Νέεςδεξιότητεςγιανέεςθέσειςεργασίαςστοντομέατωνδασών
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Forest protection and Volunteerism CHAPTER 2.1: FOREST FIRE PREVENTION 2.1.1. European Mediterranean forest ecosystems Introduction The European Mediterranean forests and forest areas belong to the most important ecosystems in the Mediterranean, with more than 25.000 flora species appearing here, more than half thereof being endemic, thus offering unique biodiversity, ecological functions and cultural values. Most natural biocommunities within the Mediterranean basin have sustained degradation or permanent spoilage. The ecoarea is threatened by its continuing conversion to pasture and urban or farming areas. Frequent fires, logging at the remaining forest areas involving indigenous and exotic tree species, as well as intensive grazing also constitute threats. Forest Areas in Europe The ownership status of forests affects the prevention mode against forest fires. Depending on whether the land is public or private, diverse approaches are noted in management. Entities managing privately owned forests have increased autonomy. In cases of public forest areas, prevention responsibility is witniessed many times to be shared between different public agencies. With regard to the ownership status in Europe, we determine significant differences in forest ownership distribution, even within the five (5) countries where our research was conducted. From European countries, excluding Russia and Turkey, where forest ownership is entirely public, we see then that Portugal has a minimal percentage (4%) of public forests, while on the contrary over 75% of forests belong to the state in Greece. From the remaining partner states of the program, public forests are 40,49% for Cyprus, 39% for Spain, 28% for Italy, which are in an intermediate state, with a prevailing percentage of private forests though. It has to be noted that an ownership right does not entail an absolute right for utilization and such an example is Greece, where management of private forests is subject to approvals by the State Forestry Agency. The following table shows the percentile distribution of the ownership staus in European countries for 2005. (source FAO)
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Given that the pbject of our course is Forest Fire Prevention, we cite underneath a map of burnt areas for the year 2010 originating from http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/effis/, where it is evident that almost all European countries face the problem of fires, Mediterranean areas though face a greater problem and particularly Greece and Portugal, with a burnt area exceeding 30.000 hectares, as shown in the map.
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2.1.2. General practices for prevention in Europe The practices for managing forest risk tend to converge during the last years, both in Europe as well as globally. Two general categories are distinguished for activities in the prevention field at the Mediterranean space: a) Activities aiming at the causes of forest fires (primarily man-made ones). b) Activities aiming at reducing forest flammability. Information campaigns for the public are very common during the summer period, primarily at the European south, with a though use of mass media, primarily television, but radio as well. These campaigns are mainly addressed to city residents and aim at reducing fires starting due to negligence. Information recipient is the entire age span of the population (with an emphasis on school age with adapoted programs), while in the European south tourists form the target of information. All means for mass information of the public are used at information campaigns, including the press and electronic media, information tables and more. The legal framework has been enriched during the last decades by enacting prevention rules. 4
At the Mediterranean countries such rules targeting the wide public include: – Prohibition of entry in forests, mainly for vehicles, during specific days and hours (Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Cyprus), – Prohibition of smoking, – Prohibition of using fire even in private space. In their majoriy European countries, primarily in the Mediterranean, adopt effective practices at a prevention and extinguishing level, earmarking significant funds for managing forest fire risk. With regard to the legal framework, regulations providing for penalties in case of starting a fire, even if caused by negligence, exist in all European countries. Additionally, all European countries utilize models and maps for fire risk anticipation, based on weather condition forecasts. Mediterranean countries (mostly France, Spain, Italy, Israel and Greece) utilize these systems more extensively for support at decision making and strategically placing firefighting forces. In parallel, new stations are installed for monitoring weather conditions such as temperature, humidity and wind. In addition, the practice of patrolling and monitoring watch towers is utilized, which, except for the Mediterranean area, has expanded to northern European countires, as well as other non European countries such as Morocco, Syria, Turkey and more. In the last years several countries (Greece, Spain, Poland and others) utilize automated systems for fire detection using optical or infrared cameras, either as pilot run or in systematic use. Additionally, due to increased problems out of forest fires, south European countries utilize more airborne means per unit of forest area than the northern European countries. Monitoring by airborne means has been test run in some of them (primarily Italy and Spain). The most important contribution in the filed of monitoring, however, originates from experienced surfacebased teams patrolling in the forest areas. In general, forest management is performed in a relatively similar manner around the Mediterranean countries, mainly in the prevention field.
