Avoidance Techniques for Firefighters

8/14/2019 Avoidance Techniques for Firefighters

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Avoidance Techniques ForAvoidance Techniques ForFirefightersFirefighters

Learning how to better Learning how to better understand fire behavior understand fire behavior

potential and to act soon potential and to act soonenough to avoidenough to avoid

entrapments.entrapments.


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COMMONALITIESCOMMONALITIES1.1. Firefighters reacting to fire behavior Firefighters reacting to fire behavior

changes rather than acting on potential.changes rather than acting on potential.2.2. Fire behavior not predicted or expected.Fire behavior not predicted or expected.3.3. New situation negating safety margins. New situation negating safety margins.


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Cramer Analysis by O.I.G.Cramer Analysis by O.I.G.

FS management issues that were common toeach fire.Fire suppression personnel violated all of the"10 Standard Fire Orders" and failed tomitigate most of the "18 Watchout Situations.


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FS management issues that were common to each fire.

Each fire had rapid growth unexpected bymanagement; fire suppression personnel employedquestionable or improper tactics, and did not adjusttheir tactics as necessary.


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FS management issues that were common to each fire.

Incident Commanders (IC) failed to maintain clear command and control at critical points, and keypersonnel lacked situational awareness.

FS officials failed to provide adequate oversightand supervision to the ICs.


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LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

Some firefighters know the potential because they haveSome firefighters know the potential because they havedeveloped their intuition through long experience.developed their intuition through long experience.Eventually learning the hard way, they avoid situationsEventually learning the hard way, they avoid situationsthat are potentially dangerous.that are potentially dangerous.They cant or dont explain the cause of the change.They cant or dont explain the cause of the change.They receive criticism because they know, but cantThey receive criticism because they know, but cantexplain how they know.explain how they know.


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How to Base Tactics on PredictedHow to Base Tactics on PredictedFire BehaviorFire Behavior

Fire Order ..#2Fire Order ..#2 Base your action on Base your action oncurrent and expected current and expected

fire behavior. fire behavior.All burnover accidentsAll burnover accidentshave not had the firehave not had the fire

behavior accurately behavior accurately

predicted, if predicted at predicted, if predicted atall.all.


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COMMUNICATIONSCOMMUNICATIONS

Firefighters need toFirefighters need toknowknow how to explainhow to exp lain their feeling that thetheir feeling that the

position of the crew is position of the crew isdangerous.dangerous.Intuition may not beIntuition may not beenough to convinceenough to convince

people to take action. people to take action.Communication is moreCommunication is morethan just being able tothan just being able totalk.talk.


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UNPREDICTED EVENTSUNPREDICTED EVENTS


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LCES is Effective WhenLCES is Effective When

Experience provides for Experience provides for safe use of the LCESsafe use of the LCESrules of engagement.rules of engagement.

New experiences will New experiences willendanger firefighters.endanger firefighters.In that event, LCESIn that event, LCES

becomes less insurance becomes less insurancefor firefighter safety.for firefighter safety.


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Learning to Make Fire BehaviorLearning to Make Fire BehaviorPredictionsPredictions

How observations can be used to makeHow observations can be used to make predictions of flame length. predictions of flame length.

Step 1: Where will the fire get worse or easier?Step 1: Where will the fire get worse or easier?Step 2: What are the threshold fire signatures?Step 2: What are the threshold fire signatures?Step 3: What force alignments caused theseStep 3: What force alignments caused these

variations in flame length?variations in flame length?Step 4: Which fire signatures will replicate inStep 4: Which fire signatures will replicate in

the areas the fire has yet to burn ?the areas the fire has yet to burn ?


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Fire SignaturesFire Signatures


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How The Dillon FirefightersHow The Dillon FirefightersAvoided a BurnoverAvoided a Burnover

On August 13, 1994 the Dillon Fire wasOn August 13, 1994 the Dillon Fire was positioned much like the South Canyon Fire. positioned much like the South Canyon Fire.It was about to make a strong run and thereIt was about to make a strong run and there

were firefighters on the fire line that would bewere firefighters on the fire line that would beoverrun by the fire.overrun by the fire.The FBA and Operations Chief recognized theThe FBA and Operations Chief recognized the

potential and ordered the firefighters moved potential and ordered the firefighters movedinto a safety area 4 hours before the runinto a safety area 4 hours before the runoccurred.occurred.


