Generalitat de Catalunya Departament d’Interior Direcció General d'Emergències i Seguretat Civil Divisió Operativa LLLooo FFFooorrreeessstttaaallliiillllllooo GRAF NNNººº 999111 SSSpppeeeccciiiaaalll 111444---000888---222000000666 Situation of Forest Fire in Catalonia 111999888666---222000000666......... JJJuuusssttt 222000 yyyeeeaaarrrsss Perimeters of historical fires of 1986 and of the 6 lasts fires of 2006. The analysis of historical fires give an idea and knowledge to define the best strategy of fight for each episode of risk. What we had Tendency compared until: 28/07/2005 28/08/2006 Nº Services 6162 4215 (VA+VU+VF) Superficie (ha) 6415 4610 Number of services (VA+VU+VF) from the 28/07 to the 07/08/06 and service larger than 2 ha. Generalitat de Catalunya Departament d’Interior Direcció General d'Emergències i Seguretat Civil Divisió Operativa GRAF FFFiiirrreee iiinnn EEEmmmpppooorrrdddààà,,, iiittt mmmaaakkkeeesss 222000 yyyeeeaaarrrsss fffrrrooommm 888666......... It make just 20 years we have an episode of large NW fires in Alt Empordà. Many firefighters, ADF and people from the country still remember those 4 days (19-22/07/86) untill stabilizes the fire that entered by La Jonquera and left by the Banyuls pass. It was an episode of simultaneity with 3 fires pioneered consecutively (19/07/86): La Jonquera, Llançà and Vilademus, the first of which is the one who scattered the north part of the region. 1986: The end of North Wind and the entrance of see breeze, the fourth day (22/07/86), made change the conditions and, therefore, the propagation of fires. A change of weather that he helped to control some sectors and complicate the 19/07/1986, picture in 500 Hpa 22/07/2006, picture in 500 Hpa extinction in some other. 2006: The episode of North Wind of 2006 was moderate, a wind speed on average of 30-40 km/h with gusts until 70 km/h. The air mass was very dry due to the component of NW. 03/08/2006, picture in 500 HPa 08/08/2006, picture in 500 HPa Font: www.wetterzentrale.de Through the analysis of historical fire, it possible to collect many information on the behavior and the evolution of these fires. Information valid and in force for fires declaring in the same weather episode. The most important case where we could apply this knowledge, this year, was Capmany fire. With the lived experience 20 years ago and consolidated specific knowledge, it was possible to envisage the evolution of the fire face of the wind-braces of Montroig and, the opening towards Biure, like had made fires of this area in 1999 and 2004. It is important to learn from the past to plan the future. It is also important to transfer the knowledge obtained by the old to the new generations. It is important that this training and this transfer are done with a technical language that everyone can understand. What we lived these days is a reality and, consequently, the occasion to learn and incorporate this knowledge in order to work in a sure way everywhere. You can see the forms of passed fires on : Picture of the smoke column of the ’86 fire which arrive http://emergencies.intranet/foc_forestal/index.htm in Cadaqúes . A picture which can re-view in 2001. Source : www.adf224.org Generalitat de Catalunya Departament d’Interior Direcció General d'Emergències i Seguretat Civil Divisió Operativa GRAF Capmany 06/08/2006 • Meteorology (Cabanes): Four days without recovered humidity 14:28h Ignition : 29ºC, 26%, 30-50km/h N-NW. 21:10h Stabilized: 25ºC, 28%, 20-40Km/h NW 10:17h(08/08)Controlled: 30ºC, 28%, 25-40km/h NW • Behavior: Fire led by wind which was declared in a dense forest area, following a peak in full alignment with the Tramontana, in a zone burned in the 80’s. The spots fall at an average distance (30-50m) but cross the national road and the highway. From there, the left side will open since the sail and propagate. The front loses alignment and comes to die in agriculture zone. • Operations and tactical expositions: 1 – Avoid that the left side open itself and enter in a wind-braces, and take a crest in full alignment to Montroig. The historical fires of 1986, 1999 and 2004 presented these behaviors (in pink the historical perimeters). Operations: water lines with the help of hand tools and tactical burns. 