S-190 Questions with 100% Correct Answers
Origin
The area where the fire started. It is also the point from which the fire spreads, depending on
the fuels present and the effects of the wind slope.
Head
- The part of a wildland fire with the greatest forward rate of spread (ROS).
- The head of the fire often burns intensely and may move with alarming speed.
Fingers
Long, narrow strips of fire that extend from the main body of a fire.
They form:
-When a fire burns into mixed fuels; slowing in heavy fuel, but spreading quickly in light
fuels
-Due to variations in terrain or wind direction
-When the head is split by natural features such as fields, water, or rock outcroppings
Pocket
The unburned area between the main fire and any fingers.
Perimeter
The outer boundary- or the distance around the outside edge. Also commonly called the fire
edge.
Rear
Also known as the heel of the wildland fire is the end opposite of the head. The back of the
fire. Relatively closer to the origin of the fire.
,Flanks
The sides of a wildland fire, roughly parallel to the main direction of fire spread. Flanks are
identified as either left or right as you are looking from the heel of a fire toward the head.
Islands
Unburned areas inside the fire perimeter. Because they are unburned potential fuels, patrol
them frequently and check for spot fires.
Spot Fire
Fire ignited outside the perimeter of the main fire by a firebrand.
Slopover
Fire edge that crosses a control line. Also called Breakover.
Green
Area that is not burnt.
Black
The burn area
Rate of Spread (ROS)
- How fast the fire is moving. Measured in chains or acres per hour.
- 1 ft. (0.3M)/minute = 1 chain/hour
- 10ft.(3m)/minute = 10 chains/hour
Flaming Front
,Also known as "Fire Front" is the part of the fire within which continuous flaming
combustion is taking place.
The leading edge of the fire perimeter.
Smoldering FIre
Is one that burns without flame and is barely spreading
Creeping Fire
Burns with a low flame and spreads slowly
Running Fire
Fire spreading rapidly with a well defined head
Backing Fire
Fire that moves away from the head, downhill or against the wind.
Crowning
When the fire advances across the tops of trees or shrubs more or less independent of the
surface fire
Blowup
- When there is a sudden increase in ROS sufficient to prevent or rule out direct control of the
fire.
- Fire intensity increases suddenly posing a setback to suppression plans.
Flare-up
Any sudden acceleration in the ROS or intensification of the fire. A flare-up is of relativity
short duration and does not radically change existing control plans.
, Firewhirl
Spinning vortex column of ascending hot air and gases rising from a fire and carrying aloft
smoke, debris, and flame. Fire whirls range in size from less than one foot to over 500 feet in
diameter. large fire whirls have the intensity of a small tornado
Torching
Fire ignites the crown of trees, then returns to the surface
Control Line
Refers to all constructed or natural barriers.
Fireline
- Any cleared strip or portion of a control line where flammable material has been removed
by scraping or digging down to mineral soil.
- Removing flammable material down to mineral soil.
Anchor Point
- Any good place where you can start constructing a fire line. Using an anchor point
minimizes the chance of being outflanked by the fire while the line is being constructed.
- Minimizes the chance of being outflanked by the fire.
Containment
The status of a wildfire suppression action that can reasonably be expected to stop the fire
spread under prevailing and predicted conditions.
Control
The point in time when the perimeter spread of a wildland fire has been halted and can
reasonably be expected to hold under foreseeable conditions.
Origin
The area where the fire started. It is also the point from which the fire spreads, depending on
the fuels present and the effects of the wind slope.
Head
- The part of a wildland fire with the greatest forward rate of spread (ROS).
- The head of the fire often burns intensely and may move with alarming speed.
Fingers
Long, narrow strips of fire that extend from the main body of a fire.
They form:
-When a fire burns into mixed fuels; slowing in heavy fuel, but spreading quickly in light
fuels
-Due to variations in terrain or wind direction
-When the head is split by natural features such as fields, water, or rock outcroppings
The unburned area between the main fire and any fingers.
Perimeter
The outer boundary- or the distance around the outside edge. Also commonly called the fire
edge.
Rear
Also known as the heel of the wildland fire is the end opposite of the head. The back of the
fire. Relatively closer to the origin of the fire.
,Flanks
The sides of a wildland fire, roughly parallel to the main direction of fire spread. Flanks are
identified as either left or right as you are looking from the heel of a fire toward the head.
Islands
Unburned areas inside the fire perimeter. Because they are unburned potential fuels, patrol
them frequently and check for spot fires.
Spot Fire
Fire ignited outside the perimeter of the main fire by a firebrand.
Slopover
Fire edge that crosses a control line. Also called Breakover.
Green
Area that is not burnt.
Black
The burn area
Rate of Spread (ROS)
- How fast the fire is moving. Measured in chains or acres per hour.
- 1 ft. (0.3M)/minute = 1 chain/hour
- 10ft.(3m)/minute = 10 chains/hour
Flaming Front
,Also known as "Fire Front" is the part of the fire within which continuous flaming
combustion is taking place.
The leading edge of the fire perimeter.
Smoldering FIre
Is one that burns without flame and is barely spreading
Creeping Fire
Burns with a low flame and spreads slowly
Running Fire
Fire spreading rapidly with a well defined head
Backing Fire
Fire that moves away from the head, downhill or against the wind.
Crowning
When the fire advances across the tops of trees or shrubs more or less independent of the
surface fire
Blowup
- When there is a sudden increase in ROS sufficient to prevent or rule out direct control of the
fire.
- Fire intensity increases suddenly posing a setback to suppression plans.
Flare-up
Any sudden acceleration in the ROS or intensification of the fire. A flare-up is of relativity
short duration and does not radically change existing control plans.
, Firewhirl
Spinning vortex column of ascending hot air and gases rising from a fire and carrying aloft
smoke, debris, and flame. Fire whirls range in size from less than one foot to over 500 feet in
diameter. large fire whirls have the intensity of a small tornado
Torching
Fire ignites the crown of trees, then returns to the surface
Control Line
Refers to all constructed or natural barriers.
Fireline
- Any cleared strip or portion of a control line where flammable material has been removed
by scraping or digging down to mineral soil.
- Removing flammable material down to mineral soil.
Anchor Point
- Any good place where you can start constructing a fire line. Using an anchor point
minimizes the chance of being outflanked by the fire while the line is being constructed.
- Minimizes the chance of being outflanked by the fire.
Containment
The status of a wildfire suppression action that can reasonably be expected to stop the fire
spread under prevailing and predicted conditions.
Control
The point in time when the perimeter spread of a wildland fire has been halted and can
reasonably be expected to hold under foreseeable conditions.
