Firefighting Tactics
When a wildfire is spreading rapidly along a steep slope, firefighters often choose this method, which relies on pre-constructed control lines rather than attacking the flame directly.
what is indirect attack?
Frequent low-intensity fires in the Sub-Boreal Spruce ecozone primarily maintain this ecological pattern over centuries.
What is a forest mosaic of mixed-age stands?
Among grass, conifer needles, and broadleaf litter, this type ignites fastest and drives initial rate-of-spread.
What is cured grass?
This wind factor most directly determines the initial direction of a wildfire’s spread.
What is wind direction relative to slope?
This area is most common to experience outflow patterns
What is the coast
This suppression tactic involves deliberately burning a strip of fuel ahead of the main fire to slow or stop its progress, and requires precise timing with wind and humidity conditions.
What is burnout operation?
Fire plays a key role in nutrient cycling by doing this in surface and organic layers, improving soil fertility for regeneration.
What is consuming litter and returning nutrients to the soil?
The Canadian FBP system separates fuels in the canopy from those on the forest floor; these are called:
What are crown fuels and surface fuels?
This atmospheric phenomenon traps smoke near the surface and can reduce plume rise.
What is a temperature inversion?
This is the only deciduous tree forest type that is fire dependant in BC
What is garry oak?
During extreme fire behaviour, crews often switch from direct suppression to this strategy, prioritizing critical infrastructure over attempting to halt the fire front.
what is structural protection operations
Suppression over decades can lead to fuel accumulation, resulting in fires that are both hotter and more difficult to control. This concept is known as:
What is the fire suppression paradox or fuel loading effect?
This fuel type, dominated by dense mature lodgepole pine, is prone to extreme crowning.
What is C-3 Mature Lodgepole Pine?
When this Canadian FWI value is exceeded after prolonged periods of drying, conditions are classified as extreme, and suppression will be challenging.
What is the drought code
Uniform conifer stands, low fuel moisture, and wind channels make these BC plateaus susceptible to fast-spreading fires.
What are interior plateaus (Cariboo and Nechako)?
This advanced tactic uses natural barriers, constructed lines, and aerial suppression simultaneously to contain a fire exhibiting continuous crowning and spotting.
What is integrated suppression strategy?
High-severity crown fires can alter post-fire succession, favoring less fire-adapted species. Name one long-term ecological consequence.
What is reduced resilience of fire-adapted ecosystems or shift in species composition?
A 5–10% drop in live fuel moisture can exponentially increase fire intensity due to its effect on this.
What is rate-of-spread and heat release?
rain that evaporates before making contact with the ground
What is Verga
During the 2017 season, this park experienced unprecedented significant fire activity threatening both ecosystems and nearby communities.
What is Garibaldi Provincial Park?
In large BC wildfires, this suppression decision is made when weather, fuels, and topography indicate direct engagement is impossible, and the fire will only be controlled via indirect lines, aerial support, and resource staging.
What is indirect suppression planning?
This species of tree requires burns every 50-100 years to become a mature tree and dominate the canopy in BC southern interior
What is douglas fir
Organic soils such as peat can sustain smouldering combustion for weeks. Name one way this affects suppression operations.
What is it complicates containment and can reignite fires after apparent extinguishment?
These downslope nocturnal winds accelerate fire spread in mountainous terrain and can trigger dangerous spotting.
What are katabatic or drainage winds?
In northern BC, this ecozone experiences low-intensity but frequent surface fires, shaping forests over centuries.