Vegetation Fires: Initial Attack Strategies

Introduction to Vegetation Fires

• A grass fire endangered structures and livestock, driven by light and flashy fuels on a red-flag day.
• The fire was in Battalion 5, north of Battalion 7.1, and the head's smoke was visible from miles away.
• Arriving to get ahead of the fire, a Type 1 Engine's captain was deploying a 1%" attack line into green fuel, without communication due to a dropped radio.
• The fire's head rapidly approached, and the captain and firefighter evacuated just before the fire front swept through.
• This event highlights the risk of distant units unfamiliar with this type of firefighting and the need to ensure personnel are trained, equipped, and experienced.
• This section focuses on Type 4 and 5 vegetation fires, also known as initial attacks, that can escalate to Type 3 incidents requiring a Type 3 IMT for additional support.
• Vegetation fires typically start small and are contained before becoming devastating; however, recent trends indicate increased levels of death, destruction, and frequency.
• Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District (Metro Fire) experiences vegetation fires throughout the summer because of high heat, Delta breezes, and low humidities.
• Metro Fire's Battalion 7 is adjacent to all other battalions, leading to frequent fires in the summer.
• Tactics used include pump-and-roll mobile attacks, progressive hose lays, hand tools, dozers, and helicopter support.
• Metro Fire responds to statewide wildfires through the California State Master Mutual Aid system, managed by CAL OES.
• Metro Fire personnel also participate in IMTs and the mutual aid system to fill overhead positions.

Terminology and Definitions

• Vegetation fires involve dry grasses, shrubs, and light flashy organic fuels, ranging from roadside grass fires to fires engulfing thousands of acres.
• Wildfires typically occur in larger, forested areas, involving national/state parks, forests, and private lands, potentially encroaching on populated areas.
• The Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) is where communities and buildings exist in areas of heavy vegetation growth.
• Vegetation fires, wildfires, and WUI fires have become increasingly lethal, with the potential for rapid and exponential growth causing unprecedented death and destruction.
• WUI situations can occur even in smaller Type 4 and 5 fires, necessitating access through properties, fences, yards, and driveways.
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Glossary of Firefighting Terms

• Anchor point: Starting location for a fire attack.
• Black: Already burned fuel.
• Control objectives: Geographic boundaries set to stop the fire's spread.
• Direct attack: An offensive strategy, extinguishing flames using water directly on the fuel source using a mobile attack or progressive hose lay.
• Escape routes: Paths firefighters use to reach a safety zone or move away from fire.
• Extended attack: Initial attack resources are insufficient to control the incident.
• Firing operations: A defensive tactic where qualified firefighters ignite a fire to eliminate fuel ahead of the main fire.
• Flanks: The outer left and right edges of the fire line.
• Fuel: Any material that can burn, including grass, brush, trees, or man-made materials.
• Green: Unburned fuel.
• Head: The leading fire edge.
• Heel: The fire's origin, where it starts.
• Indirect attack: A defensive strategy that removes fuel from the fire's path, through cutting lines or firing operations.
• Initial response/attack: Resources initially dispatched to an incident.
• Kind: A classification of resources that refers to function.
• LCES (Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones): Essential components of wildland firefighting safety.
• Mobile attack: Also known as pump-and-roll, using apparatus to drive and pump water simultaneously.
• Progressive hose lay: Hose is deployed continuously from the nozzle to contain the fire.
• Rate of spread (ROS): Fire's growth speed, measured in chains per hour (1 chain = 66 feet).
• Red-flag conditions: Weather conducive to vegetation fires—high heat, low humidity, and high winds.
• Reinforced response: Additional resources requested beyond the initial response.
• Safety zones: Locations where firefighters can escape dangerous conditions.
• Spotting: Embers create new fires ahead of the main fire, leading to rapid growth.
• Strike team: A team of five identical resources with a leader functioning as one unit.
• Tanker: An aircraft designed to drop water on wildland fires.
• Task force: A team of mixed resources led by a leader, assembled for a specific task.
• Type: Classification in the incident command system that refers to a resource's capability.
• Values at risk: Any item threatened by fire.
• Water tender: Ground apparatus that provides remote water supply.