Use of controlled fires
Controlled grazing Fuel management activities
Tree pruning
Bush clearing
Pic. 4. The most widespread practices of fuel management followed in Mediterranean countries (Dimitrakopoulos and Mitsopoulos 2006). 5
Prevention is based on: the creation of firebreaks, water storage at specific places inside forest areas, clearing – pruning, controlled grazing. In general, the management of fire extinguishing means and prevention networks constitutes a major issue, since in many cases the agencies creating them are not the same with the ones managing or maintain them. Both in European as well as Mediterranean countries two systems are found in fire risk management: a) Systems where forestry agencies are responsible both for prevention as well as extinguishing b) Systems where forestry agencies are responsible on,y for prevention, while the responsibility for extinguishing is borne by the fire brigade. The latter system prvailed in Greece too after the reform of 1998. In some countires this mixed standard (b) is even more complicated, since it involves local authorities, which assume an important role in protection. In the last years the trend with European countries is that the management of firefighting activities be a responsibility of the fire brigade. In parallel forestry agencies, mainly in southern countries, are occupied with concluding prevention activities or, in some cases, fire detection and forest monitoring. In some countries of the European north, forestry agencies have a significant contribution as advisors during the extinguishing activities.
Common fire extinguishing trends in the Mediterranean area
In the Mediterranean area three different trends coexist in the fire extinguishing field (Dimitrakopoulos and Mitsopoulos 2006) (Pic. 5).
Responsibility from central to regional services
Increased use of private means and entities
Fire extinguishing passes from forestry agencies to the fire brigade
Pic. 5. Main trends in the forest fire extinguishing field around the Mediterranean (Dimitrakopoulos και Mitsopoulos 2006). In the last years investment in technologically advanced alarm systems (cameras and GIS) has increased, however no respective increase was noted in expenditure for basic prevention works, such as clearing and pruning. 6
It is particularly important to stress that there si no community contribution within the cost of extinguishing operations. Despite this, solidarity is expressed mainly through bilateral country relations, through existing bilateral agreements for mutual aid. These operations have been increased and intensified during the last years by increasing the numbers of available aircraft. It is estimated that the 5 Mediterranean countries: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece spend approximately 2,5 billion € annhually for prevention and suppression, out of which 60% is spent for equipment, employees and extinguishing operations, while the rest on prevention. 2.1.2.1 The examples of European Mediterranean countries and Switzerland (partners in the DRYMOS program) Portugal Considered a Mediterranean country even though its coast lies on the Atlantic Ocean, due to its incorporation in the greater Iberian peninsula. Despite its climatic influence from the Atlantic Ocean, it suffers most fires, especially in its northern part, albeit with the smallest annual burnt area. Management and recording of burnt areas is undertaken by the Direcção-Geraldas Florestas (Portuguese Forest Service) in cooperation with the Technical University of Lisbon (Universidade Técnicade Lisboa) via Remote Sensing since 1990. The emergency plan is called: SIOPS – Integrated System for Relief and Protection Operations and is a set of rules where activities of each agency and the hierarchy are listed. Management of large fires and application of the above plan on a national and local level is performed by the National Co-ordination Operational Centre (CCON) and the local Co-ordination Operational Centres (CCO). The Ministry of Agricultural Development (Ministerioda Agricultura) is responsible for fire prevention and detection. It also has the responsibility for coordination of the observation posts (approximately 240), which cover the entire country and operate around the clock during the fire season. From 2000 on, Direcção-Geraldas Florestas tries a system for automatic detection of fires. With regard to prevention strategies enforced in the country, main tools are the Regional Forest Management Plans since 1999 (Dimitrakopoulos and Mitsopoulos 2006), supported by scientific teams, which aim at reducing the negative impact of fires upon ecosystems. These plans are in GIS format. These plans are prepared by the Local Administration Services. The structure of Forestry Services in Portugal is based on a Central Office in Lisbon and three regional offices, each one administratively heading 7 regional subdirectorates. These regional subdirectorates are responsible for promoting the Regional Plans for Forest Management. Recently, a Subdirectorate for Forest Fire Prevention was established under the General Secretariat for Forestry Resources, in order to implement the execution of the National Plan for the Prevention and Management of Forest Fires. The Regional Plans for Forest Management specify also the design of the primary and secondary firebreak network, in order to achieve the promotion for distribution of farm land and control of large fire spreading through the reduction of forest fuel. There is also the perception that the solution for the problem of forest fires is to be found in promoting private management of forests, even if this is considered a medium-term solution. There is currently development for a number of motives, such as the reduction of VAT for 7
forestry prevention services as well as financial support for installing “Integrated Forest Zones�, which unite a big number of forest space with limited area, for management purposes. These zones have a minimum size of 1.000 hectares, a size considered as the minimum requirement for a professional management of forest resources as well as planning of fire prevention on a local level. On a Municipality level, Forest Fire Prevention plans include the designation of dangerous areas and the enactment of a strategy for managing forest fuel. These plans specify techniques of controlled burning, grazing and mechanical interventions on a local level. Ways are planned to manage forest fuel at the interfaces between forest and urban areas, as well as infrastructure for the immediate suppression of fires (water outlet spots, watchtowers, forest roads and firebreaks). Firebreaks constitute the most widely used method for managing forest fuel in Portugal, mainly at mountainous areas, public land and eucalyptus plantations of pulp and paper companies. The promotion of controlled cattle grazing also begins at a local level. At strategic areas the forest fuel management technique using human resources is applied. Recently, Portugal began to emphasize on the renewed introduction of the controlled fire (Drawing 4) and for this purpose an extensive training program for forest rangers and volunteers has begun. To support this initiative an experience exchange program is drawn up with the United States Forestry Service (USFS).
