Community participation in fighting forest fires
The rains have come at last and the drought is over. The drought has been the cause of many forest fires in the recent past. The Forest Department says in the last month over 1500 acres of forest land had been destroyed by fire. The magnitude of the threat of forest fires is such that the Disaster Management Centre on the instructions of the Cabinet has drawn up a four-pronged plan to deal with forest fires in the future. Environmentalists have warned that we would have to live with this threat. Therefore let us prepare NOW for the next forest fire. The “tactics” to extinguish forest fires will depend on the “characteristics” of the fire, the “size” of the fire and the available “resources” to fight the fire.
Characteristics of forest fires
The air force, police, army and police Special Task Force were called in to help put out a fire in the Nallathanni area in the Sri Pada forest reserve in February, but 30 acres were destroyed before the fire was brought under control. File photo .
Forest fires cannot be confined to floors, walls and roofs. Therefore the traditional fire fighting systems are not effective. Forest fires have no boundaries. They can spread in any direction, for any distance. They can spread at a speed of approximately 11 kph and they can change direction suddenly. They have the ability to jump gaps, cross rivers, roads, etc. As the front of the fire approaches, it heats the trees and other combustibles in front by means of convection and thermal radiation, to temperatures that cause them to ignite even before the flames of the fire have reached them. The terrain may be “inaccessible” to vehicles and water to fight the fire is usually not available.
Size of forest fires
The size of the forest fire is required to ascertain the resources that would be required and the tactics that should be employed to fight the fire. Forest fires are grouped into seven sizes; that is A to G. The smallest size of forest fire is Category A which is less than 4 acres, size B is 4 to 10 acres, C is 10 to 99 acres, D is 100 to 299 acres, E is 300 to 999 acres, F is 1000 to 4999 acres, and a forest fire more than 5000 acres is Category G.
Resources
The traditional resources for fighting structural fires such as detection systems, call points, hose reel systems, hydrant systems, fire water sumps, are not available. The recourses available to fight forest fires are human beings and basic tools such as shovels, mammoties, axes, saws, fire beaters, etc. In recent times we have had the privilege of using helicopters. The tactics used to fight forest fires are ‘man against fire’.
Ohiya-Pattipola reserve forest fire
It is interesting to note the resources needed to fight the Ohiya-Pattipola Forest Reserve fire which is the largest forest fire in recent times. The fire occurred in August 2012. It burned for three days, and destroyed approximately 20 per cent of the forest. The relevant details are given below:
Size of Fire – Approximately 750 acres, a Category E fire. Fire Front – The “fire front” was approximately one mile long between the 141st. and the 142nd mile posts. Detection System – The fire was detected by a Railway Line Inspector at approximately 1700 hours on the 2nd Augus
Notification System – The Railway Line Inspector immediately notified his superiors. Fire Fighting Facility – The fire-fighting was done “manually” and the resources available were approximately 500 Army personnel, 600 civilians, and three Air Force helicopters. It should be noted and, appreciated that the main fire fighting resource was the human being.
Community support
This study of the fire fighting resources required to fight the largest forest fire in Sri Lanka establishes the fact that the community must be involved in forest fire fighting. The Conservator General of Forests recently stated that forest fires cannot be controlled and extinguished without “community support.” It is therefore necessary to device a method to involve the community in fighting forest fires.
Civil Defence Force
During the peak of the LTTE bombings in the city of Colombo in the mid-nineteen nineties the Ministry of Defence (MoD) decided to enlist the support of the civilian population, on a voluntary basis, to assist the ongoing operations by “providing information and patrolling the streets at night.” In order to obtain the support of the civilian population the MOD established the Civil Defence Force (CDF). Members of the CDF were proud of the fact that they could make a “contribution” however small to the war effort.
Community participation in fighting forest fires
Based on my experience as Commandant of the CDF it is my firm belief that the civilian population will lend their support and gladly assist in fighting forest fires. But they must be organized, trained, and provided leadership. Given in the figure , based on the structure of the CDF, is a “suggested structure” for the civilian participation in fighting forest fires. At the apex of the proposed structure is the Command Component, which is the Disaster Management Centre, the next level are the local Police Stations which are the administrative components and at the base is the Grama Niladhari Divisions which will establish the forest fire fighting units. Every Grama Niladhari Division should provide at least one such unit.
Forest fire fighting units-composition- training-functions
Given below are suggestions pertaining to the composition, training and basic functions of the proposed forest fire fighting units.
Volunteers – All members of these units should be volunteers.
Non-Political – One of the most important factors is that the units should be non-political. In fact there should be no discrimination at all for membership in the unit.
Training – Training should be organized by the respective Police Stations in consultation with the Grama Niladhari.
Awareness – Members of these units should advice the others of the “causes and consequences” of forest fires.
Hazard Reduction by Burning – These could be used to clear the highly combustible undergrowth in order to reduce the fuel build-up, and reduce the intensity of any probable fire.
Respond to a fire – When notified of a fire, respond immediately to a pre-determined point to be transported to the scene of the fire.
Fight the fire – Fight the fire by the “Direct Method” or the “Indirect Method.”
After the fire – After the fire “Mop Up” to ensure the fire does not re-ignite.
Identification Cards – Members of the units should be issued identification cards with photographs. This would give them a sense of belonging to an organization with a worthwhile cause and a sense of pride. Enlistment drive – In order to enlist members, it is necessary to create public awareness of the establishment of the community forest fire fighting units of the aims and functions, and most that it is a civic duty. This enlistment campaign can be conducted via the print and electronic media, leaflets, posters, etc.
(The writer is a retired Sri Lanka Air Force officer, Fellow, Institution of Fire Engineers UK, former Commandant, Civil Defence Force and presently a consultant in disaster management)