Case Study: The Sand Fire

• The Sand Fire started in late July 2016 on Sand Ridge Road and Hwy 49 in El Dorado County.
• Initial weather: 101 degrees Fahrenheit, 12% relative humidity, south winds at 7 mph.
• The initial response from CAL FIRE was six Type 3 engines, four Type 1 hand crews, two Type 2 dozers, two battalion chiefs, an air tactical group supervisor (ATGS), two Type 1 air tankers, and one Type 2 helicopter.
• The first engine company reported approximately 10 acres of the fire in grass/oak-woodland fuels moving uphill at a moderate-to-rapid rate.
• The engine Company officer took the role of IC and started a progressive hose lay.
• CAL FIRE has jurisdictional responsibility for vegetation fires on State Responsibility Area (SRA) land.
• Approximately 20 acres were affected, chief officers anticipated significant growth.
• Additional resources were ordered after an evaluation from over 20 miles away.
• A unified command was established between CAL FIRE, the local fire district, and the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO), also included the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
• The fire crossed the Consumnes River into Amador County and additional resources from Amador County were requested.
• Observed fire behavior became erratic, increasing in intensity as it moved into brush and light timber.
• There was significant long-range spotting, as well as group torching of timber.
• The initial incident organization was three divisions starting with control and management objectives.
• Law enforcement agencies decided on evacuations and road closures.
• Long distances and limited access points affected resource assignments.
• The fire approached a rural area that was now dotted with residential structures, outbuildings, and threatening wineries.
• Six air tankers, 100 engines, 10+ hand crews, and 5 dozers battled the blaze.
• The fire grew from 600 acres to 1,300 acres in the span of 29 minutes with acreage and containment of 2,000 acres and 20% respectively.
• 2 structures were destroyed, and the fire continued in a large river canyon and weather conditions only slightly improved.
• The fire initially slowed on July 27, thunderstorms with erratic winds were predicted.
• Fire intensity increased and air resources attempted to reinforce lines and catch multiple spot fires.
• Additional structures involved were reported and ground resources were deployed.
• A CAL FIRE Type 1 IMT was requested and a firing plan was executed to slow the fire's forward growth as it approached County Road 16.
• July 28, a transition was completed with the CAL FIRE Type 1IMT after active fire progression ceased.
• The fire was contained at 75% and had burned 3800 acres, 13 structures, and 38 outbuildings.
• Challenges included fire conditions, poor access points and jurisdictional complexities.
• Success was attributed to experienced company officers and a quickly designed, and aggressive strategy.

Fundamentals of Vegetation Fires

• Staying ahead of the incident power curve is key for vegetation fires, like all incidents.
• The three factors driving the size and complexity: fuel, weather, and topography.
• Preplanning, including access points and weather predictions, is vital for preparation.
• A red flag warning may increase response levels depending on the AHJ.
• Initial attack resources in local jurisdictions vary, and can be limited which means structural resources may be needed.

Fire Size-Up and Tactical Considerations

• A working vegetation fire produces a visible smoke column, its growth can span over many acres, necessitating size-up and risk assessment
• Units from different directions should help determine the best approach to fight the flames.
• Fire begins as Type 5 or 4, expands to Type 3, and will be reported with terms like size, rate of spread, fuel type, potential, and values at risk. - Sizes can be acres "roadside grass fire”, or “100 x 100-grass fire” - ROS can be slow, moderate, or rapid. - Fuels can be light/flashy, medium, or heavy
• Light or flashy fuels are the most hazardous due to their rapid fire growth and heat.
• Medium fuels are 14"-3" in diameter and more densely spaced.
• Heavy fuels include timber, such as laddering fuels.
• Account has to be taken for ultimate fire size with homes, other structures, livestock, vehicles, and utilities all being values at risk
• Ask "Where is the fire going and what am I saving?" during size-up. The goal is to place a box around the fire to safeguard homes.
• Identify perimeter and control objectives with terrain or a progressive hose pay, note the right and left flanks as well as the head of the tire
• Anchor heel and make the main objective a direct attack on the flames, mobile or progressive.
• Tandem attacks involve two mobile attack engines in line are suitable for attacking the hot flank.
• Additional engines must then secure fire on cold flanks.
• Splitting the head of a rapid fire is an option especially when homes are at risk
• Follow practices from NWCG, FOGs and ICS such as the 420-1 FOG.
• Specific wildfire terminology, tactics, and resources become relevant at Type 3 or above, though some may be useful for smaller incidents.

Safety Protocols

• Prioritize safety by implementing the LCES acronym: Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones
• Designate the Incident Commander, division supervisor, safety officers, and airborne resources early.
• Secure safe escape routes that can be a road or burned areas, to avoid complex incidents.
• Division/group supervisors have to identify escape routes and safety zones
• Follow developed NWCG fire orders and watch-out situations for vegetation and wildfires, especially in initial attacks.

