CBM Fire Behavior & Ecology 3

Question 1

What does 'torching' describe in the context of fire behavior?

Accepted Answer

Ignition of an individual tree or small group of trees from base to crown

Answer

Torching occurs when surface fire ignites the foliage of individual trees or small tree groups, creating tall flame columns that can promote spotting.

Question 2

In fire ecology, 'fire return interval' (FRI) refers to:

Accepted Answer

The average number of years between successive fires at a given location

Answer

Fire return interval is the average or median time between fire events at a specific location, reconstructed from fire scars or charcoal records.

Question 3

Which fuel moisture category has the SLOWEST response time to changes in atmospheric humidity?

Accepted Answer

1000-hour timelag fuels

Answer

1000-hour timelag fuels (logs and large woody debris >3 inches diameter) take approximately 1000 hours to reach equilibrium with ambient humidity conditions.

Question 4

The 'smoke column' produced by a prescribed fire can affect fire behavior by:

Accepted Answer

Creating convective updrafts that can influence wind patterns and spotting distance

Answer

A strong convection column creates intense updrafts that loft firebrands and can alter local wind patterns, sometimes drawing air inward and increasing fire intensity.

Question 5

What is 'pyrodiversity' and why is it ecologically valuable?

Accepted Answer

Variation in fire frequency, severity, and seasonality that creates a mosaic of habitat types

Answer

Pyrodiversity refers to heterogeneity in fire history across a landscape, which promotes biodiversity by creating varied structural habitats used by different species.

(CBM) Certified Burn Manager Practice Test

(CBM) Certified Burn Manager Practice Test

CBM Fire Behavior & Ecology 3