Cabin Point Protection in Alaska

1. Point Protection in Alaska
“cabin protection”

2. What is point protection?
• Protection of a site threatened
by a fire.
• A site can be:
– A single structure
– A compound of structures
– Materials
– Historical/Archeological
sites
– Allotments
– Antennas
– Pipeline
– Protected habitat

3. Structures “cabins”
• Cabin/structure protection is
the most common type of
point protection in Alaska.
• Cabins vary greatly in scale
and construction.
Most cabins can be categorized
somewhere between:
– Maintained
– Historical

4. Maintained

5. Historical

6. Develop a plan
• Protection strategy:
– Plumb and defend
– Plumb and run
– Burn out and mop-up
• Considerations:
– Time
– Fuels
– Number of structures
– Available resources
– Availability of supplies
– Is cabin occupied?
• Triage

7. Plumb and defend
• Pros:
– Personnel on site
• Spot fires
• Pre-wetting
• Site prep
– Burnout
• may /may not be
necessary
– Pumps/sprinklers
• adjusted as needed.
– After the fire has passed
• equipment and personnel
may be pulled from site

8. Plumb and defend
• Cons:
– Resources
• committed to
structure(s) for long
periods of time
• resupply
– Fire
• threaten multiple
structures at same time

9. Plumb and run
• Pros:
– Minimal people
• protect multiple cabins
– Uses
• fire is far from cabins
• Several cabins and fire is
close
• Lack of resources to staff
each cabin
• No adequate safety zone

10. Plumb and run
• Cons:
– Pump/sprinklers
• System may fail
• Pump gas runs out before
fire reaches cabin
– Smoke/time considerations
• resources may not return
in time to start pumps
– Equipment needs to be
retrieved at a later date

11. Burn out and mop-up
• Pros:
– Black to secure cabin
– No water needed
– Great in tundra
– No need to return to pull
equipment
– Resources on scene to
deal with problems during
burnout operations
– Talk with FMO/ Agency
Administrator before
burning!!!!

12. Burn out and mop-up
• Cons:
– Fire
• may never reach site
• Later spotting into
unburned fuels
– Loss of aesthetic value
– Dirty burn may not be
effective
– Trees falling on cabin
– Possible lengthy mop-up

13. Cabin wrap
• Not commonly used anymore
• Not very effective
• No need for cabin wrap if
sprinklers are available
• Labor intensive to install
• Must be removed
• Damage to structures(staples
and tacking)
• Require ladders for installation

14. Site preparation
• Clear out wood and slash piles
near structure.
• Cut trees
– bucked and stacked
– limbs scattered
– Thin and limb larger trees
• Scatter problem dead and
down( if you can’t, then
sprinkler the piles)
• Trench around cabin
• Clear enough to accomplish
the job, but remember why
people have cabins in the
woods!

15. Pumps
Use the best pump for the job
• Shindaiwa/ Honda –
– Low on power.
– Minimal fuel consumption
– Generally less than 8
sprinklers
– Best for set up and leave
operations near H20.
– Run time( 5 gal.) approx. 8
hrs.
– 40:1 premix for both 2
stroke and 4 stroke
• Mark III –
– Lots of power,
– Higher fuel consumption
for set up leave operations.
– Generally around 15
sprinklers
– Best for cabins far from
H2O or high on the hill.
– Multiple structures
– Run time (5 gal.) approx. 3
hours
– 40:1 premix

16. Sprinkler kit
• Sprinkler Kits contain (Alaska Fire Service) :
– Shindaiwa fuel hose line 5 gal can adapter
– 10 rolls / 50’ garden hose
– 4 1” to ¾” reducers
– 5 sprinkler heads
– 5 gal. gas can(pump adapted)
– 2 1” Y
– 3 ¾” Y
– 2 extra spark plugs
– Length of “P” cord
• Kit contents may vary by agency and region
• One kit does not equal one cabin

17. Sprinkler installation
• Use enough sprinklers to cover
the entire structure.
• Vary set up heights (example):
2 above roof line on opposite
corners, 2 below roof line on
the other opposite corners
• Adjust sprinklers as needed:
• short range mist
• long range spray
• Remove all kinks from 3/4”
hose.
• Adjust sprinkler head for
desired coverage range.

18. Sprinkler installation cont.
• Use sprinklers on any receptive
fuels surrounding the cabin.
• Make sure hose lays are
protected from cabin to pump
• Adapt Shindaiwa to run off 5 gal.
gas can.
• Take several pictures for the
zones/land managers
• If pumps are left on a river/tidal
waters, move the pump and fuel
above the high water mark.
• Don’t forget the out buildings!

19. Sprinkler installation cont.
Do not set sprinklers up in a series connected with 5/8” hose (as
shown below) the pressure loss is too great and the last sprinkler
will have little to no pressure.
Sprinklers
Pump
1 ½ “ – 1” hose
3/4” hose

20. Sprinkler installation cont.
• Run each sprinkler off of one section of garden hose attached
directly to one inch or larger hose. (see below)
Gated wye
Sprinkler
¾”hose
Pump
Pump
1 ½ “ – 1” hose
1 ½ “ – 1” hose
1” hose

21. Sprinkler installation cont.
Multiple sprinklers off gated wye

22. Sprinkler installation cont.
Tripod
Pole

23. Sprinkler installation cont.
Tripod on roof
Check coverage

24. Sprinkler installation cont.
• Cut and notch method
– Saw Cuts – hose
perpendicular to cut
– V notch to prevent
sprinkler from rotating
when charged
– Lash tightly

25. Set-up
• Always test the system!
– Adequate coverage
– Sprinkler tripods/poles are
secure and stable
– Pre wet area
– Note best pump throttle
setting
– Note run time on 5 gal.
Fuel
Sprinklers wetting all sides of cabin

26. Make a map
• GPS coordinates for:
– Cabin
– Pumps
• Pump property numbers
• List of supplies on site
• List of site prep. completed
• Map structures especially if
several structure in close area
ie. around a lake
• List any additional supplies
needed

27. Additional supply needs
•
•
•
•
•
Extra pump fuel
Extra hose
Extra pump
Burning supplies
Water and food (very common to be smoked in for days with no
resupply)
• Transportation??
– Local boat rental
– Zodiac via paracargo (with or without operator)
– ATV rental

28. Extended time between set-up and
use
• Always test pump and hose
system.
• Move pump, hose, fuel and all
equipment above high water
line.
• If freezing temperatures are
possible drain pump and hose.

29. Cabin etiquette
• Be respectful of others
property
• Pick up your trash
• Don’t eat any stored food
• Leave things as you found
them
• Leave a note
• Remember, someone may
depend on the cabin
regardless of its condition.

30. Common watch outs
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nails in trees
Old outhouse holes
Unstable roof
Fuel/hazmat
Explosives
Bear deterrents:
– Plywood and nails
– Plywood and large treble
hooks
– Etc……..

31. What needs to be done?

32. What needs to be done?

33. What needs to be done?

34. Expect the unexpected