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#280606 - 05/05/16 03:36 PM Wildfire Readiness Levels
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
Thinking about the current situation in Alberta and Wildman 800's very useful post on hurricane readiness levels, I wondered if there was something equivalent for wild fires. Turns out there is - The National Fire Danger Readiness System:

Low (Green)—Fire starts are unlikely. Weather and fuel conditions will lead to slow fire spread, low intensity and relatively easy control with light mop-up. Controlled burns can usually be executed with reasonable safety.

Moderate (Blue)—Some wildfires may be expected. Expect moderate flame length and rate of spread. Control is usually not difficult and light to moderate mop-up can be expected. Although controlled burning can be done without creating a hazard, routine caution should be taken.

High (Yellow)—Wildfires are likely. Fires in heavy, continuous fuel such as mature grassland, weed fields and forest litter, will be difficult to control under windy conditions. Control through direct attack may be difficult but possible and mop-up will be required.
Outdoor burning should be restricted to early morning and late evening hours.

Lots more info at : https://www.nps.gov/fire/wildland-fire/learning-center/fire-in-depth/understanding-fire-danger.cfm

Very High (Orange)—Fires start easily from all causes and may spread faster than suppression resources can travel. Flame lengths will be long with high intensity, making control very difficult. Both suppression and mop-up will require an extended and very thorough effort. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

Extreme (Red)—Fires will start and spread rapidly. Every fire start has the potential to become large. Expect extreme, erratic fire behavior. NO OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN AREAS WITH EXTREME FIRE DANGER.

What is lacking is advice on individual/family preps for the various levels, but this gang on ETS should be great at that.

Personally, somewhere around Orange, I would start loading up the vehicles and prepare to leave. As far as I am concerned, staying behind to fight fire is a good way to die. You also impede the professionals who will actually make a difference (in SoCal anyway)


Edited by hikermor (05/05/16 03:38 PM)
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#280614 - 05/05/16 06:05 PM Re: Wildfire Readiness Levels [Re: hikermor]
wildman800 Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 11/09/06
Posts: 2846
Loc: La-USA
I put together a FireCon Checklist a few years ago. It's here in the archives. I'll try to find it.
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QMC, USCG (Ret)
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#280619 - 05/05/16 07:15 PM Re: Wildfire Readiness Levels [Re: hikermor]
dougwalkabout Online   confused
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3219
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Wildman, I'd like to see that list.

I just moved to a location that is considerably more susceptible to a local grass fire, which in dry conditions would turn into a brief but intense brush fire. Nothing like a full blown forest fire, but in the worst case it could cut my electricity and take out buildings. I already had plans to carry out brushing and maintain firebreaks, but this Fort Mac disaster has me a little spooked.

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#280620 - 05/05/16 08:09 PM Re: Wildfire Readiness Levels [Re: hikermor]
Quietly_Learning Offline
Member

Registered: 05/29/12
Posts: 164

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#280621 - 05/05/16 09:15 PM Re: Wildfire Readiness Levels [Re: Quietly_Learning]
wildman800 Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 11/09/06
Posts: 2846
Loc: La-USA
That's the checklist I'm talking about. Thank you for finding it!!
_________________________
QMC, USCG (Ret)
The best luck is what you make yourself!

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#280622 - 05/05/16 09:41 PM Re: Wildfire Readiness Levels [Re: hikermor]
wildman800 Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 11/09/06
Posts: 2846
Loc: La-USA
Here's my revamped FireCon Checklist. Please shoot it full of holes so that it may be improved for those who can use that info. Feel free to copy and send this to anyone who might benefit from it as well.

FireCon Checklist
Updated 25Jun2012



5=Set at the beginning of Fire Season or when conditions are ripe.
4=Fire(s) have started within your state or in a nearby state.
3=Fire(s) have started within your county and there is fuel to sustain the fire between where the fire is now and where you are.
2=Winds are forecasted to shift to an unfavorable direction
1=Local authorities are expected to issue an Evacuation Order for your area; Fire is approaching your area.


FireCon 5: Upon setting FireCon 5:

1) Have a “Family Plan” of what to do and where and how to meet in the event of an incident. Insure all family members are thoroughly briefed.
2) Ensure that basic supplies are kept at home for a minimum of 72 hours (3 days) sustenance/maintenance.
3) Know where the other family members are, when not at home.
4) Keep vehicle gas tanks at least half full.
5) Check local wildfire plans. E.g. when I lived in Irvine, CA, the city had its own low power AM radio station for emergency broadcasts with possibly more pertinent info for residents. And certain neighborhoods there actually have a priority on shelter-in-place rather than evacuating, due to more modern, fire resistant building requirements and landscaping.
6) Perform brush clearance and any other landscaping/maintenance tasks that local fire codes call for. Small but critical things like clearing dried leaves from rain gutters. Try and encourage your neighbors to do likewise.
7) Check your insurance coverage, update any photos/inventory of your possessions for insurance purposes.
8) Make any necessary copies of new, important documents and add them to your archive, whether a fire-resistant safe at home, a safety deposit box, another person's home, etc.
9) Also update any new info that you need to take with you, e.g. you switched insurance carriers and new contact info for them
10) Change filters on air conditioner and any room air filters, especially if you have household members with respiratory issues like asthma or emphysema.
11)


