Background, General Knowledge, Scientific Area, Skill Development

Course Content

The effect of forest fires in the environment. Ecology and forest fires and fires on the others phyto-social association of Greece. Burn of forest fuel. Meteorological factors of forest fires in forests, shrubs and meadows in Greece. Dangers of forest fires and their assessment. Prevention of forest fires. Analysis of the social aspects and protection policies concerning forest protection. Prescribed (controlled) burning. Substances, tools and machines for extinguishing of fires. The extinguishment of forest fires in practice. Raising citizen awareness and volunteering

The aim of the course:

Comprehension of the phenomenon of forest fires and the analysis of the factors that contribute (natural, meteorological and human factors). Knowledge in the management of forest fires, tactics for the extinguishment of fires and the understanding of policies to confront crises.

With the successful conclusion of this class the students will be capable of:

Have knowledge and comprehension of the phenomenon of forest fires

Have the capacity of understanding the severity of the natural and human-made factors and how to differentiate in place and time.

Have the knowledge of how to help professionally in the prevention, extinguishment of forest fires and how to manage people in a crisis.

Adaptation to new situations

Decision making

Autonomous work

Teamwork

Working in an international environment

Working in an interdisciplinary environment

Production of new research ideas

Equity and Inclusion

Respect for the natural environment

Sustainability

Demonstration of social, professional and moral responsibility and sensitivity to gender issues

Critical thinking

Promoting free, creative and inductive thinking

•             Adaption to new situation

•             Have knowledge in preventing and extinguishing forest fires

•             Critical thinking

•             Promoting free, creative and inductive thinking

1η          Introduction to the phenomenon of forest fires; reference to forest fires in the world and the largest forest fires in our country; frequency of forest fires during the year and their distribution by geographical department.

2η          forest fires in Greece (statistics) ;number and area burned; frequency of forest fires over time; frequency of fires during the week; onset of fires within 24 hours; analysis of the causes of forest fires; social, economic, political conditions and forest fires; time interval between the onset of the fire and the onset of the fire extinguishing; employment of personnel and machines in firefighting..

3η          Ιmpact of fires and damage to people, homes and property; house precautions against fires; impact and damage of forest fires on the phyto-social association (Climax); effect on microflora and microfauna; beneficial effects of fires.

4η          Inventory, measurement, and mapping of forest fuel; types of forest fires; ecology and fires of forest species and plants in Greece.

5η          Behavior and properties of fire; intensity of fire; moisture of the fuel; fire risk assessment; fire risk meters.

6η          Meteorological factors and forest fires.

7η          Forest fire management; forest fire prevention. Causes of forest fires; personnel training. Service and friendship with neighbors, employees, visitors, etc. punishment of the guilty.

8η          Detection of forest fires; citizen awareness and volunteering

9η          forest fire management; risk reduction; roads and fire zones; fire zones (strips) or areas free of vegetation; fire line;

10^η      Logging residues; management and regulation of forest fuel; prescribed (controlled) burning.

11η        Type of forest or burning vegetation and extinguishing fires; substances and extinguishing of forest fires; tools, machinery and personnel used in extinguishing forest fires; personnel, machines and means of extinguishing forest fires in Greece.

12η        Forest fires in practice; organization of forest firefighters; fire extinguishing methods; principles of first fire suppression; ways to extinguish small and large fires.

13η        Planes and helicopters in extinguishing forest fires; the role of forest firefighters.

Week    Thematic units of Laboratories and Exercises

1η          The development of the fire. Burning and ignition. Smoke. The behavior and the properties of the fire. Intensity of the fire.

2η          Transmission of warmth. The development of a forest fire. Small fires and large fires. The differences and similarities between the fires in buildings and forests.

3^η           Preventative measures taken for houses and the protection of citizens from forest fires.

4^η          Inventory, measurement and mapping of forest fuel.

5η          Meteorological factors and forest fires. Humidity of forest fuel and its measurement.

6η          Estimation of the danger of fire. Fire risk assessment and fire risk meters.

7η          Detection of forest fires. The way of announcing a forest fire. Citizen awareness and volunteering.

8η          Management and administration of forest fuel. Prescribed (controlled) burning.

9η          Personnel specialized in extinguishing forest fires- education, organization and management of information.

10η        Effects of fires on humans ( pollution, smoke, flames and warmth).

11η        Methods of extinguishing forest fires.

12η        Tools and machinery are used in extinguishing forest fires; personnel, machines and means of extinguishing forest fires in Greece. Organization of telecommunications and mechanic means protection.

13η       Air means in extinguishing forest fires.

The lectures are supported with power point and videos and the use of internet. The communication with the students is made with e mail and the e class.

The way and methods of teaching are described in detail.

Lectures, Seminars, Laboratory Exercise, Field Exercise, Bibliographic research & analysis, Tutoring, Internship (Placement), Clinical Exercise, Art Workshop, Interactive learning, Study visits, Study / creation, project, creation, project. Etc.

The student study hours for each learning activity are listed as well as the non-guided study hours so that the total workload at the semester level corresponds to the ECTS standards.

Description of the evaluation process

Assessment Language, Assessment Methods, Formative or Concluding, Multiple Choice Test, Short Answer Questions, Essay Development Questions, Problem Solving, Written Assignment, Essay / Report, Oral Exam, Public Presentation, Laboratory Report, Clinical examination of a patient, Artistic interpretation, Other/Others

Explicitly defined assessment criteria and if and where are accessible to students are mentioned.

The methods are applied for evaluation are:

Final written examination including questions with sort answers.

For improving their grade students can work personal or with groups project in insect taxonomy.

Lab exercises.

Students with dyslexia or other learning difficulties instead of the final written examination, they have oral examination. Before this comes the information of the department and the stuff from the student about the problem he/ she has.

After the exams the questions will be posted on the notice board so the students will be able to calculate their own grade by themselves. The grades of the students will be posted on the online platform.  The students will have the ability to see their exam paper on demand to the professor. The students can also inquire about the way that their exam papers are graded and additionally will be able to see the comments of the professor about their evaluation.

Καϊλίδης Δ. και Καρανικόλα Π. (2004). Δασικές Πυρκαγιές 1900-2000. Εκδόσεις Γιαχούδη.

-Κωνσταντινίδης Π. (2003). Μαθαίνοντας να ζούμε με τις Δασικές Πυρκαγιές. Εκδόσεις Χριστοδουλίδης.

-Καλαμποκίδης Κ., Ηλιόπουλος Ν., και Γλιγλίνος Δ., (2013). Πυρο-μετεωρολογία και Συμπεριφορά Δασικών Πυρκαγιών σε ένα Μεταβαλλόμενο Κλίμα. Εκδόσεις Ιων.

– Similar science journals:

Fire — Open Access Journal