In the USDA-USFS Angelina National Forest, a prescribed burn was in progress when a wildfire was detected approximately two miles north of the burn. The burn manager released one of the one site dozers and an incident commander to contain the wildfire and secure it before launching the helicopter for continued aerial ignitions for the prescribed fire. Shortly after, another fire was detected adjacent from the prescribed burn on private land outside of the burn unit. With the fire burning aggressively, the burn manager requested contingency resources to be in route for support and to backfill onsite contingencies as they were being utilized.
Photo Credit: USDA Forest Service
Within two hours, the wildfire was contained at 10 acres and the slop-over from the prescribed fire was contained at 123 acres. With the winds shifting in the early morning and a major highway as the northern boundary of the burn, aerial ignition were utilized to complete final ignitions in a timely manner.
Things that went right:
- An organized decision process for determining that day’s burn unit
- A local Prescribed Fire Organizer
- Redundancy built into the operational and contingency plans for rapid backfill
- The burn boss was alert. Calm. Thinking clearly. Acted decisively.
The burn boss stayed calm and addressed each issue as it arose. As resources were committed to the wildfire, each was carefully replaced by additional resources with something always in reserve for the next unplanned event.
Things for consideration:
- Are we considering not only the current forecasted weather but the preceding 24 hours also?
- Are we considering and planning for the fuels adjacent to the burn unit especially when the primary carrier of the fire is different?
- How do we prioritize wildfire suppression vs prescribed fire on a given day?
- How many contingencies do you plan for on burn day?
For more information, you can read the full report here.