Nowadays you can just simply say “fire is woke”
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Which means that you need to charge your cellular devices for social media postings including updates, “safe froms,” hero selfies and girlfriend tags…
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Has anything changed here? Apparently, as it seems like every fire these days, has a dangerous rate of spread. Maybe instead of MPH, it should be based on acres per hour, or some other measure of time. 5 acres upon arrival, after a 10 minute response, 911 reaction time, detection time, etc. is not a rapid nor dangerous rate of spread.
WILDFIRE RATE OF SPREAD (ROS)
1/ #WildlandFire @RateofSpread? What is #ROS?
@CAL FIRE definition: ROS defined as rate at the flame front advances thru the fuel. Can be measured in MPH or feet per minute, etc. More…
2/ • Measurement Terms of ROS • Low (slow) - very little spread, spread of no consequence • Moderate - spread less than 1 MPH • Dangerous - spread is 1-3 MPH • Critical - over 3 MPH More…
3/ • The ROS influences the choice and timing of control actions. • The ROS influences safety. - How soon will the fire threaten personnel or equipment? - When might potential escape routes be cut off? More…
4/ ROS related to how fast you can walk & maybe escape a rapidly spreading wildfire. A person walking fast at 4 MPH covers 352 ft in one minute. If slope is in play & walking speed reduces to
2 MPH, the #FF will cover 176 ft in one minute. More…
5/ Focus on a Critical ROS fire burning at 3 or 3+ MPH & think if you can out walk or run the fire. Naw. Won’t happen particularly light flashy fuels like grass fires. You must be on your game. Fire burns 17 times faster uphill than downhill without any wind advantage. More…
6/ You must be on your game & consider ROS vs. your ability to find a #TemporaryRefugeArea or #SafetyZone. Fire won’t quit, won’t get winded, doesn’t tire when the slope increases & won’t give up…
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I always go back to when I started and was taught.
Slow - Slower than I can walk
Moderate - same as I can walk
Rapid - faster than I can walk
Extreme - Critical yada yada faster than I can run.
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I find this method to be a good rule of thumb, but like thumbs, everybody is a little different. I can picture myself giving a ROC as something like, “The fire is moving faster than I can (Walk/Run), but I’m old and fat, so you might want to factor that into it too.”
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LOL I love that. Yes age factor (x) "if I could run, how fast would that be? I can’t remember "
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Also woe is the company officer who loses a slow rate of spread IA. But a critical gets whatever you want to order and then you are a hero if you catch it. Alot has to do with the confidence and experience of the officer.
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