CBM Prescribed Burn Planning & Implementation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which section of a prescribed burn plan documents the minimum and maximum weather parameters under which the burn may proceed?
- Prescription window (Correct answer)
- Smoke management section
- Site description
- Post-burn monitoring plan
Correct answer: Prescription window
The prescription window defines the acceptable range of weather parameters (wind speed, relative humidity, temperature, ERC) that must be met before ignition.
Question 2: A burn boss determines that smoke from a planned burn will impact a Class I airshed. What is the MOST appropriate action?
- Cancel or reschedule the burn to avoid Class I area impacts (Correct answer)
- Proceed if wind speeds are above 10 mph to disperse smoke quickly
- Reduce the ignition pattern to lower smoke output and proceed
- Notify the nearest National Park and proceed as planned
Correct answer: Cancel or reschedule the burn to avoid Class I area impacts
Class I airsheds receive the highest level of air quality protection, and burns that would significantly impact them should be cancelled or rescheduled.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of conducting a test fire at the start of a prescribed burn?
- To verify actual fire behavior matches prescription predictions before full ignition (Correct answer)
- To train new crew members in ignition techniques
- To establish a black line along the perimeter
- To satisfy regulatory notification requirements
Correct answer: To verify actual fire behavior matches prescription predictions before full ignition
A test fire validates that fire behavior, smoke dispersal, and fuel moisture conditions actually match what was predicted in the burn plan.
Question 4: During a prescribed burn, a crew member reports that fire intensity has doubled in the past 15 minutes with no change in weather. What should the burn boss consider first?
- Possible shift in fine fuel moisture or undetected fuel continuity (Correct answer)
- Equipment malfunction causing inaccurate fire behavior readings
- Normal afternoon heating cycle increasing rate of spread
- Ignition crew applying too much accelerant
Correct answer: Possible shift in fine fuel moisture or undetected fuel continuity
Unexpected increases in fire intensity often indicate that actual fuel moisture or fuel loading differs from plan assumptions, requiring immediate reassessment.
Question 5: Which ignition technique is BEST suited for backing fires to maintain low intensity under prescription in heavy fuel loads?
- Flank ignition from the downwind end toward the wind (Correct answer)
- Aerial ignition using a helitorch
- Strip-head fire ignition from the upwind end
- Ring firing from the center outward
Correct answer: Flank ignition from the downwind end toward the wind
Backing fires ignited from the downwind end burn against the wind at lower intensity, making them more controllable in heavy fuels.
Question 6: What does the term 'holding resources' refer to in prescribed burn implementation?
- Personnel and equipment positioned to prevent fire escape (Correct answer)
- Resources held in reserve at a staging area for emergency deployment
- Equipment used to hold firebreaks open during the burn
- Documentation maintained during the burn for liability purposes
Correct answer: Personnel and equipment positioned to prevent fire escape
Holding resources are the personnel and equipment strategically positioned along control lines to detect and suppress any fire escape before it breaches the perimeter.
Question 7: A prescribed burn plan calls for a smoke-sensitive receptor within 1 mile of the burn unit. Which plan element MOST directly addresses this concern?
- Smoke management plan specifying wind direction requirements and notification procedures (Correct answer)
- Fuel moisture sampling protocol to reduce smoke production
- Mop-up procedures to minimize residual smoke
- Contingency plan for escape fire suppression
Correct answer: Smoke management plan specifying wind direction requirements and notification procedures
The smoke management plan identifies sensitive receptors, specifies acceptable wind directions to carry smoke away, and details public notification requirements.
CBM Prescribed Burn Planning & Implementation 2
Which section of a prescribed burn plan documents the minimum and maximum weather parameters under which the burn may proceed?