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Drawing 4 One of the first controlled fires that took place in Portugal in 2006, with the collaboration of experts on controlled fires from the United States Forestry Service (Photo: Mike Crook (USFS)) Spain In Spain the responsibility for avoiding forest fires belongs to its 17 autonomous areas. Each area has its own regulations and rules for managing forest fuel and so, the methods, intensity and budget assigned varies between areas. Out of the 26 million hectares in total designated as forest areas, 18 million hectares are private. Their owners are responsible for ecosystem exploitation and maintenance, and are also responsible for managing forest fuel. Despite the fact that special regulations are enacted in areas affected more by forest fires, their owners do not react in the same way regarding management of forest fuel. Thus, methods and rates for handling this problem vary from an area to another. Each area, according to legislation, must have a plan for the prevention of forest fires, which shall feature a chapter with preventive measures and activities for managing forest fuel. Nevertheless, common targets are adopted, mainly due to the annual CLIF conference hosted by the Environment Ministry, where the most significant priorities – targets for all autonomous areas are discussed and defined. Today a new practice started being applied: it is the mechanical removal of rapidly developing bushes and their use at energy production plants with biomass. Forest clusters belonging to and managed by the State are subject to periodic silviculturist management methods, such as pruning, thinning and removal of vegetation. On the contrary, clearing and pruning are rather limited at private forests, except for specific cases, where numerous owners cooperate with one another for managing their forests. Construction of firebreaks constitutes probably the most common measure for controlling forest fuel in Spain. All areas in Spain with an inclination towards fire are crossed by linear firebreaks. Its main target is the partition of land into small pieces in order to minimize the spread of big fires. The necessary maintenance of firebreaks consumes a big part of the budget available for the total management of combustible material. Other practices for managing combustible material include the mechanical and manual removal of these materials around main traffic arteries, as well as areas where high voltage (1.000– 220.000V) cableware travels. In addition, forestry in Spain takes into consideration the need to decrease fire risks. The relevant activities include the removal of bushes, the thinning of trees, the pruning of low branches and take place in special interest areas (Drawing 5).
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Drawing 5 An example of forestry management aiming at reducing the risk for crown forest fires in the Spanish island of Tenerife. Italy The 20 Administrative Regions of Italy possess exclusive administrative competencies with respect to forest areas located within their geographic boundaries. They are also responsible for forest fire protection and are supported by the National Forestry Service through special agreemetns concluded on a regional level. In Italy, legislative provisions concerning forest fires have been mainly enacted by Law 353/2000, which madates that each Region bears the responsibility for drawing up a Fire Management Plan for its geographic territory. This plan must specify priorities and arrange all activities concerning fire protection, including interventions on forest areas. The said law is inspired by the principle that the optimal approach for forest protection against fires is the promotion and provision of motives for preventive activities, instead of simply focusing efforts on fire suppression. Despite this declared target, neither the law itself nor its special provisions analyze the issue of combustible material management for the prevention of forest fires. The law simply states that each separate regional plan must provide for forestry activities about the cleaning and management of forest areas. The biggest investment still takes place in the field of forest firefighting, with amounts available for preventive activities varying between Regions. 10
To reduce the risk of spreading fire from farming to forest areas, harvest and grazing areas are constructed in several areas along ploughed and abandoned ground located next to forests (Drawing 6).
Drawing 6 Harvest zone separating a forest from a farming area in Italy. Each regional plan, must also provide for cleaning and management interventions in areas presenting the greater risks regarding the breakout of forest fires. National legislation mentions no option for utilizing controlled fires, it is then up to each Region to adopt the use of controlled fires within the fire management plan drawn up by the Region itself. Today, only few Regions have plans in effect that allow and regulate the use of the controlled fire technique. For these reasons, and due to a wider distrust prevailing with regard to fires for ecological and management purposes, controlled burn is not applied in Italy. France France is the most active in South Europe in the field of forest fuel management. The French approach is that the fight against fires demands a strategy, which requires the preparation of forest areas for fire suppression purposes, in order to achieve effective extinguishing operations as well as firefighter safety. In this perspective, the core of French strategy in fire management is the “division of forest areas� (Drawing 2).
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Drawing 2 The concept of “forest area partitioning” in France. “Tools” for implementing partitioning of forest areas are firebreaks and firefighting zones. In addition, as part of the total strategy, protection of the human capital constitutes a priority. The “let it burn” policy is enforced on a very limited scale and is particularly difficult because human capital is large and distributed across most forests. In France a “workgroup on firebreaks” has been founded. This Group focuses on the: – Construction of firebreaks, – Maintenance of firebreaks, – Analysis of real case studies, – Financial evaluation of firebreaks, – Draw up of national standards for the forest fuel management “tools” (such as firebreaks), where they will be practically applied. Firebreaks are made by forest authorities in collaboration with firefighters (Civil Protection), in order to taken into consideration requirements by the latter.
