Nationwide Aerial Application of Fire Retardant on National Forest System Land. Record of Decision

摘要

Aerial application of fire retardant is part of an integrated firefighting strategy applied in a range of situations depending on the access, topography, fuel condition, available resources, time of year, expected weather, and other factors. High fire intensity and rate of spread inhibit the ability to fight wildland fires safely with ground-based forces alone. In addition, remote locations and rugged topography make access difficult and often delay the deployment of ground forces for fire suppression efforts. Fire retardant is intended to slow the rate of fire spread by cooling and coating fuels, depleting the fire of oxygen, and slowing the rate of fuel combustion as the retardants inorganic salts change how fuels burn. Most aerial fire retardant is applied to ridgetops and adjacent to existing fire breaks such as roads, meadows, old fire scars, and rock outcrops to increase the size of the firebreak. Fire retardant is used to address specific firefighting objectives and can be used in any situation, especially when firefighters, public safety, or structures are threatened. Decisionmaking on wildland fires occurs at various levels and requires strategic planning involving the evaluation of risk to responders and the public, natural/cultural values at risk, jurisdictional/property boundaries, and objectives/constraints defined by land and resource management plans.