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Surface Fire Behavior Worksheet

Table of Contents for This Page

  1. Available Tools and Resources
  2. Required Surface Model Inputs
  3. Surface Model Outputs
  4. Acceleration Effect on Rate of Spread

This comprehensive worksheet can be used with the surface fire behavior lookup tables, the Nomograms and Nomographs, as well as BehavePlus, and runs if you want a paper copy.

Consider using this as your briefing documentation by including a weather forecast narrative, your thoughts about recent fire activity, your sense of how accurate the predictions seem, and when you expect changes through the burn period.

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Worksheet for recording information collected and estimates produced when estimating surface fire behavior.

Available Tools and Resources

This section describes how to estimate expected surface fire behavior and provides several references tools used in the process:

  1. A Worksheet (above) designed to document a complete assessment for surface fire behavior and growth using either the lookup tables or the nomographs.
  2. EWS Tables for estimating Effective Windspeed from Slope and Midflame Windspeed. The Effective Windspeeds that result from these tables assumes that wind is blowing ± 30° from upslope. For other situations, manual vectoring using the EWS Table would be necessary.
  3. Surface Fire Behavior Lookup Tables for making estimates of surface fire spread and flame length. Note these assumptions:
    • 10-hr and 100-hr moisture values of 6% and 8% are used in the lookup tables.
    • The *20ft/FCST wind line is provided as a convenience, but only works with stated Wind Adjustment Factor (WAF) & no slope adjustments.
    • Backing & flanking columns are only rough estimates based on ½ and 1 mph windspeeds. Use the Flanking and Backing Fire Behavior Nomograph , or BehavePlus for more precise estimates.
  4. Instructions for Surface Fire Behavior Nomographs and Nomograms.
  5. Flanking and Backing Fire Behavior Nomograph for estimating rate of spread and flame length where fire is spreading more slowly on the flanks and at the back of the fire perimeter.

These tools can help you make expected surface fire behavior estimates. Consider the following:

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Required Surface Model Inputs

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Surface Model Outputs

  • Rate of Spread is useful in fireline tactical applications; identifying what is at risk in the burn period, escape route limitations.
  • Flame Length/Fireline Intensity is used generally in determining what tactics make sense during the peak burn period, interpreting safety zone concerns, and suggesting spotting potential.
  • Heat per Unit Area is available from nomograms and BehavePlus. Like the Energy Release Component, it may be helpful in suggesting burn duration and fire effects.

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Acceleration Effect on Rate of Spread

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Fire Spread Acceleration. Fire spread accelerates over a period of time after initiation. The period of time varies based on the fuelbed.

Fire acceleration is defined as the rate of increase in fire spread rate. It affects the amount of time required for a fire spread rate to achieve the theoretical steady state spread rate given 1) its existing spread rate, and 2) constant environmental conditions.

Because initiating fires can take 20 minutes to over an hour to reach a steady spread rate, fire behavior and fire growth can be significantly reduced in the first burn period, and when beginning to spread in subsequent periods.

At this time, fire acceleration is implemented only in FARSITE, using the model developed for the Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction System (Alexander et. al. 1992).

It is active by default, but can be turned off as a model input.

As implemented, inputs are segregated by type of Ignition (point vs. line source) and potentially by fuel type (grass, shrub, timber, slash, a default, or by fuel model). Grass fuels are expected to have more rapid acceleration rates (shorter time to reach equilibrium) than fuel types with larger woody material (slash, etc.).

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NWCG Latest Announcements

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL)

Date: October 16, 2024
Contact: Incident Medical Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Medical Unit Leader, PMS 350-39 and NWCG Position Task Book for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL), PMS 311-39 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for MEDL includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book, were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Medical Unit Leader Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Medical Unit Leader, PMS 350-39

NWCG Position Task Book for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL), PMS 311-39

The Wildland Fire Learning Portal is Now Available

Date: October 9, 2024
Contact: Wildland Fire Learning Portal

The Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) is back online following a migration to a new learning management system (LMS) application. The WFLP team is actively addressing any issues that may arise as a result of the update, and appreciates your patience as the team works to enhance your experience. NWCG will share information from the WFLP as it is available.

Should you have any issues with accessing or using the WFLP, please use the link below to submit a ticket through the Help Center.

References:

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Wildland Fire Learning Portal Help Center

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases New Equipment Bulletins

Date: September 27, 2024
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released three new Equipment Bulletins:

  • ETC-EB-24-003 Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in fuel containers.
  • ETC-EB-24-004 Two-compartment fuel and oil container (Dolmar) unavailable in the United States (US) and reminders for upkeeping current inventories.
  • ETC-EB-24-005 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Inspection, Care, and Maintenance.

These bulletins remind field going personnel of important issues related to equipment for wildland firefighting efforts.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC-EB-24-003 Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in fuel containers

ETC-EB-24-004 Two-compartment fuel and oil container (Dolmar) unavailable in the United States (US) and reminders for upkeeping current inventories

ETC-EB-24-005 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Inspection, Care, and Maintenance

The Experiential Learning Subcommittee is looking for your feedback on Staff Rides

Date: September 20, 2024
Contact: Ashleigh D'Antonio and George Risko, Leadership Committee

The Experiential Learning Subcommittee needs to hear from the field about where the greatest need lies regarding staff rides and their accessibility.

  • Do you have an event you would like to turn into a learning experience?
  • Do you have a staff ride built, but are struggling to implement the delivery?
  • Do you need help building capacity?
  • What other ideas do you have to support experiential leadership training?

Fill out this short survey below to help us help you.

References:

Staff Rides: Feedback

Staff Rides