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Drawing 3 The concept of the firebreak network in France Their construction takes place considering the fire suppression strategy. Necessary elements, such as water provision, access (roads), street labelling etc., have to be available throughout the entire length of the firebreak. Basic approach for firebreak maintenance is mechanization, where feasible, but for this purpose grazing and livestock are also utilized. Controlled burn is also used to a certain extent and its application is on the rise. Naturally, when this method is chosen, diverse social limitations must be taken into consideration. In a survey conducted in 1999 at nine firebreaks in France, which evaluated the construction (amortization), maintenance cost, as well as grazing results and other cost factors during a period of 5 to 15 years, found that the annual cost of a firebreak with an area of 30 to 40 hectares is equal to one-hour flight cost of an aircraft performing three drops of fire-retardant material. Agencies entrusted with fire protection engage mainly in 3 activities (Dimitrakopoulos and Mitsopoulos 2006) (Pic. 6): i. Training upon firefighting protection topics. Campaigns are organized each year, reminding the public of its obligations, e.g. home owners at forest areas are obligated (annually) to create a firebreak (Fuel Break) 50 meters from their home. ii. Monitoring of forest areas for the purpose of early detection. For this activity, all services are activated: gendarmerie, police, forestry service, Administration for agriculture and forestry, fire brigade, owners of forest areas and hunter clubs.
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iii. Management of combustible material. Measures planned on a forest inspectorate level (e.g. Fuel Breaks).
Fire Protection Approaches
Training
Monitoring of forest areas
Fuel mamagement
Pic. 6. The three main approaches to fire protrction applied in France (Dimitrakopoulos and Mitsopoulos 2006). At the same time research is conducted for methods more direct and of lower cost. These activities form the responsibility of L’ Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA). Additionally, methods are applied short term based on clearing areas through grazing by household animals (17.000 ha annually). Local authorities are responsible since 1992 to form risk zones and protect forest areas from home construction therein; they are similarily responsible for managing their land fills. Responsible for fire extinguishing is the Fire Brigade. Fire detection at high risk areas in the southern part of the country is mainly done with : • Observation posts across the entire area • Fire Spotting Planes • Patrol by teams having a rapid intervention capability, since they carry a quantity of water (Rapid initial attack). At medium risk areas, detection is performed solely by observation posts. Greece In Greece, responsibility for forest fire extinguishing has passed from the Forestry Service to the Fire Brigade since 1998. Funding for prevention activities has been reduced. Entities of Local Government, Local Administration Leagues and protected area Management Entities perform important prevention works, having practically substituted the forestry service, to a significant extent. The General Secretariat for Civil Protection, established in the late 90’s, attempts to organise the cooperation between all entities involved in managing fires. The Secretariat hosts public training programs, as well as prevention campaigns each summer, coordinates overall planning, 14
and in relation to reducing fire risk, distributes some prevention funds to local authorities for fuel management works, mainly in areas neighboring with settlements or located across road networks. The forest road network is quite dense. Clearing the vegetation at the edges of forest and farming roads, either by mechanical means or manually, creates zones of limited fire risk.
Drawing 7 An example from mount Parnes, close to Athens: removal of understory vegetation around widely used forest, and collection of emerging biomass. Grazing by ovine/caprine in forest areas constitutes a usual practice in Greece. In all geographic areas of the country, the amount of animals exceeds the grazing load of the land available. This high pressure by grazing has obvious negative ecological impacts, but it also keeps combustible material under control. On the other hand, fires ignited by herdsmen for the purpose of regenerating vegetation on bushland subject to extensive grazing, constitute a significant problem, since they represent a percentage in excess of 10%, which perhaps nears 20% of fires registered as “cause unknown�, allover the country (Drawing 8).
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Drawing 8 Two small burnt areas next to an ovine/caprine herd in western Crete, Greece.