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TIME TAG THE WORK TIME TAG THE WORK

Predict,Predict, If the fireIf the firereaches the oppositereaches the op posite

slope it will run to the slop e it will run to thetop, and crowntop, and crownFull alignment byFull alignment by1400 - 1800 hours1400 - 1800 hours

Get firefighters off theGet firefighters off theline by 1100 hoursline by 1100 hours


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DRAW THE FIRST RUNDRAW THE FIRST RUNPERIMETER PERIMETER

Area in alignment for Area in alignment for afternoon hours.afternoon hours.High potential for aHigh potential for arun between 1500 andrun between 1500 and1800 hours.1800 hours.It is a hazardous areaIt is a hazardous area

for the afternoonfor the afternoonhours. Time tag thehours. Time tag thetactics.tactics.


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Mapping the PotentialMapping the Potential

Lay the wind directionLay the wind directionforecast on the map.forecast on the map.Color the afternoon SouthColor the afternoon Southand West aspects yellow toand West aspects yellow to

highlight fuel flammabilityhighlight fuel flammabilityalignment in the afternoon.alignment in the afternoon.Establish trigger points andEstablish trigger points andtracks where wind, slopetracks where wind, slopeand hot fuel align.and hot fuel align.Act on the potential.Act on the potential.


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SIMILARITIESSIMILARITIESThe Dillon Fire trigger point, track and first in alignment run predicted for 1630 happened @ 1730

The South Canyon Fire trigger point,track and in alignment run not predicted happened @ 1630.


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The Fire Went into AlignmentThe Fire Went into Alignment


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TACTICAL STEPSTACTICAL STEPS

1.1. Time Tag Time Tag the task the task 2.2. EstablishEstablish trigger pts.trigger pts.3.3. IdentifyIdentify in alignment in alignment

tracks.tracks.4.4. EstablishEstablish FireFire

Signature thresholds Signature thresholds

5.5. MakeMake fire fire signature signature predictions predictions


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REMINDER CARDREMINDER CARD


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STOP SLIDE SHOWSTOP SLIDE SHOW


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Explaining the PotentialExplaining the Potential


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Tracks

Trigger Pts.

Wind


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Wind

End


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TACTICAL ACTIONTACTICAL ACTION

They stayed until theThey stayed until thefire went into alignmentfire went into alignmentand threatened them.and threatened them.

14 died because no one14 died because no oneunderstood how tounderstood how toestablish trigger points,establish trigger points,time tags and tracks andtime tags and tracks andthey did not act basedthey did not act basedon the potential.on the potential.


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SUMMARYSUMMARY

You have had a short lesson in how toYou have had a short lesson in how tobase your actions on the current andbase your actions on the current andpredicted fire behavior, andpredicted fire behavior, and

how to establish the trigger points, tracks,how to establish the trigger points, tracks,time tags and explain the prediction of atime tags and explain the prediction of achange in fire behavior.change in fire behavior.


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Wildland Fire SignatureWildland Fire SignaturePrediction MethodsPrediction Methods

8 hour primer with little exercise time, 16 hour 8 hour primer with little exercise time, 16 hour course with one exercise per student team, 24 hour course with one exercise per student team, 24 hour

course with four exercises by student teams.course with four exercises by student teams.Train the Trainer course - 16-24 hours. IndividualsTrain the Trainer course - 16-24 hours. Individualsto complete all 4 problems and present to class.to complete all 4 problems and present to class.

CPS/RXCPS/RXPrescribed burning application - 8 hoursPrescribed burning application - 8 hoursclassroom.classroom.


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Training Program ContentTraining Program Content

Pre-reading the book and workbook isPre-reading the book and workbook isrequired.required.PowerPoint graphic presentation with moviesPowerPoint graphic presentation with moviesimbedded in slides.imbedded in slides.Exercises: 3-4 person teams to solve andExercises: 3-4 person teams to solve and

present solutions to workbook fire problems. present solutions to workbook fire problems.

Displays: Solid Terrain Models used as aids toDisplays: Solid Terrain Models used as aids tosolving fire problems.solving fire problems.


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Training Program CostsTraining Program Costs

Book and Workbook $40.Book and Workbook $40.Pre read and brought to class.Pre read and brought to class.

Schedule 8, 16, or 24 hour class.Schedule 8, 16, or 24 hour class.Train the Trainer in 24 hours.Train the Trainer in 24 hours.Instructor packet and graphics options atInstructor packet and graphics options at

additional cost.additional cost.Instructor fee and perdiem are negotiable.Instructor fee and perdiem are negotiable.

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Avoidance Techniques for Firefighters