Fire Orders

1. Stay informed about weather and forecasts.
2. Be aware of fire behavior.
3. Base actions on current and expected fire behavior.
4. Locate and communicate ways to escape alongside safety zones
5. Designate when there lookouts
6. Remain calm, think, and react
7. Maintain communication with teams and supervisors
8. Give and confirm instructions
9. Control forces
10. Fight fires with safety foremost

Watch-Out Situations

1. Unsized and unscouted fires
2. Darkness obfuscating the surroundings
3. No safety zones or escape routes
4. Unfamiliarity with local weather affecting fire behavior
5. No knowledge of the tactics, strategy, and known hazards.
6. Unclear directions and assignments
7. No contact with teams or supervision
8. Building fire paths without safe points
9. Building paths down hills with fires burning under.
10. Attacking a tire on the front
11. Unburned fuel between your team and the fire
12. Main fire isn't in site and there's no radio to communication.
13. Fires burning uphill making loose material roll down and create new ignitions.
14. Weather is getting hotter and drier
15. Changing wind direction
16. New spot fires keep occurring ahead of the fire
17. Escape to escape zones is a challenge with terrain and fuel
18. Sleeping near the fire line.

WUI Watch-Outs

The WUI pose risks that require structure and safety factors unlike those encountered in the Wildland

• Roads and points of Access are poor
• Bridges with weight restrictions
• Wood or shake roofs
• Power lines, fuel and hazmat material
• Scarce water
• Fuel near and close to the buildings
• Houses in hazardous terrain and box canyons with high grades
• Fast fire
• Strong winds
• Civilian panic
• Underground utilites
• Structures collapsing
• Laced smoke from chemical products.

Structure Defense Tactics

• Tactical evacuation Assisting and shifting to civilian extraction due to life threats. - Non defensible - Fire rate doesn't allow actions to be taken

• Check and go Swift check of houses for civilians needing escape. - Non defensible - No zones due to speed, intensity, impact and spread

• Prep and go Safe preparation of the structure if there are safe zones - Non defensible - Fire rate doesn't allow actions to be taken

• Prep and defend Establishing plans for defending should the fire arrive: defensible with escapes established - Defensible - Clear escapes and behavior will allow for safe staying and engagement

• Fire front following Going in after the front already engaged - Safe staying isn't possible

• Bump and run Controlling spotting and embers

• Safe for fire fighters with suppression and commitment clear

With Bump and Run tactics

• Always have communication with your crew

• Only have fire tactics and terrain that have the best conditions for mobile attacks

• Teams and support must know the extreme caution with this.

• Safe access with preparation from different teams for containment.

• Air operations for added support.

• Anchor and hold Connecting the lines and water for a hold

• Anchor at home to curb spread to save the neighborhood

To anchor and hold effectively the requirements are

• Spot engines safely
• Mobile engines and task to engage individual suppression as a way to re-supply
• Clear engines ready to redeploy if the anchors fail
• Teams and engine crews will have a hose to suppress hotspots and protect the meter
• Strike teams to deploy, build up and conduct missions

Tactical patrols happen through assigned areas where the objective is safety and mobility

In areas the fire has passed but it's key to patrol

• Embers smoldering onto storage and roof
• Signifiant ember wash near the vegetation
• Patrol areas downwind

Tactical patrols work to address hazards such as power lines or weakened trees as vigilance and suppression is key

SAWS-CSS-RECEO-V

• The key points on a worksheet are in italics Size up is very different for each situation with the FPODP mental cycle and weather knowledge being an import factor.
• Identifying the size of the fire and knowing the spread
• Knowing the probabilities and what is at risk
• A complete account of the situation based on resources and what is responding
• Planning a tactic
• Knowing four sides at risk and how to counter that, also a check on what type of fuel it is with the weather that is a a big factor.
• Take all this into account with IOCAN at the scene with additional support

Placement Requirements Include

• Staying cognisant of the hazards with all crews making sure to have enforcement with assistance and traffic plans as additional apparatus enter.

Water Supply and Command

• Get a patent water and where there location for any channels with access to any command chain making the next command and the fire size clear

Factors involved are additional:

• Having a IAP with additional teams
• The ICP in a clear location for additions to assist with tactics and to relay this.

Plans needing assistance in the given area involve communication and support with the following:

• Life and stabilization tactics
• Combating areas
• Support

Safety

Safety is paramount in all areas and the risks have to he communicated through training Factors involve LCES The 10 standard points Situational awareness

• Power lines
• Burned out trees
• Look out for all of those at all times