Cyprus Forest fires are one of the most important types of natural disasters in Cyprus and with certainty one very decisive factor for the development of forests in the area, since dry and extensive summers create conditions suitable for the rapid spread of fires. In the prevention sector, the main activities are run by the Forestry Department of the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, which prioritizes the rapid detection and intervention for extinguishing the fire (Dimitrakopoulos and Mitsopoulos 2006). Examples of such activities are the: • Readiness of firefighting equipment (airborne forces, terrestrial means), • Keeping firefighter teams, • Creation of forest roads for bolstering patrol and immediate intervention, • Creation of fire breaks, • Preserving a network of observation stations and watchtowers, • Preserving networks of water tanks, • Retaining personnel for patrol and immediate intervention for extinguishing, • Information campaigns at schools and emergency services. Some activities are supported by the Fire Brigade. Risk distribution is calculated daily during the firefighting season (April – November) and announced to citizens through mass media. Additionally, the Forestry Department designs and implements information and training programs for the general public with lectures, presentations and advertising in the press. In regard to planning, the Forestry Department in cooperation with the fire brigade prepared the «Pancyprian Fire Protection Plan» (Dimitrakopoulos and Mitsopoulos 2006). With regard to the detection of new hearts (of fire) the Forestry Department has proceeded to the systematic installation of observation posts and automatic detection systems. 16
The Forestry Department is responsible for preparing and applying the forestry policy and the forestry legislation, the management of public forests and the reforestation scheduling. The major responsibility for collecting and processing data concerning fires is borne by the Forestry Department in the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Ministry. Non-governmental organizations and volunteer groups are complementary active and support the prevention sector. For the fire extinguishing sector a series of government agencies are active, with main ones being the Fire Brigade, the Forestry Service and civil defense forces. Fires in forest areas are mainly the responsibility of the Forestry Department in the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Ministry. Fires at farming areas or mixed forest and farming ones (at a distance greater than 1 kilometer from forest areas) are the responsibility of the Cypriot Fire Brigade, which belongs to the Ministry of Justice and Public Order. For these two kinds of fires, the civil defense agencies participate by supporting the services bearing the main responsibilty for fire extinguishing. Since 2001 the special force of EMAK (Special Units for Disaster Handling) was founded, which supports emergency operations by means of its special training. All personnel occupied in the service receives regualr training. Its forces are distributed in proportion with the risk level across the 5 administrative areas in Cyprus.
Switzerland In Switzerland the main action for fire prevention takes place by reducing fuel at particularly sensitive areas, such as across the road network, on the border of settlements and in forests of extraordinary ecological value. During periods of high fire risk, radio and television stations announce the absolute prohibition of any burn outdoors. The fire brigade is the head organization responsible for fire extinguishing activities. Primary firefighter unit is terrestrial forces, aided by helicopters in some cases only. Aitborne means are engaged and managed by the fire brigade too. On the contrary, the forestry service is responsible for the following: • Management of combustible material, • Capture of the combustible material, • Planning of water supply spots, both concerning their spatial dispersion as well as their technical specifications, • Planning of supply spots and helicopter/general airborne means landing sites, • Design of prevention infrastructure. During a fire incident and while fire suppression activities last, forestry services act as advisors ofr the fire brigade. Ofcourse, the role of forestry services in relation to the one of fire extinguishing is absolutely separate. The weather service (Meteo Swiss) is responsible for the prediction and announcement of high risk seasons. In the last years plans for managing fire risk are drawn up at regional (cantons) and local level (cities, settlements etc.)
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2.1.3. How Prevention is made Even if forest fires are an integral part of certain forest ecosystems, such as the Mediterranean ones (Trabaud 1994, Pausas and Vallejo 1999), nevertheless forests and neighboring societies are extensively affected by the disaster caused by forest fires, both in regard to human and financial losses (Athanasiou and Xanthopoulos 2010) as well as the important environment impact (Lavee et al. 1995, Shakesby and Doerr 2006). Particularly in the Mediterranean space, vulnerability is particularly enhanced by the increased socio-economic activity of the local societies (Sebastian-Lopez et al. 2008) and the unique biodiversity (Pausas et al. 2008). Targeting the reduction of fire risk and its impact, countries make efforts for tackling the problem by investigating a number of different strategies and techniques. This tactics is applied at several levels of public administration, depending on their capabilities, resources and entity training, as well as other factors having to do with the nature and the extent of the problem (Sapountzaki et al. 2011). The largest percentage of forest fires is due to man-made causes, such as negligence or arson. Which leads to the conclusion that the effective dealing with forest fires imposes that measures be taken which pursue the lift of causes creating them directly or indirectly and bringing about the requirements that render the suppression work more efficient. In Greece activation of the said measures for prevention takes place in view of the firefighting period, which lasts from May 1st till October 31st. In this period the fire extinguishing mechanism of the country is organized in such a way as to allow for an immediate control of forest fires eventually breaking out. 2.1.4 Fire protection plan What is an action plan? A Forest Fire Action Plan is the «roadmap» of actions targeting the reduction of forest fire risk within the framework of one Entity’s capabilities. Primary achses of the action plan are prevention and breakdown of forest fire risk, while emphasis is additionally given to the means of the involved entities. At the same time, individual stages of operational planning and report for prevention, dealing and restoration actions are analyzed. The fire protection plan is tested and updated on an annual basis. In the previous units we determined that all countries delegated as partners in the DRYMOS program prepare a fire protection plan. The model we shall introduce underneath is the virtual model of firefighting planning. Practically though, decades now, Municipalities, Regions and other involved entities follow some principles, insufficient – but necessary, which form part of our virtual model and if not applied, fire protection will have to be considered inexistent.
