Vietnam War: Forest Fire as a Military Weapon - Paperless Archives

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I SECRET I I I I I S....... '•FIG . 5 ... TYPICAL RUNNING SURFACE FIRE |~.. FIG. 6 FIG. 7 BEFORE FIRE AFTER FIRE SECRET
SECRET 4. Firestorm. Under exceptional circumstances, forest fires may develop into the phenomenon known as "Firestorm." Although the term was first used by the Police Commissioner of Hamburg to describe the effects of the RAF raids of 24-25 July, 1943, the phenomenon has been noted in forest fires in America as far back as the great Peshtigo Fire of Wisconsin in 187 1. A firestorm occurs when a large area (generally greater than 2 1/2 square kilometers) is burning at one time under meteorological conditions such that the entrainment of air to the fire is confined to a relatively shallow layer near the surface, and air enters the fire area with an appreciable tendency to rotate. This combination results in the development of strong surf,-ce winds which act to fan the fire and increase its burning rate. The increased burning rate causes more rapid air entrainment with a consequent further increase in wind speed, which increases burning rate still further which increases etc., etc. until all available fuel has been burned. Wind velocities exceeding 100 miles per hour are often attained during peak firestorm development. 10/ Experts are not in full agreement on the conditions necessary for firestorm formation. In general, any factor contributing to a rapid vertical heat release rate, or to marked surface wind vorticity will be favorable. Such factors include: I. Heavy fuel loadings of unusually dry material. 2. Many simultaneous ignitions. 3. Intense solar insolation. 4. An unstable atmospheric lapse rate. 5. Marked vertical and/or horizontal wind shear. Since the winds are blowing into a firestorm area from all sides, the firestorm has no rate of spread in the conventional sense-the entire firestorm area burns up as a unit. However, a firestorm almost always occurs on only a portion of a large forest fire. Consequently, the fire may be spreading actively at one location while a firestorm is keeping the fire stationary at another. Flame heights usually reach 100-150 feet in firestorms, and flashes of flame as high as 500-600 feet are not uncommon. Because of the intense heat and high winds, firestorms are extremely destructive. All dead material, regardless of size, and all living stems and branches smaller than 1-2 inches in diameter are consumed. Firestorms can be expected to cause extensive casualties to troops in the field. The mortality rate can be high, even among experienced firefighters. * when even a part of a forest fire reaches firestorm conditions. LOJ Anderson, H. E. Sundance Fire: An analysis of fire phenomena. USDA - Forest Service Research Paper INT - 56, 37 pp., ilius. 1968. SECRET 8
Page 1: VIETNAM WAR Forest Fire as a Milita
Page 4 and 5: Forest Fire as a Military Weapon A
Page 6 and 7: OF7 A iD5S Hil'---0 __ = IIIII- _w
Page 8 and 9: SECRET FOREST FIRE AS A MILITARY WE
Page 10 and 11: SECRET INDEX (Continued) Page Weath
Page 12 and 13: SECRET FOREST FIRE AS A MILITARY WE
Page 14 and 15: SECRET detailed and timely intellig
Page 16 and 17: SECRET I I I i it FI.I FIG. 2 I I B
Page 20 and 21: SECRET FI.I TYIAIRONFR BEOR FIG.FIG
Page 22 and 23: SECRET REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL
Page 24 and 25: I I SECRET heating adjacent unburne
Page 26 and 27: I SECRET FUEL TYPE 8o e1 82 83 84 I
Page 28 and 29: I SECRET I ii 11 I S~FIG. 17 | GRAS
Page 30 and 31: I I SECRET I I FIG. 18 SHRUB TYPE I
Page 32 and 33: Relative Humidity SECRET Table 2 "S
Page 34 and 35: I U I I I I I SECRET I FIG. 21 CONI
Page 36 and 37: S~SECRET A I. B O I I I IB. IN O LE
Page 38 and 39: I I SECRET I- I I I I I I I FIG. EV
Page 40 and 41: SECRET In developing recommended pr
Page 42 and 43: U SECRET The yearly sums of (+) val
Page 44 and 45: I Fireclimate Classification SECRET
Page 46 and 47: SECRET TABLE 5 KEY TO IDENTIFICATIO
Page 48 and 49: SECRET SHumid, long bum season (HUL
