Assignment:
Instructions
There are three scenarios pictured below. For each scenario, you will first assess fuels, topography, and weather. Then you will make some predictions of how the fire will spread relative to the location indicated with a purple heart. Also note, the compass in the top right corner, the blue arrows representing wind direction, stated wind speed, stated temperature, and stated humidity. I am not expecting perfect answers, not all variables can be assessed or are 100% clear. Do the best you can with the images provided. I will be grading based on how much effort you put into connecting the scenarios to content covered in this weeks lecture. If you want to discuss your answers with fellow students before submitting, use the unit 1 open discussion. In addition, I have created study teams/groups that you can contact as well (posted in Unit 0) through the canvas inbox. For each scenario please answer the following questions:
1. What do you notice about fuels (specifically: size and shape, loading, and horizontal continuity)?
2. What do you notice about topography where the heart location is (specifically: is it on a slope (top, middle, bottom, or not on a slope), does it have a clear aspect (yes, no), what are the shapes around it (just a general description here), note the elevation (bottom right))?
3. Are there any barriers between the fire and the heart location? If so, what is it, is it natural or man-made, and how robust of a barrier do you think it is (for example, a paved highway would be more robust than a single lane dirt road)?
4. Based on the stated weather, what would you say about the general danger about the fire spreading?
5. Assuming firefighters were called as soon as the fire was started, what do you think the chances are of the heart locations survival?