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No. 1 2
PHASE OF FIREFIGHTING PLANNING List of prevention planning parameters Risk analysis and maps
VIRTUAL
ACTUAL
NOTES
Yes
No
Yes
No
Very few entities perform a full data inventory or have access to an integrated data bank. Most operate on the basis of experience and fragmentary data. The absence of maps and GIS data is practically offset by personal experience and knowledge of some responsible personnel. The problem is that when they are substituted or absent, their Entity cannot intervene. – Clearing, forestry handling of vegetation, Firebreaks in land fills, power & telecom poles, – Organization of available means, – Water tank and hydrant network, – Road network maintenance, – Specifications and Procurement of equipment and materials, – Continuous alert, – Briefing. – Operation Coordination, – Collaboration with entities involved, – Operational Readiness Stages, – Operational Responsibility Sectors, – Fire Announcement, – Mobilization of available means, – Facilitation by Jointly Competent Entities, – Cooperation Schemes, – Fire watch. – Forest fire prevention reporting, – Readiness reporting, – Handling reporting, – Damage list – Appraisal. Usually these activities are not implemented in practice or they are not recorded and the public is not informed thereof. In practice all countires perform reforestation works after a fire. Lots of them are performed with incomplete planning and fragmentarily.
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Preventive action planning
Yes
Yes
4
Operational planning
Yes
Yes
5
Activity Reporting
Yes
No
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Forest fire Restoration Activities
Yes
Yes
Detailed presentation of firefighting plan phases. 2.1.4.1 List of prevention planning parameters The correct draw up of the Fire Protection Plan is based on the collection and listing of several basic data, which constitute parameters for preventive planning. The quality and completeness of such data by various entities specify the quality, reliability and adequacy of the Action Plan.
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This data, covering a wide range of both local characteristics of the forest area, as well as basic infrastructure thereof, which directly or indirectly interpolate with prevention planning, are: • Demographics – Spatial competence – Neighboring Municipalities, • Morphological – Geological – Climatic data, • Land Use– Residential Limits – Unauthorised Construction – Protected Areas – Special interest areas, • Road Network – Railroad Network – Power Conductors • Firebreaks – Fire warden posts - Patrolling • Firing ranges • Camps • Assembly space for firefighting and external help vehicles – helipads • List of high risk professional space (gas stations, fuel storage space, timber etc.) • List of volunteer groups, dippers, hunting clubs • Enlistment of infrastructure available – personal Forest Inspectorate • Financial Resources 2.1.4.2 Risk analysis and maps Use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is necessary for depicting conditions and parameters shaping forest fire risk at different information levels. The respective maps are drawn up: Topographic with a digital terrain model, Hydrographic Network, Topographic steepness, Slope Steepness Orientation, Land Use, Vegetation Cover, Protected areas, Road network, Power supply network, Water supply spots, garbage damps, Fire background, Helicopter landing spots and External help assembly space, Observation spots – visibility, Fire Risk Prediction, Daily hazard. Each local entity has specialized information for the area thereof, as for example the Municipality. 2.1.4.3 Preventive action planning The projects, works, activities which have to be realized for the protection are featured within the fire protection plan. All that should be realized is presented underneath in detail. 1. Clearing, forestry handling of vegetation, Firebreaks in land fills, power & telecom poles 1a Clearing herbs. It is one of the basic factors for fire spread due to the dry state of herbs. During the wet period (fall, winter and a little in spring), herbs are green at the stems and some of their parts, a signal that they contain liquid element. This makes their cutting difficult (green herbs) because they are soft and constitute no heart for causing or spreading a fire. Towards the end of spring these elements turn orange or brown, a sign that liquid element is missing from their interior and due to their dry state and the oxygen, which there is, they help the spreading of fire and in the presence of wind they constitute an importnat heart for spreading fire across a large area. It is then recommendable to cut herbs towards the end of spring across the periurban fabric (namely the contact of last houses with the forest), across forest roads, as well as in other spaces of mass banquet, such as forest recreational areas or even inactive quarry space. 20
Herb cutting is done by means of a string trimmer or other tool by the permanent or seasonal personnel or even the volunteers as advised by experienced permanent personnel, in very small pieces or else these remains are collected and converted into compost or disposed of in lawful land fills, covered by soil to avoid fire. Cleaning of lots located close to the forest are classified here, which must be done by the lot owner, or else by the Municipality at the owner’s cost. A suitable period for performing such works is when their completion succeeds prior to the beginning of the fire season, namely May 1st. The clearing radius on either side of the road according to international documentation is at 10m, while in Greece according to the Forest Inspectorates is 2m at the mixed zones and 5m at the decked ones. Priority must be given to areas with increased hazard due to conditions and vegetation. 1b Clearing garbage. Garbage of all kind is also an important factor for fire spreading as well as expansion. The most difficult case with garbage is the plastic objects, and even more bulky ones, such as vehicle tires, whose extinguishing is extremely difficult. Personnel and volunteers have to collect light items by hand and the heavier ones assisted by machinery such as JCB, and to get them out of the forest and into lawful land fills. We understand that beyond hard work, full garbage disposal is not possible at slopes, so in such cases garbage is covered by soil and subsequently planted, in order to hold against rainwater. 21
A suitable period for performing such works is when their completion succeeds prior to the beginning of the fire season.
