ESPM 134 - -This week: This week: ESPM 134 Fire Suppression Fire Suppression Prescription Fire Prescription Fire Post- -fire Restoration fire Restoration Post Fire Mitigation Fire Mitigation Fire Policy Fire Policy
Where we’ ’re going: re going: Where we � Spinning up to look at how to apply fire as a Spinning up to look at how to apply fire as a � forest management tool forest management tool � We need to learn how to : We need to learn how to : � � Put them out Put them out � � Restore forests afterward Restore forests afterward � � Use fire as a management tool Use fire as a management tool � st century � Think about fire policy in the 21 Think about fire policy in the 21 st century �
An Aside: Burning Exercise at An Aside: Burning Exercise at Blodgett Experimental Forest Blodgett Experimental Forest � Still Planning for it Still Planning for it � � BFRS personnel are checking into the permitting BFRS personnel are checking into the permitting � � Still up in the air: Still up in the air: � � Size Size � � Location (probably near headquarters) Location (probably near headquarters) � � Ignition planning Ignition planning � � This is a real This is a real- -life exercise life exercise… …and sometimes they go and sometimes they go � as planned, but more frequently, they don’ ’t t as planned, but more frequently, they don � Safety gear for anyone on Safety gear for anyone on ‘ ‘active active’ ’ fireline fireline is a must!! is a must!! �
� On the On the fireline fireline: : � � Heavy boots (no nylon) Heavy boots (no nylon) � � Nomex Nomex PPE (festive!) PPE (festive!) � � Center for Forestry Center for Forestry � provided… provided … � Gloves Gloves � � Anybody NOT wearing Anybody NOT wearing � this gear will be required this gear will be required to stay back from active to stay back from active line line
Fire Suppression - - History History Fire Suppression � Historical forces: Historical forces: � � Prior to 1911: Prior to 1911: � � Except in rare Except in rare � instances, fire instances, fire was pretty was pretty much much ‘ ‘let let burn’ ’ burn � Activity fuels Activity fuels � from Logging from Logging operations operations were piling up, were piling up, and and � Euro Euro- -american american � settlements settlements were sprouting were sprouting up all over the up all over the place place
Historical, cont. Historical, cont. � In the mid 1800 In the mid 1800’ ’s, some very large fires finally started s, some very large fires finally started � drawing national ire & notice: drawing national ire & notice: � 1846, 1853, 1865, 1868: 1846, 1853, 1865, 1868: Yachina Yachina, , Nestucca Nestucca, Silverton, Coos , Silverton, Coos � 6 acres) Fires in Oregon (3 x 10 6 acres) Fires in Oregon (3 x 10 6 acres. 1100 deaths � 1871 Peshtigo, Wisconsin. 1.2 x 10 1871 Peshtigo, Wisconsin. 1.2 x 10 6 acres. 1100 deaths. . � � Same day & weather conditions as Great Chicago fire Same day & weather conditions as Great Chicago fire � 6 acres. 200 deaths � 1881: Great Michigan fire. 1.0 x 10 1881: Great Michigan fire. 1.0 x 10 6 acres. 200 deaths � 6 acres. 418 deaths. � 1894: Hinckley Fire, Minnesota. 0.16 x 10 1894: Hinckley Fire, Minnesota. 0.16 x 10 6 acres. 418 deaths. � 6 acres. *6 � Great Fire of 1910: Idaho & Montana. 3.0 x 10 Great Fire of 1910: Idaho & Montana. 3.0 x 10 6 acres. *6 � deaths deaths � Major catalyst for the onset of active fire suppression Major catalyst for the onset of active fire suppression �
History, cont. History, cont. � Suppression had always been a part of forest Suppression had always been a part of forest � activities: activities: � Logging Logging � � Steam in the forest Steam in the forest – – locomotives, steam donkeys locomotives, steam donkeys � � Railroads Railroads � � Mills Mills � � Fires were generally suppressed if: Fires were generally suppressed if: � � Feasible Feasible � � Threatened Real or Timber properties Threatened Real or Timber properties �
� Logging slashes Logging slashes – – milling milling � wastes traditionally just wastes traditionally just left on site left on site � Remember: forestry Remember: forestry � generally ‘ ‘cut & run cut & run’ ’ up up generally through the mid 1900’ through the mid 1900 ’s s � These materials are felt to These materials are felt to � be major players in the be major players in the listed fires, and numerous listed fires, and numerous th century burns. 20 th century burns. 20
History, cont. History, cont. � The 1911 Great Burn The 1911 Great Burn � forced the fledgling forced the fledgling US Forest Service US Forest Service into institutionalizing into institutionalizing fire suppression: fire suppression: � Fire Management Fire Management � � Almost military Almost military- -like like � approach to absolute approach to absolute suppression of fire suppression of fire within Federal within Federal resources, including resources, including � Indian Lands Indian Lands � (Interior & BIA) (Interior & BIA) � Park & Reserve Park & Reserve � Lands (Interior) Lands (Interior) � Rangelands (BLM) Rangelands (BLM) � � State, County, and State, County, and � City resources. City resources.
History… … History � World War II: The start World War II: The start � of the techno- - of the techno suppression era: suppression era: � Use of aerial attack Use of aerial attack � � Use of radios, coordinated Use of radios, coordinated � teams teams � Use of heavy equipment Use of heavy equipment � � And the start of one of And the start of one of � the worlds most effective the worlds most effective ad campaigns: ad campaigns:
History… … History � Pretty much the way things went through the Pretty much the way things went through the � 1980’ ’s s… …then a number of things started then a number of things started 1980 happening: happening: � Fire Ecology starts solid documentation of the role Fire Ecology starts solid documentation of the role � of fire in ecosystems of fire in ecosystems � The 1980s sees a increase in the number of extreme The 1980s sees a increase in the number of extreme- - � behavior wildland wildland fires fires thoughout thoughout the world the world behavior � Reagan Reagan- -nomics nomics: severe financial cutbacks : severe financial cutbacks �
Modern Suppression Modern Suppression
Modern Wildland Wildland Firefighting Firefighting Modern � Incident Command System Incident Command System � � Finances forced inter Finances forced inter- -agency coordination on a national scale agency coordination on a national scale � � Need for standardized language, Need for standardized language, heirarchy heirarchy, increased , increased � information flow information flow � National logistics and manning coordination centers National logistics and manning coordination centers � � Standardized Firefighting organization (NIIMS: National Standardized Firefighting organization (NIIMS: National � Interagency Incident Management System) Interagency Incident Management System) � Frequencies Frequencies � � Equipment Equipment � � Still a long ways away from complete standardization Still a long ways away from complete standardization � � Structural firefighters are coming up to speed on Structural firefighters are coming up to speed on wildland wildland fires fires � � Hoses, Standpipes, etc. slowly being replaced with standardized Hoses, Standpipes, etc. slowly being replaced with standardized � materials materials
What are the Basics? What are the Basics? � How do you put out a fire? How do you put out a fire? � � How can you do it without an endless source of How can you do it without an endless source of � water? water? � How can you do this while providing for How can you do this while providing for � firefighter safety? firefighter safety? � How can you optimize resource & structure How can you optimize resource & structure � protection? protection? � Are these mutually exclusive? Are these mutually exclusive? �
Rundown: Rundown: � Separation of fuels from oxygen & heat Separation of fuels from oxygen & heat � � Safety Safety � � Water Supplies Water Supplies � � Tactics & Strategy Tactics & Strategy � � Basics Basics � � Handcrews Handcrews � � Engines Engines � � ‘ ‘Dozers & Cats (Bulldozers & Caterpillars) Dozers & Cats (Bulldozers & Caterpillars) � � Air Attack Air Attack �
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