Firefighting Tactics - Why Different Tactics are Used in Different Situations

[Nolena]

Although this is from 2013, most of the definitions and information are still in current use.

https://www.firescope.org/ics-guides-and-terms/WUI-SD.pdf

It's a lot of information, but might clear up some of the "Why did they do that?" questions.

[Nolena]

Firefighting Terms: A backfire is different from firing out.
A backfire is executed near the fire front, and is influenced by the fire-generated winds, which suck the backfire in toward the fire, burning and removing oxygen from the approaching fire, so that it is starved of oxygen.
Firing Out is burning out an area of fuel ahead of the fire, so that the fire will stop there, with nothing left to burn.
A Crown Fire is a fire occurring in the treetops. (Good luck out-running or out-driving a crown fire.)

https://www.fs.fed.us/nwacfire/home/terminology.html

[Wrightwood]

Twitter
VCFD PIO?Verified account @VCFD_PIO
1 hour ago

#ThomasFire -yesterday's unprecedented 2k acre backing fire in Rose Valley had 50' flames lengths with spotting ahead of the main fire.

[Wrightwood]

Twitter
SBCFireInfo? @EliasonMike
21 hours ago

#ThomasFire- Flames from a back firing operation underway Thursday afternoon near a home off Ladera Ln near Bella Vista Drive.