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CERTIFIED WILDFIRE
MITIGATION SPECIALIST (NFPA
CWMS) EXAM
What does developing a defensible space plan require? - ANSWERS- An inventory of the existing site features Hazards of the existing site features How big is zone 1 for defensible space? - ANSWERS- 0 - 5 feet from the main structure How big is zone 2 for defensible space? - ANSWERS- 5 - 30 feet from the main structure How big is zone 3 for defensible space? - ANSWERS- 30 - 100 feet from the main structure What should be done for defensible space in zone 1? - ANSWERS- Install non-flammable ground cover. Do not place vegetation near windows or decks or anything flammable. Prune, maintain plants and remove dead and down. Irrigate grass and keep it mowed Do not store firewood in this zone
Enclose or screen decks with 1/8 inch metal screening and do not store anything under decks. Remove all trees. Remove all needles and other debris from roof, deck, and all gutters. Rake needles and other debris at least 10 feet away from structure and decks. What should be done for defensible space in zone 2? - ANSWERS- Remove dead and down. Remove trees and shrubs to create 10 foot crown separation. Remove ladder fuels. Prune and maintain shrubs to prevent excessive growth. Mow grass to a height of 6 inches. Stack firewood at least 30 feet away from structures. What should be done for defensible space in zone 3? - ANSWERS- Remove dead and down. Remove ladder fuels. Trees should have at least 12 feet between canopy tops. Aspects of simple building form - ANSWERS-Have less surface area relative to volume of the structure. Less expensive to build. More energy efficient.
What two factors are the primary determinants of a home's ability to survive a wildfire? - ANSWERS-Quality of defensible space Structural ignitability What does HIZ stand for? - ANSWERS-Home ignition zone What is included in the home ignition zone? - ANSWERS-The structure The space immediately surrounding the structure What is the primary goal to protect a home from wildfire? - ANSWERS-Reduce or eliminate fuels and ignition sources within the HIZ What are some benefits of fire? - ANSWERS-Thin tree and brush stands Remove dead material Opens up forest floor to sunlight Nourishes the soil Wildland urban interface - ANSWERS-Any area where structures and other human development meets or intermingles with wildland vegetative fuels
Fire suppression in the WUI - ANSWERS-When fire occurs here, it is suppressed to protect people and their homes, so the fires do not burn the way they should to reset the ecology of the systems Vegetation is then increased in these areas, which provides more fuel for fires International Code Council (ICC) - ANSWERS-Non-governmental organization that develops and maintains model building codes for use by state and local jurisdictions What is construction regulated by? - ANSWERS-Building codes How does a model building code become enforceable? - ANSWERS- When it is adopted by state and local jurisdiction, with or without amendments, and becomes law. What is home rule? - ANSWERS-Local governments have the ability to establish their own sets of codes and standards specific to their community. Is Colorado a home-rule state? - ANSWERS-Yes What is the most widely adopted code addressing WUI? - ANSWERS-The 2009 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC)
How are embers produced in a wildfire? - ANSWERS-When conifer trees are consumed by the fire When burning structures are consumed - wood decks, shake roofs What are three ways wildfire can ignite structures? - ANSWERS- Direct flame contact Burning ember landing on a flammable surface Radiant heat What are the three factors that affect wildfire behavior in the WUI? - ANSWERS-Fuels Weather Topography Aspects of fuels that affect wildfire behavior - ANSWERS-The type, continuity, and density of surrounding vegetation, and flammable structures Aspects of weather that affect wildfire behavior - ANSWERS-Wind, relative humidity, and atmospheric stability Aspects of topography that affect wildfire behavior - ANSWERS-The steepness and direction of slopes, ad building site location in relation to this What are the four wildland fuel types? - ANSWERS-Grass
