Setting a forest fire

[NewJeffCT]

The players are in the process of approaching a small island on a river that is the HQ of some goblins that are gathering for a raid on the local town.

Approaching by river makes it easier for them to get spotted by the goblin sentries on the island. To access the island via land, one way is to navigate through a thick forest with heavy undergrowth, which will leave them right on the doorstep of the island.

One PC proposed using alchemist's fire to set fire to the thick forest. Not sure if it is as a distraction so they can get to the island via boat/raft/canoe, or to get through the forest.

But, what would the DC be to start a forest fire? How long would it take for a forest fire to spread? The area of the forest in question is maybe 1 square mile? This is a 4E D&D game.

Thanks!

 

[Crothian]

How wet or dry is the area? Just over the weekend a golfer in southern California (I think that is were it was) accidently hit a rock with the golf club and that causesd a spark that started a fire and burnt down many acres. It can be really easy or not depending on conditions.

 

[Umbran]

My first thought isn't "How hard is it to start a forest fire?" as with enough effort, yes, you can start one. My first thought is how cheesed off the local druids are going to be.

How hard it is to set a forest ablaze depends upon the type of forest, and the recent weather conditions - burning a pine forest in the middle of a year of hot drought is easy. Burning down a rain forest isn't very easy.

With a good stiff breeze in dry conditions, a wildfire front can move as fast as a jogging man, but can take days to fully burn out in a given area.

You should note that forest fires are not easily controlled, even with modern equipment. Once started, it may not go where the party wants it to. Fires move from forest to grassland and back again in dry times, so they could easily destroy nearby crop lands with this tactic. Saving the village from goblins by burning the winter food supply would not win them friends in that town.

 

[The Shaman]

Some information here.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Wouldn't the forest fire put the goblins on high alert? I don't think it's a great plan.

Very rpg-y though. Players try to solve all problems with fire. They love it so.

 

[The Shaman]

Players try to solve all problems with fire. They love it so.

You say that like it's a bad thing . . .

 

[El Mahdi]

... My first thought is how cheesed off the local druids are going to be...

...or any Elves, Treants, Dryads...those PC's could be in some serious trouble!

 

[NewJeffCT]

Wouldn't the forest fire put the goblins on high alert? I don't think it's a great plan.

Very rpg-y though. Players try to solve all problems with fire. They love it so.

Did somebody say "fire"?

 

[Doug McCrae]

You say that like it's a bad thing . . .

No, no, I'm merely commenting on the tendency. I like fire as much as the next player, maybe moreso. I think the world would be a better place if everything was on fire, particularly stuff like fire trucks (because of the irony).

 

[Flatus Maximus]

It's gotta be pretty low -- DC = 5? -- some golfer damn near burned down California with a golf club recently.