1. Course Orientation
Firing operations are deliberate ignition actions used to accomplish prescribed-fire objectives while keeping fire behavior within the approved plan and the organization’s ability to hold and control the burn.
Course objectives
- Explain the purpose and organization of a firing operation.
- Recognize common firing techniques and their operational effects.
- Describe the relationship among ignition, holding, weather, fuels, terrain, and contingency resources.
- Apply basic risk-management and communication principles to firing scenarios.
Explore the Firing Organization
Select each role to reveal its primary responsibility.
Approves implementation, confirms the prescription, and maintains overall responsibility for the burn.
Plans and supervises ignition while coordinating with the Burn Boss and holding resources.
Applies fire only as directed and immediately reports hazards, changes, or incomplete ignition.
Secures control lines, detects spots or slopovers, and advises whether ignition pace is supportable.
Quick Check: Who should independently change the firing pattern?
Stop-work responsibility: Every practitioner must communicate hazards, unexpected fire behavior, lost communications, medical concerns, or changes that may threaten the burn plan. Ignition does not outrank safety.
Who directs ignition?
Burn Boss
Confirms the burn can be implemented under the approved plan, establishes objectives and operational limits, and retains overall responsibility for the prescribed fire.
Firing Boss
Plans, supervises, coordinates, and evaluates assigned firing resources while maintaining communication with the Burn Boss and holding organization.
Igniters
Apply fire only as directed, maintain spacing and situational awareness, monitor equipment, and immediately report changes or hazards.
Holding Resources
Secure control lines, detect and suppress slopovers or spots, monitor heat and smoke, and advise whether ignition pace remains supportable.
Complete the interaction and review the lesson before marking this module complete.
2. Read the Ignition Plan
Ignition is a planned operation, not simply walking a line with a drip torch. Before fire is applied, the firing team must understand the burn plan, assignment, intended fire behavior, control features, communications, and triggers for slowing, pausing, or stopping.
Confirm objectives. Know what the burn is intended to accomplish and what fire effects are unacceptable.
Identify the firing pattern. Understand the start point, direction of travel, sequence, strip spacing, expected flame lengths, and tie-in points.
Confirm the prescription. Review required weather, fuel-moisture, smoke, and fire-behavior limits.
Coordinate holding. Verify that holding resources are in position and can support the planned pace and intensity.
Review contingencies. Know trigger points, escape routes, safety zones, medical procedures, and who has authority to pause ignition.
Put the Pre-Ignition Steps in Order
Use the arrows to arrange the steps from first to last, then check your sequence.
Coordinate holding and contingency resources
Confirm objectives and prescription
Review contingencies and stop triggers
Identify firing pattern and route
Pre-ignition briefing checklist
Complete the interaction and review the lesson before marking this module complete.
3. Fire Behavior and Firing Decisions
Ignition technique changes the relationship of fire to wind, slope, fuels, and previously burned ground. Small changes in alignment or spacing can cause major changes in intensity and rate of spread.
| Fire orientation | General behavior | Operational consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Backing fire | Moves against the wind or downslope; usually lower intensity and slower spread. | Often used to build secure black along a control line. |
| Flanking fire | Moves roughly parallel to the wind or slope. | Can connect backing and heading portions while limiting direct alignment. |
| Heading fire | Moves with the wind or upslope; generally faster and more intense. | Requires adequate black, holding capacity, and careful spacing. |
Key idea: The ignition pattern does not create a separate set of fire-behavior rules. It deliberately places fire into different alignments with wind, slope, and fuels.
Watch continuously for
Wind
Speed, direction, gusts, channeling, eddies, frontal passage, and local terrain effects.
Fuels
Continuity, loading, arrangement, moisture, jackpots, ladder fuels, and changes across the unit.
Terrain
Slope, draws, saddles, chimneys, barriers, rolling material, and limited access.
Atmosphere
Stability, mixing, smoke movement, cloud development, and signs of increasing convection.
Fire Behavior Observation Challenge
Mark every condition that should trigger a pause and reassessment.
Decision Scenario
A strip-heading operation is producing longer flame lengths than expected. Holding resources are falling behind and wind is beginning to gust. What is the best immediate action?
Complete the interaction and review the lesson before marking this module complete.
4. Common Firing Techniques
Technique selection must match the approved ignition plan, desired fire effects, current conditions, control features, and available holding capacity.
Backing FireFire moves against the wind or downslope from a secure control line.
Flanking FireFire spreads roughly parallel to the dominant wind or slope.
Strip-HeadingParallel strips move toward previously burned ground.
Spot IgnitionPlanned ignition points influence heat release and column development.
Holding IntegrationIgnition remains coordinated with line security and contingency capacity.
SupervisionChanges in pattern, timing, or spacing require direction and coordination.
Backing Fire
Ignition along a control line allows fire to back into the unit. It is commonly used to establish depth of black before more active ignition begins.
Strip-Heading Fire
Parallel ignition strips allow fire to move toward previously burned areas. Strip distance and timing strongly influence intensity.
