LINCOLNSHIRE FIRE

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LINCOLNSHIRE FIRE RESCUE
RURAL FIREFIGHTING
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COMPETENCE STATEMENTS CS416 Heath Woodland
Fires CS396 Flexible Backpack Extinguisher
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AIM

• To give operational crews an understanding of the
  hazards, risks and operational procedures
  associated with controlling rural fires, in
  particular
• Heath and Woodland fires

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OBJECTIVES

• List and explain the different rural fires and
  their hazards
• Identify the hazards, risks and control measures
  when extinguishing the three different types of
  heath and woodland fire
• Describe the methods to protect personnel,
  equipment and appliances from heat, fire and
  smoke spread
• Define the term Crown Fire
• Identify some other possible resources, farm
  equipment or farm systems that could assist with,
  and control, the fire spread
• Recall other types of rural fires and the need to
  consider local fire plans

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RURAL FIRES - CLASSIFICATIONS

• Classifications
• Smouldering
• Creeping
• Running
• Torching
• Spotting
• Crowning
• Blow-Up

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RURAL FIRES - HAZARDS

• Hazards
• Terrain
• Weather conditions
• Smoke
• Fatigue
• Lone working
• Manual handling
• Overhead power lines
• Rapid fire spread
• Difficult access
• Night working
• Manoeuvring off road
• Surrounded by fire

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HEATH AND GRASS FIRES

• There are three types of heath and grass fire
• Heath and Grass fires in non-peaty soil
• Heath and Grass fires in peaty soil
• Gorse, Bracken and undergrowth fires

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1) HEATH AND GRASS FIRES IN NON-PEATY SOIL

• Characteristics
• The fire only travels through surface growth

• Risks
• Personnel becoming isolated
• Lack of water supplies

• Extinguishing Methods
• To extinguish use beaters or water
• Consider the Flexible Backpack Extinguisher
• Consider use of HVP Water carrier

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2) HEATH AND GRASS FIRES IN PEATY SOIL

• Characteristics
• Fires travel underground as well as above ground
• Fire travelling underground is almost invisible

• Risks
• Injury to personnel due to soft ground
• Limited access for vehicles by foot fatigue,
  stress

• Extinguishing Methods
• Surface fires are extinguished as per non-peaty
  soil mentioned previously
• Consider use of HVP Water carrier
• Underground fires can be extinguished either by
• i) Trenching ii) Water Jets

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3) GORSE, BRACKEN AND UNDERGROWTH FIRES

• Characteristics
• Generally more dense and wider covering

• Risks
• Personnel public near by
• Carrying equipment over rough terrain

• Extinguishing Methods
• Fire Breaks
• High pressure hose reel jets
• Wetting a fire break
• Consider use of HVP Water carrier
• Beaters limited use

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WOODLAND FIRES

• Characteristics
• Numerous sizes and types of trees
• Sparks can travel long distances causing
  secondary fires
• Change of wind directions
• Underground fires
• Crown Fires
• Extinguish by
• Create fire breaks
• Beating limited use
• Use of water jets and hosereels
• Consider use of HVP Water carrier

Crown Fires This is a term used when the fire
spreads from one tree to the next, high up in the
tree canopy. It causes problems with the fire
spreading over the top of firefighters and its
extremely difficult to extinguish.
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WHEN ATTENDING INCIDENTS

• Liaise with Forestry Commission Officers
• Refer to the fire plan (if available)
• Consider RVPs, access, water supplies ( early
  make ups )
• Decide on the action to be taken
• Ensure all personnel have correct PPE and manual
  handling techniques
• Monitor crew welfare / hydration ( reliefs )
• Monitor fire spread
• Monitor water supplies
• Monitor environmental conditions

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PPE MANUAL HANDLING CONSIDERATIONS

• Full PPE (inc goggles, gloves, BA if required)
• Carrying equipment over rough terrain
• Creating Fire Breaks
• Beating
• Making up large quantities of hose equipment
• Crew welfare / hydration (Safety Flash 07/06)

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FIRE SPREAD ACCESS

• Speed of fire spread due to
• Environmental conditions
• Weather, temperature, wind direction (speed and
  strength)
• Type (FUEL) size of vegetation area

• Access for appliances personnel
• Limited with large open areas of vegetation
• Terrains vary - steep hillsides to soft boggy
  areas

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HAZARDS OF FIRE SPREAD
Loss of appliances
Firefighters surrounded by fire
Property involved
Loss of water supplies
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OVERHEAD POWER LINES
SOP 13, Risk Card 29
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HAZARDS OF SMOKE SPREAD
Disorientation
Concealed hazards
Isolation of personnel
Smoke affecting nearby public roads
Smoke Inhalation
Reduced visibility
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NON SERVICE EQUIPMENT PERSONNEL

• Agricultural vehicles
• Earth moving vehicles
• ( Above must be trained operators )
• Volunteers supervise!

• Considerations
• Suitability of the equipment
• Lack of competence of the operators
• Lack of experience of emergency situations
• Lack of effective command and control systems
• Service personnel and members of the public
  close by

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OTHER TYPES OF RURAL FIRES WITHIN LINCOLNSHIRE

• Standing crop fires
• Stubble fires
• Haystacks
• Agricultural buildings and machinery/Vehicle
  fires
• Railway embankments
• Hedges/Hedgerows
• Landfill fires
• Woods e.g. , Bourne, Laughton, Stapleford

This list is not exhaustive
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RISK CARD 47
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REFERENCES

• Crews should familiarise themselves with the
  following
• Risk card 47 - Rural Fires
• Risk card 29 - Electricity
• NOS Unit FF4.1 / FF4.2
• SOP 13 - Rural Areas
• F202 / F202A
• TB 1/97 Breathing Apparatus
• Op Tac note 9 Water Supply
• Op Tech note 70 PPE
• Safety Flash 07/06

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SUMMARY

• The different types of rural fires and their
  characteristics
• Identified the hazards, risks and control
  measures when extinguishing the three different
  types of heath and woodland fire
• The methods to protect personnel, equipment and
  appliances from heat, fire and smoke spread
• The term Crown Fire
• Identified other resources, farm equipment and
  farm systems that could assist with, and control,
  the fire spread
• Recalled other types of rural fires and the need
  to consider local fire plans

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ANY QUESTIONS?