1c Forestry handling of vegetation (Pruning). When we refer to forestry handling of vegetation we mean pruning. This is a work, whose importance remains unnoticed even today by most people. Pruning must be done on all trees with a height exceeding 3,0m (pines, cypresses, carob trees, Judas trees, oleasters, kermes oaks and other species), at spots where forest visitors are gathered, across the housing fabric and also across forest trees presenting a high fire risk from the ground up to a height of 2,0m or even more, if the trees exceed 5,0m, targeting the creation of a decked firebreak. Many branches hang from high above and touch the ground; The result is that in case of fire they multiply its spread by means of their crown deck. Remains can be either removed towards space allowed, such as lawful land fills, or pulverized in small pieces as soil substrate, namely as organic fertilizer and soil hold against leaching due to rain. Pruning work must be done from the beginning of autumn until the end of winter, because the creation of sparks out of using machinery can cause fire during the warm and dry summer months. Contrary to herbs, which must go dry in order to be cut, green shoots can be immediately cut and remain temporarily around without constituting a heart of fire. 2. Organization of available means. 22
Means – Resources of forces operationally involved
● Civil Protection office for each entity. Reporting has to take place regarding the office staffing. ● Available vehicles. Reporting has to take place about the number of vehicles available for fire protection, such as fire trucks and water lorries, as well as whether they are staffed and by whom.
See Annex 1 for specifications and detailed description
● Volunteer Groups. Overall reporting by the volunteer groups active in the area as well as which observation posts they man during the fire season and how many persons assist with the extinguishing work. ● Fire Brigade, Army forces. Full listing of fire brigade forces, as well as Army forces. 3. Road network maintenace. It is absolutely necessary to maintain the road network, giving priority to dangerous areas, prior to the fore season, for facing fires and also to avoid eventual sliding, erosions, tree falls, etc., that can happen during a fire incident. 4. Water tank and hydrant network. Maintenance of existing tanks. Procurement of new ones where required Hydraulic systems
See Annex 2 for specifications and detailed description 23
5. Specifications and Procurement of equipment and materials Working Staff. • Permanent and Seasonal Forest technical and Firefighting Personnel. It is considered implicit that permanent personnel is required because integrated knowledge is acquired over time through practice and actions and activities to be done both at a prevention as well as suppression level are now known. On the other hand seasonal personnel is complementary staff in the direction of augmenting permanent staff in emergencies or hard periods such as the fire season. Discrimination of the two personnel groups lies in that permanent personnel is occupied all year long while seasonal one is occupied during certain timeframes. • Volunteer Forest Firefighting Groups. These are Groups of people that assist the above personnel groups unpaid; By providing them necessary items for their work, they complement the work of the above teams. For protective reasons there is both an age as well as a training discrimination of people manning the Volunteer Groups in the field of prevention and suppression. Agewise persons younger than 18 participate in the alternative at Forest Protection by means of larning the basic concepts and actions for fire protection. Trainingwise, all volunteers undergo training by the Fire brigade. Implicitly persons already trained and certificated are ready to go in case of incidents compared to other new members. 24
Let it be noted that this training must occur each year both as a reminder as well as for acquiring new data in the field of prevention and suppression. Procurement. Forest Technical and Firefighter personnel needs the required equipment in order to work. See
Annex 3 for specifications and detailed description
• Clothing for Forest Technical Personnel. Protective clothing for forest works. Worker safety during forest work is the most important issue. Clothing must bear a protection system against cuts, something ususal for their work in the forest, while large surface upon the clothes must in warning orange with reflective elements, allowing for visibility during work even under bad weather conditions (fog, rain, etc).
See Annex 3.1 for specifications and detailed description
•
Tools, Machinery and other Mechanical equipment for Forest Technical Personnel.
* forest work machinery is indicatively mentioned below. String trimmer, Chainsaw, Telescopic chainsaw. See Annex 3.2 for specifications and detailed description • Clothing items for Firefighting Personnel and Volunteer Teams. Necessary clothing items for firefighting personnel and volunteer groups are: Uniform, Boots, Forest firefighting hardhats with glasses, Firefighting gloves, additional clothing items for junior volunteers such as duty uniform, survival suit, etc.
See Annex 3.3 for specifications and detailed description
•
Forest Firefighting Gear.
* indicative items are liste below.
6kg dry powder extinguishers, 6kg foam – water extinguishers, 5kg CO2 extinguishers, Knapsack extinguishersι, low pressure firefighting hoses with nominal gauge of 25mm, 45mm and 65mm, low pressure water monitors with storz-25, storz-45 and storz-65 type quick couplers, 45-2Χ25 and 65-2Χ45 firefighting hose connection clips, Hydrant wrenches, Axe and Pick, Hoe, Shovel, Firefighting fan, Cutter, Chisel, Fireproof blankets, etc.