Flanking Fire
Ignition proceeds roughly parallel to the dominant wind or slope, often from a secure anchor and in coordination with adjacent igniters.
Spot Ignition
Individual ignition points are placed in a planned pattern. Point spacing, timing, and fuel continuity influence how columns merge.
Ring Ignition
Fire is ignited around a defined area, creating strong inward convergence. This technique can generate rapid heat release and requires specific planning and control.
Chevron / Center Firing
Patterns may be used to direct heat and flame spread toward selected portions of the unit. They require coordinated timing and clear supervision.
Match the Technique to the Situation
Situation A: You need to build low-intensity black from a secure line.
Situation B: Parallel ignition lines will move toward established black.
Situation C: Planned ignition points are used to manage heat release.
No independent improvisation: Igniters must not change firing pattern, spacing, route, or pace without direction. A seemingly small field adjustment can change fire behavior across the entire unit.
Technique selection questions
- Where is the secure anchor point?
- What direction will flame spread after each ignition?
- How much black is required before increasing intensity?
- Can holding resources support the expected heat and ember production?
- How will smoke affect roads, communities, crews, and visibility?
- What happens if the wind changes before the next tie-in?
Complete the interaction and review the lesson before marking this module complete.
5. Ignition Equipment and Fuel Handling
Use only approved, inspected equipment and follow the organization’s policies, the burn plan, and applicable ignition-equipment standards.
Drip Torch
A common hand-held ground ignition device. Inspect the tank, cap, vent, spout, wick, seals, and fittings before use. Carry and operate it in the approved position.
Fusee
A hand-held pyrotechnic device used for ignition in suitable fuels. Protect it from unintended ignition and dispose of remains according to policy.
Other Devices
Terra torches, propane devices, launchers, aerial devices, and UAS ignition systems require trained personnel, specific authorization, and specialized procedures.
Fuel Mix
Use only the approved fuel and mixing method. Label containers, prevent contamination, control ignition sources, and follow environmental and transport requirements.
Drip Torch Inspection Activity
Select the items that must be checked before use.
Drip-torch use checklist
Fuel on clothing or PPE: Stop, move away from ignition sources, notify supervision, and replace or decontaminate affected items before returning to ignition work.
Complete the interaction and review the lesson before marking this module complete.
6. Firing-Team Coordination
A firing team succeeds through disciplined movement, clear communications, visual contact, and coordination with holding—not by individual speed.
Maintain the assigned formation. Use the spacing, stagger, and sequence directed by the Firing Boss.
Keep visual or radio contact. Immediately report when contact is lost or terrain disrupts the planned formation.
Match the slowest critical function. Ignition pace must remain supportable by holding, observation, and contingency resources.
Communicate transitions. Announce starts, stops, tie-ins, hazards, incomplete ignition, slopovers, equipment issues, and changing fire behavior.
Confirm instructions. Repeat back significant changes in route, technique, timing, or assignment.
Build a Clear Radio Message
Select the best order for a concise operational transmission.
Useful radio format: Identify who you are calling, identify yourself, state the condition or request, give a clear location, and confirm the response.
Communication Scenario
You lose sight of the igniter ahead while entering brushy terrain. Your radio transmission is broken and unreadable. What should you do?
Complete the interaction and review the lesson before marking this module complete.
7. Risk Management and Go/No-Go Thinking
The decision to continue ignition must be repeatedly validated. Conditions that were acceptable at briefing may no longer be acceptable an hour—or five minutes—later.
Pause Triggers
Unexpected wind, excessive intensity, spots, slopovers, holding delay, medical issue, smoke impact, equipment failure, communications loss, or unclear instructions.
Reassessment
Compare actual weather and fire behavior with the prescription and expected results. Determine whether resources and tactics remain adequate.
Escape and Accountability
Maintain known escape routes, avoid placing fire below personnel without a safe plan, and keep supervisors aware of team location and status.
Fatigue and Exposure
Monitor heat stress, smoke exposure, hydration, footing, repetitive motion, fuel contact, and declining decision quality.
Branching Decision: Continue or Pause?
Conditions: Weather remains in prescription, but smoke is beginning to reduce visibility on an adjacent road.
Conditions: Fire behavior is as expected, holding is ready, communications are clear, and the next strip is briefed.
Before each new ignition phase, ask:
Professional practice: A well-timed pause is evidence of situational awareness—not failure. Firing operations should be deliberately paced, observed, and adjusted.
Complete the interaction and review the lesson before marking this module complete.
8. Check Your Knowledge
Select the best answer for each question. Questions and answer choices are randomized whenever the quiz is rebuilt. A score of 80% is recommended before moving to supervised field application.
References and continued learning
- NWCG S-219, Firing Operations (Blended)
- NWCG Incident Position Standards for Firing Boss, Single Resource, PMS 350-105
- NWCG Standards for Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation, PMS 484
- NWCG Standards for Ground Ignition Equipment, PMS 443
- NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461
- The approved prescribed fire plan and local agency policy
Course content is educational and should be reviewed by your organization’s qualified fire-training personnel before formal adoption.
Complete the interaction and review the lesson before marking this module complete.