Page 50 and 51: I SECRET Table 6 Surfac,,/Volume Ra
Page 52 and 53: I SECRET FIG. 29 AVAILABLE FUEL WEI
Page 54 and 55: SECRET 100 80 FIG. 31 FLAME HEIGHTS
Page 56 and 57: I SECRET I Table 7 Precipitation Ef
Page 58 and 59: I SECRET FIG. 32 EQUILIBRIUM MOI$TU
Page 60 and 61: •Sunshine: SECRET Solar radiation
Page 62 and 63: I I SECRET I Ii I II I g I FIG. 34
Page 64 and 65: Technique"s for Kdlin, D•rming an
Page 66 and 67: SECRET I t '4Pi I I FIG. 35 * AERIA
Page 68 and 69:
SECRET FIG.36 EFFECTS OF OVERSTORY
Page 70 and 71:
SECRET FIG. 37 TYPICAL EFFECT OF CO
Page 72 and 73:
I .SECRET Use of Systemic Desiccant
Page 74 and 75:
SECRET 6. Effectiveness of foliar s
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SECRET Example of a Desiccation Pla
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SECRET If a lighted match is droppe
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SECRET 0 0 ----- 0" E I- -- z -- o
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SECRET The advantages of multiple i
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SECRET DISCUSSION The deliberate in
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1 SECRET U MINH FOREST FIRES PROLOG
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SECRET Spread Analysis: Spread to K
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SECRET HEADQUARTERS US ARMY ADVISOR
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I SECRET MACV-IVC-2 24 May 1968 SUB
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SECRET NAVAL GUNFIRE MISSIONS DATE
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SECRET Rach Gia - Kien Giang Hourly
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SECRET APPENDIX B Pertinent Incendi
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SECRET Major vegetation type: Tropi
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SECRET CLIMATE FF-HUSB FROSTFREE WI
Page 104 and 105:
SECRET FIG. B2 CLIMATE FF-HUSB HANO
Page 106 and 107:
SECRET Soil appiicat ion: Apply 20
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SECRET CLIMATE FF-NHLB FROSTFREE WI
Page 110 and 111:
SECRET CLIMATE FF-DRYL FROSTFREE WI
Page 112 and 113:
SECRET CLIMATE MI-HUYL MILD WINTER;
Page 114 and 115:
SECRET FIG. B6 CLIMATE MI-HUYL NEW
Page 116 and 117:
SECRET Soil application: Apply 15 p
Page 118 and 119:
SECRET CLIMATE MI-HULB MILD WINTER;
Page 120 and 121:
SECRET FCa. W8 CLIMATE MI-HULB RHOD
Page 122 and 123:
SECRET FIG. B9 CLIMATE MI-NHSB AUST
Page 124 and 125:
SECRET Dates for examl ocationAU.s
Page 126 and 127:
SECRET CLIMATE MI-DRYL MILD WINTER;
Page 128 and 129:
* climates& j SECRET CLIMATE CL-HUY
Page 130 and 131:
SECRET FIG. 512 CLIMATE CL-HUYL COL
Page 132 and 133:
SECRET Dates for example location (
Page 134 and 135:
SECRET t (IIMATI (L HILD ('(X)I WIN
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SECRET (1lMAU- (L NH.% 41()1. *INTI
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I SECRET (IIM-AIF ( Hl•Nt1 ( Wl W
Page 140 and 141:
SECRET FIG. 816 CLIMATE CL-NHLB GRA
Page 142 and 143:
SECRET FIG. 817 CLIMATE CL-DRYL LAS
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Foliar sTray: Apply per acre: SECRE
Page 146 and 147:
Warm continental climates SECRET CL
Page 148 and 149:
SECRET FIG. B19 CLIMATE SC-HUSB MT.
Page 150 and 151:
SECRET Dates for cxampre location (
Page 152 and 153:
SECRET CLIMATE SC-NHYL SHORT COLD W
Page 154 and 155:
SECRET FIG. B21 CLIMATE SC-NHYL PAR
Page 156 and 157:
SECRET FIG. 522 CLIMATE SC-NHSB SAN
Page 158 and 159:
SECRET FIG. 823 CLIMATE SC-NHLB REN
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SECRET Foliar Žpxa: Apply per acre
Page 162 and 163:
SECRET CLIMATE LC-HUSB LONG COLD WI
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SECRET Foliar spray: Apply during t
Page 166 and 167:
"SECRET CLIMATE LC-NHLB LONG COLD W
Page 168 and 169:
SECRET CLIMATE VC-HUYL VERY COLD WI
Page 170 and 171:
I SECRET FIG. 827 CLIMATE VC-HUYL D
Page 172 and 173:
SECRET "CLIMATE VC-NHSB VERY COLD W
Page 174 and 175:
SECRET I Publiction-,: Protect EMOT
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