Organizing Fire Control Operations

A fire that is discovered and reported to a local jurisdiction will set in motion a complex series of planned and organized responses. Typically, a fire dispatcher familiar with the local terrain and values-at-risk will call upon appropriate suppression resources to respond to the incident.  An Incident Command System will be established.  A fire crew will be organized and mechanical resources will be acquired. If additional intelligence is needed, a trained observer may drive to or fly over the fire location to size up the local vegetation, burning conditions, and potential problem areas to augment dispatch decisions. Depending on the current fire behavior and projected levels of fire danger, the resources that might be dispatched include an initial attack crew, heavy equipment, and/or aerial support.   These resources are used during initial attack or extended attack activities when necessary.  Controlling a fire is greatly facilitated by the availability of water and chemical retardants to douse flames and hotspots.  As a fire spreads over the landscape, its behavior and the surrounding environment will provide additional clues about the appropriate suppression response.