Wildland Fire Operations Research Centre
June 2001 was a very busy month for the WFORC (as it was for everyone involved in fire in Alberta). Each member of the group was involved with the Chisholm fire in one way or another, with two members spending significant amounts of time at the fire (Judi Beck and Gary Dakin). June also saw Greg Baxter and Gary Dakin head off to the International Crown Fire Modelling Experiment (ICFME) near Fort Providence, NWT. Judi spent from the end of May to mid-June at the Chisholm fire on a number of investigation teams and on fire behaviour documentation, while Gary was 'seconded' as Duty Officer in Lac La Biche from the end of May through the first week of June. A short update will be given for each project.
Updates on Current Projects
Our summer student Rex Hsieh is making great progress on our web-site development. Rex has designed an attractive and functional home page at http://fire.feric.ca that contains links to each of the individual projects as well as discussion forums and our fire operations database. The database will contain all the reference material used by the researchers as well as 'Marty Alexander's Top 50' - references to the top 50 operational research articles, publications and papers as viewed by Marty. The site will be up by the end of July.
Contact: rex.hsieh@fpinnovations.ca
The Chisholm fire was visited by Greg Baxter June 4 - 7 with the purpose of invetsigating the contribution top-piles made to overall fire behaviour. Due to two consecutive winters of low snow packs in the area, the number of un-burnt piles was greater than would normally be expected. As a result, many of these piles burnt during the major runs of the Chisholm fire. As well, cutblocks that burned during the 1998 were again burned in 2001. Some of these blocks contained top-piles.
Due to the severity of the fire behaviour experienced (dense smoke) at Chisholm reliable observations of the piles contributions to fire spread were minimal. It is believed the fire spread from pile to pile before burning the surface material in-between the piles, but this has not been documented through any personal observations or interviews.
Due to the severity of the fire behaviour, top-piles most likely did not drive the overall Rate of Spread or add to initial attack control problems that did not already exist.
Fire history data will soon be posted on the web-site.
Contact: greg.baxter@fpinnovations.ca
Ray Ault has spent a number of days at the Chisholm fire collecting footwear data from the firefighters from across Canada. Ray is investigating footwear requirements of the firefighter (specifically toe protection). Firefighters from BC, Ontario, and Alberta were present at the fire and Ray spent time talking to these firefighters about their footwear and their provincial regulations regarding footwear. He also has developed and passed out forms to be filled in by the First Aid Attendants for data concerning injuries that may be related to footwear. Ray has just finished compiling injury data for the period 1995 to present and hopes to compare this data with that from other provinces.
Contact: ray.ault@fpinnovation.ca
Hardhats - different hardhat designs will be tested at the University of Alberta to determine if particular hardhat designs contribute to heatstress in the firefighter. Firefighters have 'complained' that the current helmets are very warm and are worried that this may lead to overheating. Individuals will be tested on a treadmill in controlled conditions.
Contact: ray.ault@fpinnovations.ca
The Chisholm fire (and two county fires to the SE of Chisholm) provided a great opportunity for Ray to collect design and performance data from a wide variety of tank designs used by skidders, forwarders and nodwells on these fires. Ray collected a large amount of data (including thoughts on performance and design from the operators as well) which will soon be available on the web-site under this topic heading. Ray intends to develop a recommended minimum standard for tank designs for use on fires.
Contact: ray.ault@fpinnovations.ca
Due to the unavailability of firefighters to 'run' through the escape routes, actual testing of the crews has not yet begun. The routes have been found and marked and the site description work will commence during the week of July 2-6. During this week it is hoped to run one or two individuals through the routes to streamline the experimental design (look for problems!). It is anticipated that crews will be put through the courses starting the week of July 23 (if the hazard allows).
Contact: gvdakin@shaw.ca
Judi's absence from the FERIC office from the end of May to mid-June has pushed back the fieldwork schedule for this project. During this time Judi was involved in a number of investigations and documentation teams put together for the Chisholm fire. Field trials are scheduled to begin during the week of July 16-20 to test the abilities of various airborne infrared scanners. Aircrews will be given flight path co-ordinates but will not be told where heat sources are located. It is anticipated that results from this study will define the true capability of the sensor and operator at a given altitude, and should help users select the appropriate hardware.
Contact: ray.ault@fpinnovations.ca
Due to Judi's involvement in the Chisholm fire, work on this project is delayed. The May Newsletter stated this may be a good summer to study the PPS system in Alberta. As it turned out, it was too hectic and another person in any of the Fire Op rooms would have just added to the mayham! Progress will continue on this project soon.
Contact: ray.ault@fpinnovations.ca
Gary Dakin and Greg Baxter are involved in a wildland urban interface project that is being conducted among a number of other research studies at the International Crown Fire Modelling Experiment (ICFME) at Fort Providence in the NWT (http://www.nofc.forestry.ca/fire/frn/nwt/). An interface plot, established to test the NFPA standard (#299) currently used and promoted by Partners in Protection is set up at the experiment. This standard was developed in the US in a different fuel type and its applicability to our boreal forest conditions is to be tested. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate (a very high water table despite 18 days without rain) and the conditions for a burn in extreme conditions did not occur. Greg Baxter and Gary Dakin were in the NWT from June 13-19 in anticipation of a burn. If the required conditions are met this summer, a return trip is possible, otherwise it is postponed until next year.
Contact: gvdakin@shaw.ca
Along with the list of projects detailed above, WFORC personnel were involved with other opportunistic research and fire operation activities.
WFORC Staff met and presented an overview of our current projects to the new Deputy Minister of Sustainable Resource Development, Bob Fessenden on June 21.
Fire Safety Officer May 16 to May 21,2001
Duty Officer May 27 to June 1, 2001
EMEND burn - Peace River. Meeting April 24 and burn May 9-12. Unfortunately, conditions were too wet for a successful burn.
June 7 - stop and document an Irrigation system used to pump very high amounts of water on deep burning duff sites at the Colington fire. Irrigation pump brought in to 'flood' the areas of deep duff. One system pumped 600 gal/minute at the source and 400 gal/minute over a mile.