Class Preventing and Fighting Forest Fires

The curricular unit of Prevention and Fighting Forest Fires contains the theme of the Portuguese Forest, the Impact of Fire, the Fire Behavior, the Prevention and Fighting of Forest Fires. This curricular unit is very relevant to the study cycle because forest/rural fire is a very present risk in Portugal, with which the Civil Protection has to deal repeatedly and quite intensely at times.

Not applicable

1.The Portuguese Forest 1.1.Distribution and characterization; 1.2.Main threats and protection; 1.3.Economic, social and environmental aspects; 1.4.Main characteristics of land occupation, planning and management with an impact on the problem of fires. 2.Impact of Fire 2.1.Analysis of fire statistics in Portugal; 2.2.Economic, social and environmental impacts; 2.3.Species and ecosystems mechanisms to fire adaptation; 2.4.Possible use of fire in ecosystem management and structural fire risk. 3.Organization of Defense Against Forest Fires (DAFF) in Portugal 3.1.Legislation; 3.2.Identification and characterization of the entities. 4.Fire prevention planning 4.1.Structural prevention planning; 4.2.Fuel management techniques; 4.3.Prescribed fire; 4.4.Prevention vs combat. 5.Suppression of forest fires 5.1.Fire behaviour; 5.2.Safety rules for fighting forest fires; 5.3.Decision support techniques; 5.4.Fire analysis; 5.5.Fire fighting techniques and tactics.

The methods of teaching will be based on work done in the classroom and in student work. During the theoretical and practical sessions, the teacher will make a presentation and discussion of the syllabus, with application of acquired knowledge to concrete situations. Students will be involved in the discussion of the issues under consideration in the resolution of problems or exercises proposed. Continuous evaluation, through the realization (30%) and presentation (10%) of practical work and the execution of an evaluation two tests (30% + 30%). At each moment of assessment the student must obtain a minimum classification of 8.5 values. Continuous evaluation components corresponding to written assessment tests are subject to appeal for a final written exam with equal weight for the final classification, and with the nature and complexity equivalent to those of the assessment tests.

Byram GM (1959) Some Principles of Combustion And Their Significance In Forest Fire Behaviour. Reprinted from: Fire Control Notes 18, 47-57. Fernandes, P.M., 2009. Combining forest structure data and fuel modelling to assess fire hazard in Portugal. Annals of Forest Science 66(4): 415p1-415p9. Fernandes, P.; Botelho, H.; Loureiro, C. 2002. Manual de Formação para a Técnica de Fogo Controlado. Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Rothermel, R.C. (1972). A mathematical model for predicting fire spread in wildland fuels. USDA For. Serv. Res. Pap. INT-115. Ogden, UT. Viegas DX, Rossa C, Ribeiro LM (2011). Incêndios Florestais. (DX Viegas, Ed.). (Verlag Dashöfer Edições profissionais Unip., Lda.: Lisboa).