See Annex 3.4 for specifications and detailed description
• Firefighter and Volunteer Group Communication Gear. Use of the most recent radio communication technology, where the base station has a communication option with other Agancies using analog radio networks. The radio communication system shall constitute a unique operating system and shall support bidirectional communications (personal and group call) between users. Devices (transceivers) must be simple to operate. Vehicle transceivers, base transceivers, portable transceivers and other devices are regarded as Equipment.
See Annex3.5 for specifications and detailed description
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6. Particular attention must be paid to monitoring and supervision of forest areas. In this role contribution comes from fire warden posts, observation posts and of course forest rangers. It is important to clearly distinguish between observation posts and fire warden posts.
See Annex 4 & 4.1 for specifications and detailed description
7. Information By the term information we mean information for the public as well as information of special professional groups. In detail: Information for the public Proposals: • printed material diversified according to the public it is addresed to, 26
• hosting annual informative lectures at the schools of involved agencies, • press releases prior to and during the fire season, • radio spots from local stations during high risk days concerning break out of forest fires. • Special professional categories During the fire season it is prohibited in the forests and forest, grassland and farming areas to: 1. start and keep a fire outdoors for any purpose. 2. start and keep a fire inside homes, hotels, laboratories, huts, sheep farms, yards or fenced open-air space, located inside forests and forest areas and up to a distance of 300 meters, for any purpose. 3. place, keep or abandon flammable material or useless items or garbage inside forests or forest areas and up to a distance of 300 meters from them. 4. create disposal space and burn garbage inside forests or forest areas and up to a distance of 500 meters from them. 5. burn coal furnaces inside forests and forest areas up to a distance of 100 meters from them, as well as install a laboratory or technical constellation operating with combustible material. 6. hunt with arms possessing a plug made of material that can start a fire, inside forests and forest areas. 7. smoke bees. 8. burn fields or farming areas and grasslands. 9. dispose of lit cigarettes - matches and other materials. 2.1.4.4 Operational planning – Coordination of Operations. Within the framework of organizing and planning the preparation activities for the fire season, a list with the Civil Portection personnel and Means of involved entities is prepared, as well as a general guide with all actions provided for, – Collaboration with involved entities, – Operational Readiness Stages. All shifts to take place within a day must be provided for, as well as a distinction between readiness status depending on the weather: good weather green 1, wind blue 2 and yellow 3, general alert brown – orange 4, red emergency 5. – – – – – –
(European Standard)
Operational Responsibility Sectors, Fire Announcement, Mobilization of means available, Facilitation by jointly competent Entities, Coordinating Όργανα, Fire guard. Guarding the burnt area must last 24 houts, during which no smoke must rise from any point within the area. Volunteer teams may join the guard
2.1.4.5 Activity Reporting Forest fire prevention reporting. A list must be prepared, regarding activities prior to the fire season. It must be filled in at the end of each fire season, along with the Clearing Description, aiming at the best evaluation of preventive activites that took place before the fire season.
See Annex 5 table & form
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Readiness & Handling reporting A list must be prepared, regarding Municipality activities during the fire season. It must be filled in at the end of each fire season, aiming at the best evaluation of preventive activites that took place during the fire season.
See Annex6 table
Damage Registration – Appraisal. In case of an unfortunate event the burnt area is registered by the Fire Brigade, the Forest Inspectorate of the are in question and the actual Entities involved. The respective Forest Inspectorate declares the area to be reforested within due time. In practice these actions are usually not implemented or there is no registration and information to the public for them. 2.1.4.6 Forest fire Restoration Activities Restoration activities for the affected areas must aim at the: • Flood protection of burnt areas and the respective catchment basins, • Speed up of forest regeneration, • Bolstering of the future forest robustness against new fires, • Organization of a prevention, timely intervention and suppression system for eventual new fires, • Aesthetical recuperation, • Protection of soils against corrosion. Restoration actions must be performed with the assistance of specialized scientists, since restoration of burnt ecosystems is a complicated process with numerous different parameters for each separate event. Restoration actions at the affected areas are performed by the involved Entities in question after an approval of relevant surveys by the competent Forestry Services as follows: 1. Placement of trunk bundles and fascine poles to a) avoid flooding phenomena in the urban fabric, b) augment natural regeneration, c) hold the soil, and d) enrich the groundwater table 2. Recovery and reforestation actions for burnt areas, performed according to the age of the burnt forest in order not to tamper with the process of natural regeneration. For reforestations there is the provision of planting a variety of trees dictated by the Silviculturist science in order to hinder tha start and spread of fire. The aesthetic recuperation of burnt areas is taken into consideration when creating Zones attracting large numbers of visitors
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In practice all countries perform reforestation works after fires. Many of them are unfortunately performed with incomplete planning and fragmentarily.
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