Brush or shrubs Timber Woody debris What is the biggest factor that affects a fuels flammability? - ANSWERS-The amount of moisture within it Grass fuels - ANSWERS-Exist in two conditions - green and cured. Cured has the highest potential rate of spread of any fuel type Fire behavior can change rapidly with this fuel type What does ROS stand for? - ANSWERS-Rate of spread Brush fuel - ANSWERS-Rate of spread is slower than grass but burns at a higher intensity. Least flammable in spring when new growth is occurring What are the two most common brush fuel types in Colorado? - ANSWERS-Oak brush and sagebrush Timber fuels - ANSWERS-Burns in two manners - surface and crown fires. Have high potential for high intensity burning
When is peak fire season in Colorado's high country? - ANSWERS- Late spring until mid-autumn When is peak fire season in Colorado's front range? - ANSWERS- Most large fires occur in the spring or fall, but can happen at any time when conditions are right. How does wind affect wildfire? - ANSWERS-Surface is the most important element in determining direction and rate of spread. It pushes flames into adjacent fuels, facilitating rapid ignition Tends to be the common theme of large fire events Chinook winds - ANSWERS-High-velocity, warm, dry, down-slope wind that occurs in the front range of CO Relative humidity (RH) - ANSWERS-A measure of how much moisture is in the air compared to the maximum amount of moisture the atmosphere can hold at that temperature How can RH affect wildfire? - ANSWERS-Influences the moisture content of dead fuels. When it is low, fuels can burn quicker and faster How does temperature affect wildfire? - ANSWERS-Fuels must reach ignition temperature before combustion, so the hotter it is outside, the faster this happens. When fuels are preheated, fire expends less energy and will burn at a higher intensity
Topography - ANSWERS-The shape of the land's surface How does topography affect wildfire? - ANSWERS-Influence behavior by the effects it has on wind, temperature, moisture, and the preheating of fuels Slope - ANSWERS-The angle of the ground relative to the horizon. Commonly measured in degrees or as a percent How does slope influence fire behavior? - ANSWERS-Heated air rises and preheats the fuels upslope, which causes an increase in fire spread. In lower percentage areas, preheating has little effect on fire behavior, but on steep slopes, the effect can be significant. Comparing slope degrees and slope percentages - ANSWERS- 45 degrees = 100% 22.5 degrees = 50% 9 degrees = 20% 4.5 degrees = 10% Aspect - ANSWERS-Direction that a slope faces South and southwest areas are drier and warmer than north and northeast areas Saddle - ANSWERS-A low spot on a ridge
Convective lifting and ignition - ANSWERS-Ember deposition on a flammable surface can cause ignition Fire radiant heat - ANSWERS-This can preheat or even ignite structures. This is the same process that occurs when sunlight heats an object. This type of heat energy occurs on a straight line of sight and is not affected by wind. Distance and radiant energy relationship - ANSWERS-It is an inverse relationship Doubling distance with reduce radiant heat by significantly more than half Direct contact or impingement - ANSWERS-Unmanaged vegetation to a structure provides continuous and abundant fuels, which can ignite flammable building surfaces. Direct convective lifting - ANSWERS-Fire produces hot gases that rise into the atmosphere. During a wildfire, this atmospheric effect can be very strong, even causing its own wind as cooler air rushes in to replace the rising hot air. These air currents can lift burning materials or embers. Winds can carry embers horizontally for long distances Indirect convective lifting - ANSWERS-Hot air and gasses can dry and preheat vegetation and structure, making them more susceptible to ignition as the fire gets closer
What aspect of slope has the least amount of vegetation? - ANSWERS-South facing as they tend to be hotter and drier What aspect of slope has the highest fire hazard? - ANSWERS- Southwest facing What aspect of slopes has the highest density of vegetation? - ANSWERS-North facing as they have more water available Valleys and fire behavior - ANSWERS-They tend to collect and concentrate more wind, which means that the intensity of fire can increase Canyons and fire behavior - ANSWERS-These collect and concentrate wind very extremely Ridges and fire behavior - ANSWERS-Experience more wind because they are elevated above the surrounding land. Fires gather speed and intensity as they move up. Usually offer no protection from fire. Saddles and fire behavior - ANSWERS-Natural pathways. Fire often travels first and with increased intensity along these areas. Leeward eddy - ANSWERS-Wind rolls around and comes up the other side, exposing both sides of a structure to wind and fire.
