Classes of fire danger in forests. Order of the Federal Forestry Agency of July 5, 2011 No. 287 "On the approval of the classification of natural forest fire danger"

The fire that occurs in the forests carries a terrible calamity. In forest fires, many trees die every year, insects, birds, animals suffer. Burn out whole villages and outskirts of small towns. Often there are cases of deaths. Not to mention an environmental disaster. After all, forests are the "lungs" of our planet.

The forest fire flares up extremely quickly, spreads with lightning speed and exposes to the complete or partial destruction of huge areas of the forest. There were cases when a fire in Russia spread to the territory of China and Mongolia. It is very difficult to control the elements, therefore, a number of departments have been set up to study and monitor forest fires. Also, quenching is monitored, and scales such as forest vegetation in a given locality are created.

Why do fires occur in the forests?

Sometimes fires occur because of the human factor: vacationers in the woods threw a cigarette butt to the grass or forgot to completely burn the fire. Even the left glass bottle can work in the sunlight like a lens, ignite the dry grass and cause forest fires. For forest workers it is important to comply with fire safety standards, since they often use fuel and lubricants for machinery.

In the fields after harvest, there is a grass that is often burned. In strong winds, the fire may spread to a nearby forest. Sometimes residents of nearby villages can burn garbage in the place where peat bogs are underground. There is also an intentional arson of the forest by entrepreneurs who subsequently count on cutting it.

There is also a number of natural causes of forest fires. In a hot dry season, the sun can burn dry or spontaneous combustion of peat bogs occurs. During a severe thunderstorm, the trees light up from the lightning bolt. Fires from them account for about 8% of all emerging environmental disasters.

Methods of detecting fires

One of the most effective ways to monitor forest fires is satellite monitoring from space, photographing the terrain in infrared light. They show areas of high temperature, which can outline the area of fire. Data processing is performed using sophisticated electronic equipment. Also from the satellite, you can additionally get information about the meteorological conditions in the area under investigation, the force and direction of the wind. The data is updated 4 times a day.

Sometimes the service appeals for help to American colleagues or to private satellite owners. Their shooting is more accurate, but, naturally, more expensive. Also, the fire zone is not always correctly identified, as a circle of a larger diameter is delineated. The large smoke content of the territory hinders the accuracy of detection. To correctly identify the area of fire, to determine the class of fire danger, you need to connect and other ways.

As an additional means of obtaining information, one can call forest monitoring from air transport. At the present time, drones are actively used, which from the air make a video recording of the terrain. Observatory points are also set in the forests. These are towers, standing at a distance of several kilometers from each other.

On them, in addition to finding observers, video cameras and communication equipment are installed. However, there are personnel problems, as the number of foresters has been reduced, and the remaining people simply do not have enough time to collect enough information. And the cameras are directed only in one direction, and this does not always justify the expectations. Also under supervision use towers of a cellular communication on which put the chambers and the gauges showing rise in temperature of air, thermal imagers.

Degree of danger

The Order of the Federal Forestry Agency of July 5, 2011 "On the approval of the classification of natural forest fire danger and classification of fire hazards in forests according to weather conditions" gives an accurate definition of the degree of fire hazard in forests, of which there are five. Depending on the type of afforestation, species and quality of trees, the presence of deadwood and peat bogs, young growth and density, a table is constructed, from which it can be inferred in which area a fire can be expected, and what strength the fire will be raging.

The highest class is assigned to strips of forest with coniferous young growth. Here in the fire-dangerous season always expect both grass-roots and mountain fires of varying degrees of complexity. Strips with planted pine, cranberry, cedar and larch trees are given a 2nd class of fire danger in the forests. In such places in the season there is a high probability of occurrence of ground fires, that is, from 0.5 to 1.5 m. To the tops, the fire rises extremely rarely, and even in case of maximum flame with severe drought and storm wind.

These fire hazard classes in forests account for almost 80% of all fires noted on the territory of the Russian Federation. The other three do not present any difficulty in extinguishing, they appear much less frequently and are extinguished more quickly. Before determining the fire hazard class in forests, the forestry is being surveyed in the areas of plantations, data are recorded and processed by special departments.

Federal scale for assessing natural hazards

On the whole territory of Russia, a natural indicator of the risk of fires is also calculated. It depends on the air temperature, meteorological conditions. In places of severe drought there is a high probability of fire. Every day, at 12 o'clock, the fire safety factor of forests is calculated by fire services.

The following data are taken for calculation: air temperature on a given day, number of days without rain and dew point. Starts counting days from the last rainy day, when the precipitation was up to 3 mm. Calculate the formula and the coefficient of natural hazard. The result is up to 300 units - there is no possibility of a fire, an indicator of more than 10,000 units indicates an extreme danger.

