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SUBJECTS: Physical Education, General Science
GRADES: 4–8
OBJECTIVE: Students will describe how fires grow and explain how they are controlled by fire fighters.
DOING THE ACTIVITY:
BACKGROUND: Forest fires start small and can only grow and spread if favorable fuels, heat, and oxygen are available. In windy conditions, embers blown from the main fire can start new fires or spot fires. By removing fuels from the path of an advancing fire, fire fighters can slow a fire's growth. Effective fire suppression can usually be achieved by plowing a fire break using a fire plow attached to a bulldozer. Fire fighters can also slow a fire's growth by using water which robs fire of its heat. Water dropped by helicopters on large forest fires rarely puts the flames out entirely, but it may slow the fire enough to contain or surround it through the construction of fire lines.
SUGGESTED MATERIALS: Yellow construction paper or contact paper for arm bands or badges to designate fire fighters. Plastic flagging tape (available at local hardware stores) to represent the fire breaks. If unavailable, a light rope, yarn, or string on a spool could be used, with caution.
PROCEDURE: Designate 1/4 of class as fire fighters. The lead fire fighter will be the bulldozer. Designate one student as the flame. (The teacher may wish to be the flame the first time through the game.) The remainder of the class will represent trees (or fuel, which allow the fire to grow). At the beginning, explain to the players what each of their roles will be (see Page 4). Have the flame go to one end of the playing area, and align the fire fighters at the other end. Now tell the trees to "take root and grow" anywhere they wish on the playing field. They should stand with their arms held up to mimic tree branches.
The flame starts the game by tagging a tree. Trees may not run from the fire! Tagged trees become part of the fire, and must join hands with the flame. The fire must now continue its pursuit of trees as a unit, attempting to capture trees with their free hands. Captured trees must join the chain of fire. Fire can either move as a long chain, or may break into several smaller groups and travel as spot fires. The flame will designate where spot fires jump the line. They may not travel as individuals (pairs or more only!). This distinguishes them from the trees.
Fire fighters should be held on the sidelines until the fire has had a chance to "grow" to 3–4 players. At this point, ask the fire fighters, "Do you smell smoke?" They'll be raring to go, so when they yell, "Yes!", allow them to go fight the fire. For safety reasons, insist that the players walk.
The principal method of slowing the fire will be containment, using an indirect attack. (Indirect attack stops the fire by removing the fuel ahead of the flame, rather than by extinguishing the flame itself.) Fire fighters must work together to encircle or contain the fire. The bulldozer and the first fire fighter starts toward the fire. When the bulldozer wishes to start "plowing" the line, the first fire fighters stops at that point to anchor the line. Another fire fighter then moves into position behind the bulldozer. The bulldozer and the fire fighter begin encircling the fire, letting the line out as it goes. If the bulldozer wishes to change directions, the fire fighter stops at that point to "hold the line." Once the fire fighter is in place, he or she cannot move. Another fire fighter then moves into position behind the bulldozer. This continues until the fire is contained. Contained fires must sit down where they are contained.
SUMMARY OF ROLES OF PLAYERS:
TREES: Stand still–you may be captured by the fire or saved by the fire fighters.
FIRE: Tag trees and grow! Avoid containment by the fire fighters.
FIRE FIGHTERS: Save as many trees as possible. Join with other fire fighters to encircle fires and have them sit down.
EVALUATION: The game is over when all of the fire is contained or all of the trees are burned. Compare the number of "fire" players left at the end of the game with the number of saved trees. Who won? The fire fighters or the fire? Why? What factors influence how large the fire gets, or how fast the fire spreads? (Wind, humidity, fuels–grass, pine needles, etc.)
EXTENSION: Play a few rounds to give everyone a chance to play different roles.
