A Study of Canadian Aerial Firefighting Delivery System and Fire ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Table of ContentsEXECUTIVE SUMMARY.........................................................................................................................................................3BACKGROUND TO CURRENT ISSUES & PROCESS.......................................................................................................5Issues .............................................................................................................................................................................5Current Situation............................................................................................................................................................5PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................................................................8Description .....................................................................................................................................................................8Objectives.......................................................................................................................................................................8Scope .............................................................................................................................................................................9Stakeholders ..................................................................................................................................................................9STAKEHOLDER SURVEY ...................................................................................................................................................11Survey Response ........................................................................................................................................................11Survey Summary.........................................................................................................................................................12AERIAL DELIVERY SYSTEMS ANALYSIS........................................................................................................................15Need.............................................................................................................................................................................15Approach......................................................................................................................................................................15Benefit ..........................................................................................................................................................................16Capacity and Cost .......................................................................................................................................................16FIRE CHEMICAL PRODUCTS ANALYSIS.........................................................................................................................17Need.............................................................................................................................................................................17Approach......................................................................................................................................................................17Benefits.........................................................................................................................................................................18Capacity & Cost ...........................................................................................................................................................18FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION .....................................................................................................................19Future Direction ...........................................................................................................................................................19Recommendations ......................................................................................................................................................19APPENDICES.........................................................................................................................................................................21Appendix 1 ...................................................................................................................................................................21Appendix 2 ...................................................................................................................................................................25A STUDY OF CANADIAN AERIAL DELIVERY SYSTEM AND FIRE CHEMICAL TESTING AND APPROVAL PROCESS PAGE 2
Section1Executive SummaryA Study of Canadian Aerial Firefighting DeliverySystem and Fire Chemical Testing and ApprovalProcessAerial firefighting delivery systems and fire chemicals are an intricate part of suppressing wildlandfires. Given the very important and expensive nature of wildland firefighting, the testing of deliverysystems and fire chemicals for efficiencies, effectiveness, and safe use is believed to be critical tosuccessful operations and program delivery. In this study the terminology “aerial firefightingdelivery systems” and “fire chemicals” includes airtankers, heli-tankers, belly tanks and buckets,and fire chemicals includes retardants, foams and water-enhancers (gels).This study was completed at the request of the FPInnovations fire group advisory committee,which is comprised of numerous Canadian wildfire management government agencies and privatesector companies. The purpose of this study is aimed at: a) providing information on current aerialfirefighting delivery systems and fire chemicals testing and approval process; b) determiningagency and company need and interest in developing a Canadian testing and approval strategy;and c) providing the fire group advisory committee with a framework for future discussion anddecision making.This study confirmed the need to test and approve aerial firefighting delivery systems and firechemicals. However, some companies and agencies were reluctant to fully commit to developing acollective Canadian strategy. This is perhaps not surprising given the many different governmentand private sector mandates, structures, programs and processes involved.Use of delivery systems and fire chemicals varies from one agency to another and the currentapproach taken by most Canadian agencies to qualify aerial firefighting delivery systems and firechemicals hinges on internal policy, process, and access to data and standards generated by theUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA) United States Forest Service (USFS).The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) seems to stand alone as the only officiallink between Canadian provincial wildland fire agencies. CIFFC members work through theiraviation working group to promote safe, effective and efficient use of aircraft. CIFFC does notcurrently have an established program that oversees testing and, or approval of aerial firefightingdelivery systems in Canada; however, CIFFC member agencies have adopted commonspecifications for fire chemicals, such as long term retardants, class a foams and water enhancers(gels). Canadian specifications and qualified product lists are for the most part adopted directlyfrom the USFS program, with some adjustments to both the long-term retardant specificationsA STUDY OF CANADIAN AERIAL DELIVERY SYSTEM AND FIRE CHEMICAL TESTING AND APPROVAL PROCESS PAGE 3
Page 1: A Study of CanadianAerial Firefight
Page 5 and 6: Section2Background to Current Issue
Page 7 and 8: Canadian wildland firefighting comp
Page 9 and 10: 4. Providing a framework for future
Page 11 and 12: Section4Stakeholder SurveyA Study o
Page 13 and 14: Question #8 - Please identify the t
Page 15 and 16: Section5Aerial Delivery Systems Ana
Page 17 and 18: Section6Fire Chemical Products Anal
Page 19 and 20: Section7Framework for Future Discus
Page 21 and 22: Section8 AppendicesA Study of Canad
Page 23 and 24: 2.4.2 Chemical Profile and/or Risk
Page 25: Appendix 2GRID SELECTION CRITERIAAn

A Study of Canadian Aerial Firefighting Delivery System and Fire ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?