FireCon 4: Upon setting FireCon 4:

1) Ensure that basic supplies are kept at home for a minimum of 6 days sustenance/maintenance.
2) Know where the other family members are, when not at home.
3) Insure that 72 hour BoB’s are ready and readily accessible.
4) Maintain the “normal“ ear to local news broadcasts.
5) As opportunities occur, maintain contact with neighbors to share information.
6)

FireCon 3: Upon setting FireCon 3

1) Establish a “Rendezvous Point“ for family members, in case of separation.
2) Top off vehicle fuel tanks.
3) Load BoB‘s in vehicles and park with nose facing OUT, towards street.
4) Maintain a close watch on local news broadcasts.
5) Establish alternative communications system with extended family members.
6) Know where family members are and evaluate any destinations that family members wish to go to.
7) If you have pets, check on availability of pet-friendly evacuation shelters or find other arrangements ahead of time
8) Check your planned escape routes for any new impediments or bottlenecks that you might not be aware of, such as road repairs/construction, that may make them unsuitable for a mass evac. However, if there are official evacuation routes, use those. Other roads may be closed or restricted to official vehicles during an actual evac.
9)



FireCon 2: Upon setting FireCon 2:

1) Call Family Members home. Know everybody’s whereabouts.
2) Keep fuel tanks in vehicles above the ¾ full level.
3) Decision Time: When to leave and where to proceed.
4) Consider applying fire resistant foam or other chemcials to exterior of house. Others may start watering down exterior of home but be aware that if everyone does that, you may be depriving fire fighters of critical water main pressure, especially in a hilly area. Some insurance companies will send a specialist to spray foam on your home for you.
5) Move flammable outdoor items indoors. Drop water resistant furniture into your pool (If you own one).
6)


FireCon 1: Upon setting FireCon 1:

1) Execute Bug Out Plan.
_________________________
QMC, USCG (Ret)
The best luck is what you make yourself!
_________________________
QMC, USCG (Ret)
The best luck is what you make yourself!

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#280623 - 05/05/16 09:44 PM Re: Wildfire Readiness Levels [Re: wildman800]
Roarmeister Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 09/12/01
Posts: 960
Loc: Saskatchewan, Canada
In the Fort Mac case, things went from 4 to 3 to 1 in a matter of hours. It started late Sunday and by Tuesday morning the authorities were issuing evac orders for sectors and at 6:20 pm the entire city was under evac. It depends on the winds and dry tinder conditions on how quickly things can escalate. Even on Monday people were just beginning to prep for the situation and Tuesday morning, parents in some areas of the city were sending their kids to school! The speed at which a fire can overtake a community is really frightening.

Communities just south of Fort Mac (a couple of thousand people) were evacuated last night (this was where the initial emergency centre was located) and today the oilfield camps north of the city with some 25k more people are being evac'd because the changing wind direction has pushed the fire around.

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#280624 - 05/05/16 10:08 PM Re: Wildfire Readiness Levels [Re: wildman800]
Russ Offline
Geezer

Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
Being in SOCAL and with the fuel available, I consider us to be in FireCon 5 now. That said, we most always meet the checklist requirement for FireCon 4. I'll jump to FireCon 3 when a fire starts up to the East.

At FireCon 3/2 (fires to the East w/ Santa Ana winds), I'll top off the fuel tank and start packing the truck for Evac. It will stay packed until the fire is controlled and no longer a threat.

We have reached FireCon 1 a few times and nearby communities have been evacuated. With the fire well to the East I could smell the smoke -- not pleasant. I watched neighbors bug-out and take the dog & kids to relatives for the duration without an evac order. It was a real quiet neighborhood for a few days. Just me and the local FD fireman who came home to get some rest. Just a few miles away it was anything but quiet.

Keep your SA up; pay attention to what is happening around you.

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#280625 - 05/05/16 11:57 PM Re: Wildfire Readiness Levels [Re: Roarmeister]
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
Pay particular attention to fire environmental factors - temperature, fuel moisture (essentially how dry things are), wind velocity and direction, possibility of lightning storms, local topography. Sometime during your available leisure, read up on the local fire history - it can be very instructive and point out relevant patterns.

Bear in mind that a fire could begin anywhere as a result of arson, down power lines, andlightning. Under the proper conditions, flame can spread much quicker than anyone can run or even drive in some situations.

Removal or mitigation of hazards, especially brush clearance, can be critical.within your group.....

It is instructive that the hazard conditions we are discussing all seem to recommend keeping vehicle gas tanks at least one half full, having a plan, and communications within your group, as well as a kit with basic supplies.....















remeber
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