| Fire
Behavior Tactics Course
Fire
Behavior Tactics using the CPS
View the CPS Training Slide Show
The course has been six years in the making and has been given to
about 700 firefighters in 1995. The CPS has been used with success
on some of the largest complex fires in the past 10 years. In 1994,
on the Klamath Forest, the Dillon fire made a run burning over the
line in three divisions. There was 72 firefighters on the fire lines
above the fire. The CPS displayed the potential and recommended
evacuation of three divisions. Time tagged tactics saved firefighters
from having to deploy to save their lives.
The Campbell Prediction System
Book and a set of exercise handouts for each student is included
in the course. There are over 360 + computer generated graphics
as well as videos of wildfire incidents to convey the information
and assure the student sees the application in real situations.
The Fire Behavior Tactics using the CPS course is offered in two
day and 40 hour sessions. The two day program allows for interaction.
A train the trainer program is available. The book is sold separately
and is $20 each plus shipping of $4.00 each. If your priorities
will not allow the costs of training, the book is a good investment
in itself.
Course
Description
The course begins by teaching students how to determine the potential
of the fire. Students come to understand the fire that is before
them by observing the fire scene and using special fireground logic.
The student is taught to isolate the causes of fire behavior changes,
to keep it as simple as possible. They are taught to point out the
time and places of potential fire behavior change, and to identify
when and where there may be danger or control opportunities.
The fire behavior prediction that firefighters need to make is when
and where will the fire become worse or easier. The course stresses
that tactics need to be based on the fire behavior potential. Proper
tactics will prevail over the situation and poor tactics will fail.
The course teaches firefighters how to communicate this knowledge
in clear, concise terms.
This popular course has been presented for the past six years to
the Forest Service, BLM, NPS, CDF and numerous Fire Departments.
Evaluations of the course by trainees show HIGH marks for course
content and VERY HIGH ratings for the course's usefulness. Smoke
jumpers and Hot Shot crews have found the course to be just what
they have been needing. The State Fire Marshall has installed the
course in the State Fire Academy at Asilomar California as a 40
hour course.
Course
Outline
A. INSTRUCTOR INTRODUCTIONS AND COURSE OBJECTIVES
B. INTRODUCTION TO CPS - Mission & Vision
UNITS
1. PERCEPTIONS AND FACT
2. CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS
3. THE ALIGNMENT OF FORCES
4. HOW TO CHOOSE CORRECT TACTICS
5. ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE
6. NEW TOOLS FOR PREDICTIONS
7. USING CPS ON THE DILLON FIRE EXERCISE
8. THE COURSE SUMMARY
9. FINAL TEST AND COURSE EVALUATION
10. HANDOUT MASTER AND NOTES
Course
Objectives
Upon completion of the training in The Campbell Prediction
System, the trainees will have the information to enable them to:
- Describe
the cause and effect relationship between the atmosphere and forest
fuels.
- Make
proper observations of the fire and fireground and use the information
gained to make field predictions.
- Communicate
using CPS logic rather than rely on ("go there and do that")
commands based on personal intuition.
- Display
primary forces, which determine the fire's high intensity path,
using contour maps.
- Use
their observations of the fire and the CPS language to explain
fire behavior potential.
Student
Requirements
Students will be evaluated by their participation in the open
discussions and by their score on a final test where 16 of 22 questions
must be answered correctly. Participants will be asked to fill out
a course evaluation, which will be used by the instructors to improve
the course. Students will be encouraged to write for clarification
of any of the subject matter presented. The instructor will respond.
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