Why Doesn't the Forest Service Just....

[TheSavage]

Why doesn't the Forest Service just bulldoze a 100 yard swath around fires to contain them?

 

[rgwalt]

You would be amazed how quickly fires spread. I wouldn't want to be the bulldozer that is down wind of that fire.

R

 

[TallBill]

they do this to their best ability, by winds will blow ash and fire accross their ditches. Its actually how they end up killing the fire, by digging and clearing. you ever try to pour water on like 40 acres?

 

[gistech1978]

ummm
they do.
its called a fire break.

and when the wind is blowing hard and trees are dry, 100 yds isnt very much distance.

 

[ragazzo]

because then you'd have to clear the trees and debris. a raging forest fire won't wait for you to finish.

 

[Ness]

Because when trees burn they leave behind a perfect fertilizer for new trees to begin growing, whereas buldozing the ground would leave a trail that might not have trees in it for a few years.

Not only that, but by the time they could bulldoze an area, the fire is usually contained. Bulldozing some small woods to clear out room for building something is NOTHING compared to buldozing a large forest that has been mostly untouched since forever.

To top it off, they would prefer to save what they can.

 

[CPA]

And how do you propose they build this trench if they have to cut it through a dense forest?

 

[Viper GTS]

Fire lines are one of their control tactics, burning a line is much faster than bulldozing. Plus fires have a nasty habit if jumping lines, changing directions, and generally making themselves extremely dangerous.

Ever seen video of a big fire? It's a terrifying thing.

Viper GTS

 

They do, that is a standard fire control method.

 

[TheSavage]

O.K> Lets go a step further. The wind is blowing - hard. You have a fire. Why don't they make a huge swath downwind, as in a line in the sand? And no, they don't do it. In the Arizona Rodeo-Chedesky fire, the bulldozer crew sat, not called on, while 500,000 acres burned.

 

Let's see, down wind of a blazing wild fire, in a huge old growth national forest.
You need extremely heavy equipment to do that, and do it FAST.
It's just not possible with the terrain they are dealing with.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: TheSavage
O.K> Lets go a step further. The wind is blowing - hard. You have a fire. Why don't they make a huge swath downwind, as in a line in the sand? And no, they don't do it. In the Arizona Rodeo-Chedesky fire, the bulldozer crew sat, not called on, while 500,000 acres burned.

get more then 20 posts before you troll n00b show us some links to some news, and even then, why wouldnt your question pertain to a news story?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: TheSavage
O.K> Lets go a step further. The wind is blowing - hard. You have a fire. Why don't they make a huge swath downwind, as in a line in the sand? And no, they don't do it. In the Arizona Rodeo-Chedesky fire, the bulldozer crew sat, not called on, while 500,000 acres burned.

You obviously know nothing about fire control techniques.

Let's leave it up to the experts, OK?

 

[gistech1978]

plus huge fires create their own wind and weather.
there really is no downwind per se with a huge fire.
they are very hard to manage and plan an attack.

 

Originally posted by: TheSavage
O.K> Lets go a step further. The wind is blowing - hard. You have a fire. Why don't they make a huge swath downwind, as in a line in the sand? And no, they don't do it. In the Arizona Rodeo-Chedesky fire, the bulldozer crew sat, not called on, while 500,000 acres burned.

Do you even know ANY of the tactics used to control such large fires? I would think not, judging from your post...stop being an idiot.

 

Originally posted by: gistech1978
plus huge fires create their own wind and weather.
there really is no downwind per se with a huge fire.
they are very hard to manage and plan an attack.

They aren't exactly going on the offensive. Many times, the best tactic is to let the damn thing burn itself out, while trying to divert it away from homes and buildings.

 

[TheSavage]

Ahh, Flame Wars. Appropriate for the thread, n'est pas?

 

Originally posted by: TheSavage
Ahh, Flame Wars. Appropriate for the thread, n'est pas?

Well you are a flamer, so it's appropriate.

 

[ggavinmoss]

What are you, some kind of armchair firefighter?

-geoff

 

[TheSavage]

Yes, I'm afraid I do have some knowledge of this particular event. I know the gentleman who ran that crew that was not called upon. He will not speak up, as he has a wife and children and does not want to be un-employed. His question is, however, vexing.

 

[Bootprint]

Must be pretty tiny trees if you can just bulldoze them.

 

Originally posted by: TheSavage
Yes, I'm afraid I do have some knowledge of this particular event. I know the gentleman who ran that crew that was not called upon. He will not speak up, as he has a wife and children and does not want to be un-employed. His question is, however, vexing.

Does he have training in the command structure, or very large tactical events? Probably not...and neither do you. You know even less than him...the ICS is complex, and requires significant training. If you friend was on the crew, more than likely he doesn't know how to control the ENTIRE situation.

 

[TheSavage]

Have you ever stood next to a D-9 Cat? Ever seen what 2 can do with a drag - link cable between them?

 

[TheSavage]

No, I do not. Neverless, it is a vexing question. No more, and no less.

 

[HamSupLo]

why do people build homes in those areas and do nothing to clear the brush until its too late? they should levy a tax on them cuz it's costing a ton of money to fight these fires every season.