NWCG FFT1/FFT2 flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

LCES

Lookouts, Communications, Escape routes, and Safety zones. These four elements must be established and re-verified whenever fire behavior, weather, or tactics change on the line.

Watch Out Situations

Eighteen standardized red-flag conditions used to prompt reassessment. Any single one warrants a pause; combinations of several mean disengage and re-plan.

Safety zone rule of thumb

A safety zone should be at least four times the maximum flame height in an area free of heavy fuels, with the distance measured from the flames, not the line.

Fire shelter deployment

Last resort. Deploy in a cleared area, face down, feet toward the fire, hands beside the head, breathe through the nose, and remain under the shelter until heat subsides.

Trigger point

A pre-set threshold such as wind speed, flame length, or time of day that forces a pre-planned action. Set trigger points before engagement, not during a run.

Fire behavior triangle

Weather, fuels, and topography drive fire behavior. The fire triangle (heat, fuel, oxygen) explains combustion; the behavior triangle explains spread and intensity.

Extreme fire behavior indicators

Crowning, long-range spotting, firewhirls, column collapse, rapid direction change, and a well-developed convection column. Any of these means direct attack is unsafe.

Fuel model

A standardized description of fuel load, depth, and arrangement used to predict fire behavior. Examples include grass (1), chaparral (4), timber litter (10), and slash (11-13).

Relative humidity and fuel moisture

Relative humidity below 30% and 10-hour fuel moisture below 8% generally indicate high fire danger. Measure with a belt weather kit and record on the fire behavior worksheet.

Slope effect on spread

Rate of spread roughly doubles for every 10-degree increase in slope on a given fuel bed, because upslope fuels are preheated and aligned with the flame.

Anchor point

A natural or constructed barrier such as a road, black area, rock, or water where line construction starts, ensuring the fire cannot burn behind the crew.

Handline width rule

Line width should be about 1.5 times the flame length, with mineral soil cleared to the fire's edge and no overhanging fuels inside the line.

Mop-up standard

Check about 100 feet in from the line for most fuels, more on steep slopes or heavy fuels. Test for heat with the back of the hand before declaring the line out.

Holding force

A crew with water and tools assigned to a completed line segment. A line that is not held is not a line, because it can be lost to spots or slop-over.

Direct attack limit

Direct attack is generally safe when flame length is under about 4 feet and the line can be worked safely. Above that, use indirect or parallel attack with heavy equipment or aviation.

Pulaski and McLeod

The Pulaski has an axe and grub hoe for cutting and scraping. The McLeod has a flat rake and hoe for scraping and raking. Both are core handline tools.

Chainsaw safety

Wear chaps, eye and ear protection, and a hard hat. Clear a two-tree-length escape path before every cut, and never cut alone on the fireline.

Wildland pump output

A typical wildland pump delivers about 20-50 gallons per minute at 100-200 psi. Pressure drops with elevation gain and friction loss in long hose lays.

Backpack pump capacity

A standard backpack pump holds about 5 gallons. Refill from the nearest water source or engine, and log the source because resupply distance drives mop-up pace.

Emergency traffic

A radio priority for mayday, entrapment, or injury. Say "emergency traffic," keep the channel clear, and confirm receipt with a read-back for critical messages.

Radio identification

Identify yourself, the addressee, and the message. Use plain language, avoid codes, and confirm receipt with a read-back for critical traffic.

Situational awareness report

Report what you see, where you are, and what you need: location, fire behavior, resources on scene, and the action requested from dispatch or the supervisor.

ICS five functions

Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration. The system is modular, so functions are added as the incident grows.

Span of control

Three to seven subordinates per supervisor, with five as the target. Expand the organization by adding divisions or groups rather than widening spans.

Unity of command

Report to one supervisor only. If you must go outside the chain, notify your supervisor afterward. Unity of command prevents freelancing and conflicting orders.

Structure triage categories

Defensible and safe to defend, defensible but needs preparation, and not defensible - leave. Triage is done before engagement, not after the fire arrives.

Defensible space

Clear fuels within at least 30 feet of the structure and reduce fuels 30-100 feet out. Keep the zone between the structure and the safety zone passable.

Structure defense condition

A structure is defensible only with a water supply and an escape route. If either is missing, do not commit the crew to defend it.

Helicopter safe approach

Approach only when signaled by the pilot or crew, from the side, low and slow, never toward the tail rotor and never uphill toward the aircraft.

Helicopter landing zone

At least 100 feet by 100 feet, clear of obstacles, marked, with the approach path into the wind and no loose debris that can be blown by rotor wash.

Work/rest ratio

Typically 2:1 for arduous duty, such as 2 hours work to 1 hour rest, adjusted for heat, elevation, and PPE. Fatigue is a recognized accident cause.

Task book sign-off

Each task is signed by a qualified evaluator after observed performance. The completed book goes to the certifying official, and entries must be dated and specific.