1. FIRE & THE FOREST

2. TERMS
Wildfire-the uncontrolled burning
of fire
Incendiary-the unlawful &
intentional setting of fire
Debris burning-burning of trash
Prevention-any action associated
with stopping a wildfire before
it is started

3. Justification: Wildfires in Montana and Idaho …

4. Justification: Wildfires in Florida and Georgia …

5. Justification: Wildfires in California …

6. Justification: Wildfires in Arizona …

7. Justification: Wildfires in Arizona …

8. Low severity wildfires …

9. … versus high severity wildfires.

10. Pre-suppression-any action
associated with being ready in
case a wildfire occurs
Suppression-any action
associated with stopping a
wildfire
Prescribed burning-the controlled
use of fire.

11. Origin-where a fire starts
Perimeter-the outmost area of the
blaze including the head, flank
& rear
Relative humidity-the amount of
moisture in the air
Alidade-an instrument used in
locating fires

12. Wind velocity—the speed of the wind
measured in miles per hour
Psychrometer—an instrument that
measures temperature & relative
humidity
Heavy fuels—contains a high
percentage of thick material such as
logs, large limb & tree tops

13. Medium fuels—contains light
materials such as limbs & tree
tops less than 4” in diameter
Light fuels—grass, leaves, small
limbs & twigs
Duff—forest litter & other organic
debris in various stages of
decomposition on top of the
mineral soil

14. Ignite—to burn or burst into
flames
Mortality—death or destruction of
forests due to fires
Fire Season—the period of the
year which fires are likely to
occur

15. Mixing height—height the smoke
mixes with the wind, should be
at least 1500 feet
Transport wind speed—speed of
the wind at mixing height,
should be at least 9 mph

16. Effects of Wildfires
1. Destroy or reduce value of standing
timber
2. Destroy young seedlings
3. Reduce the growth rate
4. Reduce the water holding capacity
of watershed & cause erosion

17. 5. Pollute local streams & ponds
6. Kill or injure wildlife as well as
the habitat
7. Encourage insects & disease
in the stand
8. Can effect local & state
economy

18. Causes of Wildfires
65% of fires caused by:
40% escaped debris burning
fires
25% woods arson
Average size wildfire in the
Southeast is 19 acres per fire
Ga. Average wildfire is 4.7 acres

19. Requirements for a Fire
1. Fuel-wood or other plant
material
2. Oxygen-air is the main supply
3. Heat Source-sparks, lightning,
cigarettes
A fire is like a 3-legged stool,
remove one leg & the fire goes
out

20. Types of Forest Fires
Ground Fire-fires that burn the
organic materials beneath the
surface litter of the forest floor
Surface Fire-fires that burn surface
litter of loose debris on the forest
floor & small vegetation
Crown Fires-fires that burn from top
to top of trees or shrubs

21. Fire Behavior
Fire is affected by a wide range
of conditions
1. Air movement-both horizontal &
vertical movement of air as well
as wind speed
2. Fire season-for Georgia is fall &
spring of the year
3. Topography-slope of an area
affects the rate of a fire,
generally the steeper the slope
the faster the fire

22. Weather conditions that
reduce the rate of spread
1. Rain on the fire
2. Wind reversal
3. Increases in relative humidity

23. Types of fuels
The two basic fuel types are:
Ground fuels-fuels found on the
surface of the soil
Aerial fuels-fuels include all
burnable materials located in
the canopies above 6 feet from
the ground

24. Fire Control
Divided into 2 main headings
1. Prevention-things done to
prevent a fire from happening
2. Suppression-things done to
stop a fire once it has begun

25. Prevention
The most effective & least
expensive method of control
Prevention Measures include:
Clear all fuel back several feet
from trash, camp or warming
fires
Never leave fires unattended
Have suppression tools &
methods available
Keep fires small

26. Avoid burning during dry spells,
windy days or when RH is low
Maintain fire equipment in safe
running condition
Extinguish all matches & smokes
before discarding
Use prescribed fires to reduce or
eliminate fuel

27. Pre-suppression: Preparations made
before a fire starts to more effectively
control it.
Methods
1. Be familiar with the property &
the best way to get equipment
to each area under all
conditions
2. Locate firebreaks & keep them
maintained

28. 3. Know your neighbors & ask
them to report you on any
unusual smoke in your area
4. Keep your fire fighting
equipment in a handy,
known location
5. Know how to contact the
County Forest Ranger;
478-934-3124

29. Suppression: action necessary to
extinguish a fire after it has
started.
Basic jobs of fire suppression:
1. Rob the fire of fuel
2. Reduce the fire’s temperature
3. Cut off the oxygen from the
fire.

30. Major parts of a Fire
Head: the portion of the fire
toward which the air is moving;
the fastest moving part of a fire
Rear: the portion of the fire which
air is moving away; slowest part
of a fire
Flank: the sides of the fire

31. Methods of attack in
suppressing a fire
Direct: fighting the fire at the
head of the flames. Used when
the flames are not too intense &
moving slowly.
Indirect: Used where heat & rate
of spread will not permit a
direct attack

32. Additional control
methods
Mop-up: making sure that all fire
& smoking material is out or
safe inside the fire breaks.
Patrol: Periodic inspections made
over the area until the fire is
“dead out”

33. Beneficial Uses of Fire
1. Hazard Reduction-Reducing
the forest litter & undergrowth
2. Hardwood Control-Hardwoods
under 2” dbh can be controlled
with fire. Summer burns give
the best results

34. 3. Site Preparation-the most
economical tool to provide
conditions for re-establishment
of forests. Reduces
competition & provides
suitable seedbed.
4. Wildlife Habitat-Reduces
predator cover, exposes
hidden seeds & produces fresh
low browse for wildlife.

35. 5. Disease control-Only practical
method of controlling Brown
Spot Needle Blight. Burns
away infected needles without
killing the well protected bud.
Litter reduction seems to
reduce the incidence of
Annosus Root Rot. No know
control for this disease once
established.

36. 6. Improved AccessibilityImproves accessibility &
visibility for marking &
cruising timber. Also helps for
harvesting operations. Can
improve recreational &
aesthetic values.