The Wildland Fire Operations Research Group of FPInnovations - Feric Division in collaboration with the University of Alberta initiated a project in late 2007 at the request of its stakeholders to examine and define the limits of wildland firefighter safety and survival zones. Part of this project involves examining past wildfire incidents in relation to hindsight simulations of the thermal environment associated with the area of refuge taken by firefighters in various burn-over and entrapment situations. Here we examine the case involving the survival of Smokejumper Foreman Wag Dodge on the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire. Based on a thorough review of all the available written documentation and photographic evidence coupled with existing fire behavior knowledge and predictive models, new estimates are presented for the area burned by Dodge's escape fire (0.02 acre or 0.08 hectare) and the height of the flame front that swept around his "island" of safety (10 ft or 3 m). The question of whether he was physically lifted off the ground during the ordeal is also touched on.
Presented at the 10th Wildlabd Fire Safety Summit - April 27-30 Phoenix, AZ
The Wildland Fire Operations Research Group of FPInnovations - Feric Division in collaboration with the University of Alberta initiated a project in late 2007 at the request of its stakeholders to examine and define the limits of wildland firefighter safety and survival zones. Part of this project involves examining past wildfire incidents in relation to hindsight simulations of the thermal environment associated with the area of refuge taken by firefighters in various burn-over and entrapment situations. Here we examine the case involving the survival of Smokejumper Foreman Wag Dodge on the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire. Based on a thorough review of all the available written documentation and photographic evidence coupled with existing fire behavior knowledge and predictive models, new estimates are presented for the area burned by Dodge's escape fire (0.02 acre or 0.08 hectare) and the height of the flame front that swept around his "island" of safety (10 ft or 3 m). The question of whether he was physically lifted off the ground during the ordeal is also touched on.
Alberta helitorch has been in service for over 20 years, and based on helitorch life expectancy and the advancements in technology, Alberta wildfire management staff decided to explore design improvements and construction of a replacement helitorch prototype.
The Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AFF) Wildfire Management Branch Ignition Specialists Working Group has endorsed a collaborative project to develop a redesigned helitorch. The goal of this project is to have an acceptable and proven replacement helitorch based on extensive testing.
Innovation in hotspot target equipment used for Infrared (IR) testing reduces risks and logistical challenges. This InfoNote describes the development of a new hotspot prototype for use at the IR grid in Hinton, Alberta.
The Wildland Fire Operations Research Group (WFORG) of FPInnovations - Feric Division in collaboration with the University of Alberta initiated a project in late 2007 at the request of its stakeholers to examin and define the limits of wildland firefighter safety and survival zones. This partnership combines research and practical expertise in wildland fire suppression, fire behaviour, heat transfer, and fire resistant clothing evaluation.
On June 23, 2012 FPInnovations carried out its first survival zone test in standing timber at the Canadian Boreal Community FireSmart project site in the Northwest Territories. A circular survival zone, 50 m in diameter was constructed by removing or burning fuels, which left an opening of grass and small shrubs to simulate the survival zone. The zone was instrumented with sensors and cameras, which recorded temperature, heat flux (kW/m2) and carbon monoxide concentration along six transects. Rate-of-spread data-loggers were placed in two lines outside the opening running in a SE to NW direction (which was the direction of the burn). The fire was ignited at 16:07 and ran 40 m in standing timber before it hit the plot in the SE corner. This report documents the fire behaviour and the data collected inside the plot.
