cutting across unburned fingers. In most cases the fuel between the fireline and the fire edge is burned out in conjunction with fireline construction. Figure 4—Parallel Attack Indirect attack is accomplished by building a fireline some distance from the fire edge and backfiring the unburned fuel between the fireline and the fire edge (see Figure 5). Indirect attack takes advantage of using natural and human-made barriers as fireline and allows a choice of timing for backfiring. Indirect attack is generally used on hot fires with high rates of spread where direct attack is not possible. Figure 5—Indirect Attack <<< continue reading—Wildland Fire Suppression Tactics Reference Guide, Where to Attack a Fire >>>
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