WILDFIRE: LATEST LEARNINGS- v01.6

WILDFIRE: LATEST LEARNINGS

[Home] [Index] [News]

[Previous] [Next] Click to view: [General content] ...then... [Operational content] ...then... [Expert content]

[Video]
[Posters]
[Science]

.
General learning outcome:

SPECIFIC FIRE BEHAVIOUR:

Specific learning outcome:

Extreme fires produce violent pyro-convection.

Topic:

Surface weather events associated with the passage of a pyro-convective plume.

Operational Awareness for Advanced Firefighters & Fire Behaviour Analysts


Under a pyro-convective plume, the only operational imperative is to have fire crews evacuated or inside secure shelter.
Sheltering crews experience extreme fire conditions, severe ember attack, localised strong to gale-force winds and reduced oxygen levels. Burn-over times may be over half an hour even in light fuels. The important point to note is there will not be a headfire pass by, rather there will be spotfires, ember attack, possible tornado impact, fireballs, gale-force indraft winds, and finally a steady consolidation of fire elements under light winds until things abate. It may not be safe to leave when the shelter become uninhabitable.
The plume will pass over any point at a speed of up to 35 km/hr, determined by upper winds.
.
This website is dedicated to bringing forward the latest research findings. They are provided to allow firefighters to be made aware of critical safety issues ahead of the material being included in the national training curriculum.
Material prepared by Rick McRae for AFAC Research Dissemination Pilot Study, March 2012.