WILDFIRE: LATEST LEARNINGS- v01.6

WILDFIRE: LATEST LEARNINGS

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General learning outcome:

FIRE MANAGEMENT:

Specific learning outcome:

A simplified FDI formulation is vital for rapid assessment.

Topic:

Simple methods of calculating fire danger and fire behaviour.

Operational Awareness for Advanced Firefighters & Fire Behaviour Analysts


In the field, crew leaders and sector leaders who are monitoring their weather may occasionally need to rapidly assess whether there is a crew safety risk emerging. A circular slide rule may be used for this, but many are not comfortable using these and often they do not have one. Web and mobile phone apps are now available for the same purpose.
It is also now known that FDI is proportional to wind speed divided by fuel moisture content. Thus if the wind picks up the FDI goes up in roughly the same ratio. Equally if the fuel dries out the FDI goes up. Fuel dryness reflects the difference between temperature and relative humidity. If this difference approaches 40, the fuel is completely dry and fire behaviour can become catastrophic creating deep flaming.
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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.