Central Arizona
Brush Fire
Preparedness
Part 3
Tactics, strategy and common resources
found on wildland fires.
April 2010
Disclaimer and Intent
Like all fire fighting operations, wildland fire control and
suppression is inherently dangerous.
This presentation is designed to increase fire fighter safety and
awareness at local brush fire incidents in the Phoenix metropolitan
area. It is not designed to teach in-depth and/or complex wildland
fire suppression techniques, skills or tactics, nor replace National
Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) standardized training.
The overall intent of this presentation is to promote the safe
operations of structural fire crews responding to initial attack
wildland fires which have the potential to increase into complex fire
incidents requiring multiple fire agency resources. This training
can be used on an individual, company or department-wide basis.
Strategy and ICS
Peoria, AZ wildfire
Size-up Conditions
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Fire behavior: smoldering, active, running.
Approximate size: i.e. 20’ by 30’, half acre; 5 acres, etc.
Spread potential: low, moderate, high, extreme.
Fuels: Grass, brush, river bottom fuels.
Hazards: i.e. power lines.
Exposures:
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# immediately threatened
# potentially threatened
Consider MCT “snap shot” feature to view area structures/features.
Actions
Resource needs/Balance assignment. Call for state assistance
early if support will be needed.
Note: An ACRE is the size of a football field WITHOUT the end zones, or 208’ X 208’.
Strategy
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Fire Fighter Safety is paramount! Do NOT put fire
fighters where they can be trapped by fire.
Generally, fire fighters should NOT be placed in the
un-burned area ahead of the fire.
Consider containment options, including roads, canals,
river bottoms, farm lands.
Consider letting the fire burn itself out.
If actions must be taken, consider multiple tactics
depending on features of the area.
Contain and stop forward progress. Do not forget the
less active sides.
Phoenix Regional SOP Vol. 2
202.15 Revised 10/99
1.
Aggressively stop the forward progress.
2.
Primary goal is to protect exposures when
immediate fire control is not possible.
Rice Fire, Fallbrook, CA. 2007
ICS Considerations
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A sector is the same as a DIVISION; that being a
GEOGRAPHIC reference. Example: “Division A
(“Alpha”) or “West Division”.
A GROUP is a FUNCTIONAL sector of ICS.
Example: “Structure Protection Group” whose sole
responsibility is protecting structures in a certain area.
OPERATIONS runs the fire attack operation for the
IC.
AIR OPERTIONS runs the aircraft fire attack duties
for the IC.
Small ICS structure
IC
(“Baseline Command”)
West
Sector/Division
Battalion 181
East
Sector/Division
Battalion 5
Air Operations
Battalion 7
Engine 57
BR57
Engine 182
BR182
Tender 57
E23
BR23
BR241
Tender 45
Firebird 3
Building Organization
(NIMS Compliant)
IC
Safety
Operations
Air Operations
Firebird 3
Ranger 41
West Division
BC181
E57
BR57
E182
BR182
T57
PIO
Planning
Logistics
Staging
Rehab
East Division
BC5
E23
BR23
BR241
T45
Structure Protection
Group
BC161
E22
E161
E918
E171
Canteen
South Division
BLM 2101
BR436
BLM E2330
Lewis DOC
Handcrew
Engine Attack Methods
Cave Creek Fire, Maricopa County, 2005
Tactics
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Start all actions with an ANCHOR POINT.
“ANCHOR and FLANK” the fire.
Direct Attack (“Offensive”): the safest tactic; i.e.
“One foot in the black”. Working directly on
fires edge from an anchor point towards head of
the fire.
Indirect Attack (“Defensive”): pulling back and
using established (roads, canals, etc) or
constructed fire containment lines.
Standard Engine Tactics
1. Mobile
Attack
or
2. Stationary
Attack
Attack fire from the BURNED SIDE!
1. Mobile “Inside-Out” Attack
In relatively flat terrain
and in light fuels, the fire
area cools quickly.
Fire fighters and apparatus
work from within fire area
in an inside-out attack.
This leaves no chance for
an entrapment or burnover situation.
Crews work from within
their safety zone (“the
black”).
Engines anchor and
flank fire working
around fires edge.
North
East Division or
East Sector
West Division or
West Sector
Flanks are managed
as Divisions.
If possible,
apparatus should
work from within
the burned area,
which serves as the
primary SAFETY
ZONE.
Safety Zone
Stationary Attack
The same tactic as
with a mobile attack,
but hose lines are
extended from a
stationary Type 1, 2
or Type 6 engine.
Crew anchors and
flanks fire, using
“the black” as their
“safety zone”.
Apparatus should be
parked in location
that cannot be
entraped or burnedover.
Safety Zone
Complex Tactics
Techniques or tactics which might be used by wildland fire-trained personnel
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Burnout/Backfire Operations – Uses drip torches or fusee to
remove fuels from the fire by burning out fuels near a control line. Standard
tactic by wildland engine and hand crews.
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Dozers – Heavy equipment used primarily in timber fuels and possibly
heavy fuels such as the Gila and Salt Rivers. Not normally used in Sonoran
Desert due to the extensive damages caused.
Hotshot burning out. Peoria, AZ.
Safety and Communications
Ensure BOTH are in place at every incident
Crew Safety
Radio considerations:
Implement and ensure standard
safety practices of L C E S at
every fire:
Automatic aid agencies will have standard
radio communications. State, federal, and
tribal agencies, or out of area fire
departments not on the Automatic Aid
system might not have these frequencies.
LOOKOUT(s) – A crew
member(s) who watches crew, fire
behavior and fire movement for
impending danger.
COMMUNICATIONS –
Maintain communications with
crew, other resources, and command
for optimum safety.
ESCAPE ROUTES – Have a
route to escape to an area of safety.
SAFETY ZONES – A location
where fire fighters can go to be safe.
Consider Statewide Mutual Aid or Arizona
Interagency Radio System (AIRS)
channels/frequencies to establish
communications.
Wildland agencies will have field
programmable radios and can program
VHF frequencies on scene.
Fire Department Assistance
The Arizona State Forestry Division is prepared to
support fire department operations at wildland fire
incidents if needed. Most fire departments have InterGovernmental Agreements to allow for this and to
address costs.
Statewide Dispatch Center
(24/7)
1-800-309-7081
Additional Information
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Contact your department members of the Central Arizona
Wildland Response Team, which includes most valley fire
departments, for additional information or training.
Website Links:
CAWRT East
CAWRT West