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”