Fire Breaks and Ignition Techniques

Belize Fire Workshop

Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area

Scott Simon

Firebreaks session objectives

• Describe types of firebreaks• Describe principles of firebreak location• Describe factors in firebreak width• Describe need for accessibility• Describe hazard minimization techniques• Describe principles of burning out

Hard firebreaks• High environmental impact

(equipment) • To mineral soil - more secure• Sometimes difficult to patrol • Potential invasive species

colonization.• Rehabilitate lines where

possible to preclude invasive species

Soft firebreaks

• Low environmental impact (hand tools)

• Sometimes less secure because fuel still in line

• Sometimes requires additional holding - wetlining, organic, roots

Existing Barriers and Natural Firebreaks

Roads and fieldsRiversLakes

Bluffs

Principles of Firebreak Location

• Establish Safe Anchor Points

Principles of Firebreak Location

• Avoid undercut lines

and sharp corners

• Make the line as

short and straight as

possible

Firebreak width• Dependent on unit fuels, adjacent fuels, and hazards• Rule of thumb - break width should be 2-3 times the

height of the flanking fire.

Confirm Accessibility of Firebreaks*Personnel• With PPE• Equipment• Under burn conditions

Missed one

• Going to need to do the firebreak preparation work sometime.

• You choose when you want to do it.

Principles of Burning Out

• Setting fire inside a control line to consume fuel and create a black-line.

• Used to strengthen existing firelines without creating new ones.

• Need appropriate weather and ample time.

Ignition Techniques Objectives• Describe considerations important for

successful ignition• Describe the use, advantages, and

disadvantages of ignition techniques• Describe the use, advantages, and

disadvantages of ignition methods• Describe the combination of various

ignition techniques and methods to achieve fire management objectives

Desired fire behavior Topography Wind changes through the

predicted burn period Crew safety Firing methods Smoke management

Ignition Considerations

Back fire Strip fire Spot fire Flank fire Ring fire Head fire

Ignition Techniques

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, Grasslands, 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.

Technique Where used Advantages Disadvantages

Head 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 Techniques

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

You can achieve burn objectives by selecting appropriate ignition techniques and methods

Questions?