2 – Close the left side since the tail so that it does not open it. Operations: water lines with the help of hand tools and tactical burns 3 – Avoid that the front and the spots become extensive. Joint operations between water lines and aerial resources • Firefighting resources: 56 BRP 6 GRAF units 12 Control (1CR, 4CG, 6CS, 1CGRAF) 2 Water bomber seaplane, 4 Water bomber airplane and 6 Canadairs (4 French airplanes) Farming implement Critical points Water line 8 Water bomber helicopters Aerial resources Principal runs 2 Helicopters to command Backfire Tactical burn Lost of alignment • Burned area: about 400 ha Hand tools Joint operations between water lines and aerial resources on French trucks helping to the extinction on the rear left side. the rear left side, between Mas Martí i Capmany Generalitat de Catalunya Departament d’Interior Direcció General d'Emergències i Seguretat Civil Divisió Operativa GRAF Palau de Santa Eulàlia (07/08/06) • Meteorology (Cabanes): Four days without recovered humidity 11:37h Ignition: 30ºC, 22%, 25-30Km/h N. 16:18h Stabilized: 30ºC, 23%, 25-30 km/h N 08/08, 19:47h Controlled: 26ºC, 38%, 15-30 km/h • Behavior: Wind fire going down, the head can be stopped between culture and the shore of Fluvià. Il will only have a small propagation in full alignment in the terraces zone, which will enable him to do spots fire until 2,7km. The fire burned a pine regeneration on old cultures given uo in the 70’s. • Operations and tactical expositions: Priorities 1 – Right side : Protection of houses because it is the side which opens with the wind from the sea. Operation : water lines with aerial resources. 2 – Spot fire: To protect houses and avoid that they enter in full alignment. Operation: support of aerial resources and hand tools until the arrival of water lines. 3 – Left side: Tactical burns and hand tools until the arrival of water lines. • Firefighting resources: 36 BRP 3 GRAF units 12 Control (1CR, 1CG, 2CS, 1CGRAF) 4 Water bomber seaplanes, 4 Water bomber airplanes and 2 Canadairs Farming implement 6 Water bomber helicopters Critical points Water line 1 Helicopter to command Aerial resources Principal runs Backfire Tactical burn Lost of alignment Burned area: 24 ha. Hand tools The correct operation of the relays of bags is keys of a The tasks of monitoring and treatment of hot point with hand effective attack because it mobilizes the material of extinction tools were the key to prevent that these fires do not make and drinking water and carries out the monitoring of the still more surface starting from recovery in critical zones. hot perimeter Generalitat de Catalunya Departament d’Interior Direcció General d'Emergències i Seguretat Civil Divisió Operativa GRAF Cabanelles-Navata (07/08/2006) • Meteorology (Cabanes and Banyoles): Four days without recovered humidity 16:51h Ignition: 29ºC, 26%, 25-40Km/h N. 22:33h Stabilized: 21ºC, 80%, 5-10 km/h SE 08/08, 19:14h Controlled: 23ºC, 67%, 10 km/h S • Behavior: Fire in a zone with little relief. It started like a wind fire (blue) and finished like a topographic fire (green). Is propagated a small moment in full alignment what enables him to launch spots, then the head loses its alignment and encounters against the shore and a zone of cultures. Towards 18.30 the north wind stopped and the sea wind (SE) started. Then the right side opened and was propagated in the opposite direction. • Operations and tactical expositions: Priorities 1 – Close the two sides simultaneously: • Right : Protection of houses. Operation : water lines • Left: if it continues its propagation, it will launch spots into a forest area in full alignment. Operation :water lines with the support of aerial resources. 2 – Attack of the spots : hand tools with the support of aerial resources. • Firefighting resources: 46 BRP 6 GRAF units 10 Control (1CR, 4CG, 4CS, 1CGRAF) 2 Water bomber seaplanes, 3 Water bomber airplanes and 2 Canadairs Farming implement Critical point Water lines 7 Water bomber helicopters Aerial ressources Principal runs 1 Helicopter to command Backfire Tactical burn Lost of alignment Hand tools • Burned area: 32 ha. Cereals crop, already crossed, are a good anchorage to The massive launch of spots in the head will require a night tactical burns and to place the vehicles in a safe place from work to stabilize them until the arrival of water lines. where we can progress. .