Types of forest fires

Depending on the height of the flames above the ground level, there are three types of fires in the forests. The lowest is an underground view. The ignition of underground deposits of peat bogs from high density and high temperature of air advances slowly, several meters a day. But since the deposits of peat are at a depth of 50 cm, such a fire is extremely difficult to extinguish.

The bottom view of the distribution of the flame in the forests reaches a maximum height of 1.5 m. The dry grass, the parrots vegetation, the young trees glow. In such a fire, not only animal burrows with cubs may suffer, but the roots and layer of the bark of large trees. And this leads to their death. Also, such a fire can catch unawares people in the forest.

The top view of the forest disaster is characterized by an extraordinary flame height. It reaches sometimes 120 meters. With such a flame, large age-old trees perish, their crowns and trunks burn out. The wall of fire with a strong wind moves with great speed. Because of the thickness of the trunks to extinguish such a fire is very difficult.

Reduction of forest loss in fires

During the year, various preventive measures are being taken. In accordance with the classes of fire danger in forests, the parameters for calculating the possible threat factor are measured. An observation is being made of the growth of trees, the appearance of coniferous undergrowth. Fire prevention methods are also being adopted to combat the spread of fire. So-called barriers for the flame are created, which are partially or stripes cuttings; Sanitation is carried out in the forests.

Fire safety points are equipped. Fires or their strong distribution can be avoided when forester is carefully monitored for the growth of young animals, cleared of the territory from dry bushes and old trees, controlled by fallen trees. Also for the same purposes are laid mineralized earth strips , at a distance of 50 meters. Several such bands are completely capable of preserving the forest and protecting it from the spread of fire.

Actions to localize fires

First you need to find a fire. After the satellite received information about the fire, it is necessary to accurately determine and, if possible, to narrow the search for it on the spot. For this, air transport is used: aircraft, fire helicopters, drones. Of great importance is the speed with which the area of the fire was discovered and the extinguishing measures were organized. Equally important is the readiness of all units of fire services in the region.

The second important stage in the repayment of fire is its localization. From all sides it is necessary to put barrier barriers. This is done so that the fire can not spread to other parts of the forest, nearby settlements, enterprises. First, the edge of the fire zone is poured by firefighters, a wet strip of land is created, the trees are moistened. Also, with the help of technology, plowing of land strips is carried out, and the surrounding area is cleared of trees and trees. When these events are held around the flames on all sides, it means that the forest fire is localized.

Elimination of fire

After the complete localization of the site, the actual burning out of the combustion area begins. Fire extinguishing is performed with ground and air extinguishing means. Are used reservoirs located near the action of fire. Special equipment flies to them and scoops up water by buckets. Then, moving over the conflagration, releases it to the burning forest.

The most recent stage in firefighting is considered to be the scourging of the territory affected by the fire. Firefighters carefully examine the area of disaster in case of a re-ignition. This should be done for a long period of time before understanding complete safety. Meteorological conditions are also taken into account. The focus is on the edges.

Additional measures

пользуются химическими средствами тушения и вызывают искусственно дождь в облаках. In the case of a severe fire, when a high fire hazard class is recorded, chemical extinguishing agents are used and cause artificial rain in the clouds. On the ground, around the fire, pour dry soil on the edge. If there are a lot of human resources, then people with large branches become perimeters and overwhelmed by fire. They can also make firings by making an empty strip. Sometimes, in difficult cases, they connect the opposite of the lower or upper fire.

How to get out of the danger zone?

If a person found himself in the forest or near peat bogs at the wrong time, when a fire broke out, then in no case should one panic. First of all, determine the direction of the wind and move to the windward side. Breathing organs must be covered with a wet towel or any part of clothing.

If you know that there is a pond nearby, you need to immediately move in his direction. When the peat is burning underground, it is necessary to move forward with a pole in your hand, gently probing the ground under your feet. The fire can smolder below, and it will be very unpleasant to fall into a burning pit.

Work with the population

People living near forests prepare themselves for fires in advance. Preventive explanatory work is carried out. If a fire broke out, the population is urgently evacuated. Take with them recommend only the most necessary.

If you could not get out, then you need to close in the room without open ventilation hatchways. You can hide in the cellar. Have water, wet bedspreads and towels. If the fire caught on the ground, then among the trees can not be. It is necessary to get out into the field, to close the respiratory system.

Also, the people involved in extinguishing are instructed. Do not pour water on electrical installations and wires. In the place of firing there should not be a technician. It is completely necessary to block the passage to the danger zone.