Wildfire suppression equipment and personnel
Wildfire suppression equipment and personnel is part of the science of fire fighting focusing on the use of specialized equipment, training and tactics to effectively control, surround and eventually extinguish a natural cover fire. There are several specially designed tools that through their function and user training, perform specialized tasks that are specific to natural cover firefighting. This is used together in conjunction with the general understanding of the behavior of fire to form a viable plan of attack.
Personnel
PPE or
In the U.S., a firefighter's credentials and level of training is shown on their red card. For example, a
There are currently 2 wildland firefighter ratings. Firefighter Type 2, which is the basic firefighter qualification, and is required for most operational positions. The Firefighter Type 2 requires several introductory classes as well as a practical day in the field. The dispatch code for a Firefighter Type 2 is FFT2. The second rating is Firefighter Type 1. The Firefighter 1 rating requires advanced courses in wildland firefighting as well as acceptable performance as a FFT2. Firefighter Type 1 is considered to be a senior and seasoned wildland Firefighter. The dispatch code for Firefighter Type 1 is FFT1.
Hand crews
Typically, wildland firefighting organizations will use large handcrews of 20 or more people who travel in vehicles to the fire incident. Although these crews can vary above or below 20 firefighters, they are generally called twenty-man crews. The designations of these crews in the U.S., defined in large portion by training, are as follows:
Crews[5] |
Type I Interagency Hotshot Crew
|
Type II Initial Attack (IA) Crew |
Type II Crew |
Type III Crew (none currently in service) |
Some personnel are organized into fast attack teams typically consisting of five to eight personnel. Similar to the larger crews, they travel by vehicle.
Smokejumpers
Smokejumpers are highly skilled firefighters specially trained in wildfire suppression tactics. They parachute into remote areas from aircraft to combat wildfires and are equipped to work in remote areas for extended periods of time with little logistical support.
Helitack
The use of helicopter-delivered fire resources varies by agency. Often, helitack crews perform duties similar to other initial attack crews. Two or three firefighters will be dispatched to a newly reported fire. Helitack crews are usually used for initial attack on fires that are difficult for other firefighters to access, or on extended fires that require aerial support in the form of water drops, cargo delivery, crew shuttling, or reconnaissance. A typical initial attack response by a helitack crew involves flying to the fire via helicopter and spending one to three days (although sometimes much longer) putting the fire out before hiking to the nearest road for pickup.
Rappellers
A highly effective way to fight wilderness fire when no roads are nearby is to have wildland firefighters
Vehicles
Engines
Crew transport
- Buggy or crummy
- Crew bus
Tenders
When water is required to refill a fire engine, water delivery is vital. The typical
Heavy equipment
Heavy equipment's primary function of wildfire suppression is through the application of heavy construction style equipment to move large amounts or earth or remove vegetation. Fuel breaks, safety zones, firelines and access to areas that maybe previously were inaccessible may be made.
Air suppression
In addition to aircraft being used for deploying ground personnel, firefighting groups may utilize
Fixed-wing airplanes
- Airtankers
- Lead aircraft
- Smokejumper transport aircraft
- Airlift aircraft
Rotary-wing aircraft
- Helicopters (helitack & rappel)
- Helicopter (water delivery)
Hand tools
A number of tools are used in wildland firefighting. Some examples include:
- Driptorch
- Fusee
- McLeod (tool)
- Pulaski (tool)
- Fire flapper (tool)
- Quick Release Firehose Clamp (tool)
- Hazel hoe
- Chainsaw
- Shovel
- Very pistol
- Hand held thermal detectors
- Sling psychrometer
- Portable bladder bag
- Two-way radio
See also
- Glossary of wildfire terms
- Wildland Firefighter Foundation
- International Association of Wildland Fire
- Wildfire suppression
References
- ^ National Wildfire Coordinating Group (Jan 2006). "Incident Response Pocket Guide" (PMS #461, NFES #1077): i-101.
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(help) - ^ a b "IFPM Module". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 2009-03-07.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "NWCG Equipping Fire Apparatus for Use in the Wildland/Urban Interface". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Retrieved 2009-03-12.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "NWCG Prescribed Burn Qualification Track". Minnesota DNR. Archived from the original on 2006-07-07. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
- ^ "Minimum Crew Standards for Mobilization". NIFC GACC. Archived from the original on 2009-12-22. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
External links
- Survival zone minimum size Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine