A significant part of fighting a wildland fire is predicting fire behavior and weather. Fire behavior analysts are helping on the 416 Fire by measuring the humidity in the air and to conduct burnouts, in which firefighters set their own fires to starve a larger fire of fuel.
Glen Lewis, a fire behavior analyst, with the Rocky Mountain Incident Type 1 Team, talks on Wednesday, June 13, at the command center in Animas Valley Elementary School how he uses infrared maps and a dozen other resources to help predict how the 416 Fire will burn. Working next to him is Steve Ziel, center, another fire behavior analyst, and John Barborinas, a long term analyst. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Glen Lewis, a fire behavior analyst with the Rocky Mountain Incident Type 1 Team, swings a sling psychrometer on Wednesday, June 13, on County Road 201 near the Hermosa Creek burn area. The psychrometer is a tool that has two thermometers to measure the relative humidity in the atmosphere. Lewis is using it to help predict how the 416 Fire will burn. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Glen Lewis, a fire behavior analyst with the Rocky Mountain Incident Type 1 Team, swings a sling psychrometer on Wednesday, June 13, on County Road 201 near the Hermosa Creek burn area. The psychrometer is a tool that has two thermometers to measure the relative humidity in the atmosphere. Lewis is using it to help predict how the 416 Fire will burn. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mike Spink, Mesa Verde Helitak program manager, describes how an aerial ignition Plastic Sphere Dispenser works on Thursday, June 14, at the 416 Fire helicopter base north of Durango. The dispenser is a device that shoots pingpong-like balls ahead of a fire’s path before the fire line as a strategy for firefighting. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mike Spink, Mesa Verde Helitak program manager, describes how an aerial ignition Plastic Sphere Dispenser works on Thursday, June 14, at the 416 Fire helicopter base north of Durango. The dispenser is a device that shoots pingpong-like balls ahead of a fire’s path before the fire line as a strategy for firefighting. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
These plastic balls contain potassium permanganate and are injected with ethylene glycol (antifreeze) by a dispenser before being dropped from a helicopter. A chemical reaction happens in the sphere and then ignites approximately 20 to 30 seconds after injection. The plastic spheres are being used during the 416 Fire for burnouts, which are small fires set to help reduce fuels and slow a fire. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mesa Verde Helitak crew members remove the aerial ignition Plastic Sphere Dispenser from a helicopter on Thursday, June 14, at the 416 Fire helicopter base north of Durango. The dispenser is a device that shoots pingpong-like balls ahead of a fire’s path before the fire line as a strategy for firefighting. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mesa Verde Helitak crew members remove the aerial ignition Plastic Sphere Dispenser from a helicopter on Thursday, June 14, at the 416 Fire helicopter base north of Durango. The dispenser is a device that shoots pingpong-like balls ahead of a fire’s path before the fire line as a strategy for firefighting. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mesa Verde Helitak crew members remove the aerial ignition Plastic Sphere Dispenser from a helicopter on Thursday, June 14, at the 416 Fire helicopter base north of Durango. The dispenser is a device that shoots pingpong-like balls ahead of a fire’s path before the fire line as a strategy for firefighting. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Plastic spheres contain potassium permanganate and are injected with ethylene glycol (antifreeze) by the plastic sphere dispenser before being dropped from a helicopter. A chemical reaction happens in the sphere and then ignites approximately 20 to 30 seconds after injection. The plastic spheres are being used during 416 fire for burnouts. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Plastic spheres contain potassium permanganate and are injected with ethylene glycol (antifreeze) by the plastic sphere dispenser before being dropped from a helicopter. A chemical reaction happens in the sphere and then ignites approximately 20 to 30 seconds after injection. The plastic spheres are being used during 416 fire for burnouts. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Plastic spheres contain potassium permanganate and are injected with ethylene glycol (antifreeze) by the plastic sphere dispenser before being dropped from a helicopter. A chemical reaction happens in the sphere and then ignites approximately 20 to 30 seconds after injection. The plastic spheres are being used during 416 fire for burnouts. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mesa Verde Helitak crew members use an aerial ignition Plastic Sphere Dispenser to release balls containing potassium permanganate and ethylene glycol (antifreeze) into a fire zone on Thursday. The balls set a fire to help reduce fuels and slow an advancing fire’s progress. The technique is being used to help fight the 416 Fire. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mesa Verde Helitak crew members use an aerial ignition Plastic Sphere Dispenser to release balls containing potassium permanganate and ethylene glycol (antifreeze) into a fire zone on Thursday. The balls set a fire to help reduce fuels and slow an advancing fire’s progress. The technique is being used to help fight the 416 Fire. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mesa Verde Helitak crew members use an aerial ignition Plastic Sphere Dispenser to release balls containing potassium permanganate and ethylene glycol (antifreeze) into a fire zone on Thursday. The balls set a fire to help reduce fuels and slow an advancing fire’s progress. The technique is being used to help fight the 416 Fire. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
