This presentation is designed to help foster good fire mitigation and preparedness for their homes

2. *Click on image to play video

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Convection
Radiation
Conduction

6.  Temperature
 Wind
 Increases supply of oxygen.
 Drives convective heat into adjacent fuels.
 Influences direction of spread and spotting.
 Carries away moist air replacing it with drier air.
 Dries fuels.
 Raises fuel moisture if the air contains moisture.
 Relative Humidity
 As RH increases, fuel moisture increases.
 Precipitation
 Increases fuel moisture

7.  Strong Wind.
 Sudden changes in wind direction and velocity due to
weather fronts.
 High, fast-moving clouds may indicate unusual surface
winds.
 Unexpected calm may indicate wind shift.
 Thunderstorms above or close to the fire.
 Unusually high temperatures and low relative humidity.
 Dust devils and whirlwinds developing.
 Bent smoke column.
Weather Indicators

8. SOUTH
NORTH
Heavy fuels
Shade
Moist
Light fuels
Sunny
Dry

9. Flame is
closer to
and
preheating
fuel
Convection and
Radiant Heat

14.  Steep slopes.
 Chutes, saddles, and box canyons which
provide conditions for “chimney effect.”
 Narrow canyons may increase fire spread
by radiant heat and spotting.
Topography Indicators

15. Fuel Characteristics
 Fuel Moisture
 Size and Shape
 Fuel Loading
 Horizontal Continuity
 Vertical Arrangement

16. The amount of water in a fuel
expressed as a percentage of the
oven-dry weight of that fuel.

17. Light Fuels:
 Leaves
 Grass
 Shrubs
Heavy Fuels:
 Limbs
 Logs
 Stumps

18. The quantity of
fuels in an area

19. Horizontal Continuity:
 Uniform
 Patchy
Vertical Arrangement:
 Ground
 Surface
 Aerial

21. Vertical Arrangement of Fuels
Aerial Fuels
Ladder
Fuels
Surface
Fuels
Ground Fuels

22.  Unusually dry fuels.
 Large amount of light fuel (shrubs, grass,
needles).
 Fuels exposed to direct sunlight.
 Fuels dried by prolonged drought.
 Ladder fuels that allow a surface fire to move
into the crowns of shrubs or trees.
 Crown foliage dried by surface fire.
 Concentration of snags.
Fuel Indicators

23. Fire Behavior
Terms

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Fire burning with a low flame and
spreading slowly.
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Fire spread rapidly with a well defined head.
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Fire producing sparks or embers that are carried by
the wind or convection that start new fires
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Fire advances from top-to-top of trees or shrubs
more or less independently of the surface fire.
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Sudden acceleration of fire spread or intensity,
but of relatively short duration.
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30. A spinning, moving column of ascending air rising within a
vortex and carrying aloft smoke, debris, and flames.
*Click on image to play video

31.  Keep an eye on the smoke column. Indicates direction
of fire spread, location of spot fires, and changes in fire
intensity.
 Many simultaneous fires starting or smoldering fires
beginning to pick up in intensity.
 Fire begins to torch small groups of trees or shrubs.
 Frequent spot fires occurring.
 Fire-whirls beginning to develop inside the main fire.
 Crown fires.
Fire Behavior Indicators

32. Offensive
Defensive
Combination
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Attack and contain the fire

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Set up at the house
Clear flammable material
Protect house from flame and sparks

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If too much fire or no
defensible space, LEAVE!
Return after fire front passes

36. Structure engines at home
for protection
Attack fire and
and drive flames
away from house

37. # 1
# 2 # 3
# 4
Structure Triage
“Size-Up”
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39. 1. Well-irrigated area encircling structure for
at least 30 feet on all sides. Plantings
limited to carefully spaced low
flammability species.
2. Provide added protection with “Fuel
Breaks” like driveways, gravel walkways
and lawns.
Case Study of Witch and Guejito Fires

40. 3. Keep vegetation pruned and limb trees 6–10
feet from ground. Remove leaf /needle
clutter and dead and overhanging branches.
4. Periodically inspect your property, clearing
dead wood and dense vegetation at a
distance of at least 30 feet from your house.
5. Is the structure free of an attached wood
fence?
Footnote: Of the 241 homes impacted, 13 had wood shake roofs and all 13
were destroyed. A total of 89 were destroyed or damaged.

41. *Click on image to play video

43.  Shut off natural gas and propane.
 Place metal (not wooden) ladders against the lee side
of your house.
 Connect and turn off outside water hoses and nozzles.
 If time permits, remove combustibles (patio furniture,
firewood, etc.) within 30 feet of your home.
 Close windows and doors to the house to prevent
sparks and embers from blowing inside. Cover gable
vents if time permits.
 Close all doors inside the house to prevent draft.
 Turn OFF fans, air conditioner, furnace.

44.  Move furniture from windows.
 Take down your drapes and curtains and close all
blinds to deflect heat.
 Fill all bathtubs, sinks and other containers with
water to deflect heat.
 Leave exterior lights on so responders can find your
home at night.
 Put on natural fiber clothing and take your 72-Hour
kit with you.
 Leave front door unlocked.
 Put a white flag (towel, pillow case, etc.) outside
where it can be seen from the roadway.

45. Black Forest Fire 2013
Video courtesy of Colorado Springs Fire Department
*Click on image to play video

46. Questions?