Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior Distance Learning Course
Course Outline with Module List and Descriptions
This course consists of an introduction, and twelve unit topics. The introduction provides an overview of all the components of the course. The unit topics deal with the science of fire and characteristics of the fire environment as well as topics related to fire weather.
To receive a course completion certificate, you must successfully complete the thirteen modules.
The course is currently under development. As each module becomes available, a link will appear below. The entire course will be completed in March 2010.
S-290 Course Modules
Introduction
Unit 1: The Fire Environment
description (click to show/hide)Description: S-290 Unit 1: The Fire Environment examines the components of the fire environment triangle and how each affects fire behavior. As part of this topic, heat transfer mechanisms and firebrand transport and the contribution to fire behavior are included. Basic fire terminology is introduced and will be used throughout the course. Later units in the S-290 course will build upon material introduced in this module.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Describe the three components of the wildland fire environment.
2. List and give examples of the three methods of heat transfer.
3. List three methods of mass transport of firebrands on wildland fire.
4. Explain the relationship between flame height/length and its relationship to the fireline intensity.
5. Describe primary environmental factors affecting ignition, fire intensity, and rate of spread of wildland fires.
6. Discuss the relationship of wildland fires of different intensities to their environments.
7. Describe the behavior of wildland fires using standard fire behavior terminology.
Estimated time to complete: .25 - .50 h
Unit 2: Topographic Influences on Wildland Fire Behavior
description (click to show/hide)Description: S-290 Unit 2: Topographic Influences on Wildland Fire Behavior provides
an overview of how topography affects fuels and the
direction and spread of wildland fires. Information on features of
topographic maps and estimating slope is also presented. This module is
part of the S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior Course.Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify standard features on a topographic map.
2. Describe how topography affects fuels and their availability for combustion.
3. Describe how topography can affect the direction and rate of spread of wildfires.
4. Describe how changes in fuels and topography can provide full and partial barriers to the spread of wildland fires.
5. Describe how slope percent can be determined or estimated in the field and understand its effects on fire behavior.
Estimated time to complete: .50 - .75 h
Unit 3: Fuels
description (click to show/hide)Description: S-290 Unit 3: Fuels covers the effects of fuels on fire behavior and the terminology for describing fuel characteristics, as well as fuel models used for classification. This module is part of the S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior Course.
Objectives:
1. Identify and describe basic wildland fuel characteristics.
2. Identify and describe seven characteristics of fuels that affect wildland fire behavior.
3. Identify and define by size class the four dead fuel timelag categories used to classify fuels.
4. Describe how fuel availability is essential to predicting wildland fire behavior.
5. Describe the fuel model concept and identify the 6 primary groups that the fuel models are organized into.
6. Using visual cues, identify the surface fuel group that is most likely to carry fire spread and the aerial fuel characteristics that may support crown fire.
Estimated time to complete: 1.50 - 2.00 h
Unit 4: Basic Weather Processes
description (click to show/hide)Description: The “S-290 Unit 4: Basic Weather Processes” distance learning module summarizes atmospheric structure and composition, the Sun-Earth radiation budget, weather elements used to describe the atmosphere, the greenhouse effect, and temperature lags observed both daily and seasonally. The content introduces the concepts of pressure, atmospheric heating, and temperature and provides a basis for understanding weather topics that are explored in more detail in other modules of the Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior Course (http://www.meted.ucar.edu/dl_courses/S290/).
Objectives:
1) Describe the structure and composition of the atmosphere
2) Define weather and list its elements
3) Describe the Sun-Earth radiation budget and Earth’s heat balance
4) Describe factors affecting the temperature of Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere
5) Describe the greenhouse effect and its influence on air temperature
6) Describe temperature lag and how daily and seasonal temperature lags affect wildland fire behavior.Estimated time to complete: 45 min
Unit 5: Temperature & Relative Humidity Relationships
description (click to show/hide)Description: “S-290 Unit 5: Temperature and Relative Humidity Relationships” module focuses on methods of describing humidity in the atmosphere and how temperature changes can affect relative humidity. Topics from this module will be further related to effects on potential fire behavior in other modules of the Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior Course.
Objectives:
1. Describe the relationship between dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, dewpoint temperature, and relative humidity.
2. Describe typical day and night (diurnal) variations in air temperature and relative humidity.
3. Determine relative humidity, dewpoint, and wet bulb temperatures using a psychrometric table.
4. Describe the effects of topography, vegetation, clouds, and wind on air temperature and relative humidity.
5. Describe the temperature and relative humidity characteristics of continental and maritime air masses.Estimated time to complete: .75 h
Unit 6: Atmospheric Stability
Unit 7: Wind Systems
Unit 8: Keeping Current with the Weather
description (click to show/hide)Description: The "S-290 Unit 8: Keeping Current with the Weather" distance learning module describes fire weather information and products available from Predictive Services and the National Weather Service. Summaries of the products, including significant fire potential, monthly and seasonal outlooks, fire weather planning forecasts, and spot forecasts, are presented. The unit also outlines the types of support available from Fire Behavior Analysts and Incident Meteorologists assigned to a fire and provides guidance for receiving updated weather information using the Internet.
Objectives:
1. Identify the types, purpose, and elements of Predictive Service products
2. Identify the types, purpose, and elements of National Weather Service products
3. Identify ways in which firefighters can receive fire weather products and weather observations
4. Describe the importance of Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) and Fire Behavior Analysts (FBANs) on wildland firesEstimated time to complete: .5 - .75 h
Unit 9: Observing the Weather
description (click to show/hide)Description: This webcast covers procedures for taking accurate weather observations using belt weather kits and descriptions of other common weather observing equipment used in fire weather. In addition, maintenance of the primary components of the belt weather kit are demonstrated.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Describe when, how often, and where to take weather observations on wildland fires.
2. Describe the importance of having field observers or other fire personnel assigned as lookouts for potentially hazardous weather and wildland fire behavior conditions.
3. Demonstrate the correct use and maintenance of the belt weather kit in the field.
Estimated time to complete: .75-1.00 h
Unit 10: Fuel Moisture
Unit 11: Extreme Wildland Fire Behavior
Unit 12: Gauging Fire Behavior and Guiding Fireline Decisions
NOTE TO NWS and other NOAA EMPLOYEES: The modules in this course are available in the NWS Learning Center (https://doc.learn.com/noaa/nws). Please access the module quizzes through that system in order to get credit.