Virginia Cooperative Extension - Knowledge
   for the CommonWealth

A Handbook for Forest Vegetation Management in Recreation and Historic Parks

Authors: Amy C. Helms, former Graduate Research Assistant and James E. Johnson, Extension Forester, College of Forestry and Wildlife Resources

Publication Number 420-143, October 1996


Table 6. Fire suppression of flame length and fireline intensity (Source: Andrews 1986).

Flame Length Fireline Intensity Interpretation
Ft Btu/ft/s
< 4 < 100 Fire can generally be attacked at the head or flanks by persons using handtools.
4 - 8 100 - 500 Fires are too intense for direct attack on the head by persons using handtools.

Hand line cannot be relied on to hold a fire.

Equipment such as plows, dozers, pumpers and retardant aircraft can be effective.

8 - 11 500 - 1000 Fires may present serious control problems - torching out, crowning and spotting.

Control efforts at the fire head will probably be ineffective.

> 11 > 1000 Crowning, spotting, and major fire runs are probable.

Control efforts at head of fire are ineffective.

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