Attachment 4 - Tonto NF Fire Plan.pdf

TONTO NATIONAL FOREST

INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTIONS PLAN

GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORIZED USERS

PURPOSE

The purpose of fire restrictions and industrial fire precautions is to reduce the risk of human-caused fires. The Industrial Fire Precautions Plan Guidelines and its associated fire precautionary measures must be followed year round. The intent of this guide is to provide authorized users with the information they need to ensure their operations conform to the standards and requirements outlined within this document. For the purpose of this plan, authorized users include any permit holder, lease, contractor, subcontractor and other user, engaged in permitted operations on Tonto National Forest Lands.

When operating on Tonto National Forest Lands, it is incumbent on the permitted user to know the current Emergency Fire Precaution Schedule and to take the appropriate actions to meet the mitigation measures in these guidelines. In addition, it is also incumbent on the authorized user to inform any and all of their subordinates (contractors, sub-contractors, etc…) of these precautions and to ensure that all requirements are being met.

At all times, users shall have a plan of action which briefly states what preventative measures will be taken to mitigate fire occurrence. Users should clearly designate a fireguard and what actions will be taken should a fire occur, including the notification process.

GENERAL FIRE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

COMMUNICATIONS

Authorized users shall ensure a serviceable telephone, radio-telephone or radio communication system is available to provide prompt and reliable communications between the authorized user’s operations and the Tonto National Forest. In the event of a wildland fire ignition, users shall contact Phoenix Dispatch – (480) 457-1555.

FIRE GUARDS

To prevent, detect, and suppress wildland fire, authorized users shall provide a fire guard at each operational area where power-driven equipment, powered tools, and other restricted operations have taken place during the day. The fire guards shall constantly perform their duties during operating hours and for one hour after the work stops for the day, when the Fire Precaution Plan is Plan “B”, “C”, or “D”. They must be able to communicate a fire start within 15 minutes of detection to Phoenix Dispatch.

A fire guard on one operating area shall satisfy the requirements on adjacent areas if the travel time with available transportation is not in excess of ten (10) minutes to any of the other areas requiring such service and provided the fire guard patrols all area where authorized user’s activities occurred.

Each fire guard shall be vigilant, able and prepared to take actions to prevent, detect, and report any wildland fires. Additionally they need to promptly take suppression action with available required firefighting equipment and personnel on any wildland fire that starts on project area. Each fire guard shall be equipped with a vehicle and a fire tool cache consisting of a cache box with a complement of ten fire tools maintained in serviceable condition. Approved firefighting tools may include the following: Pulaski, McLeod, long handled round pointed shovel, fire rake, combi-tool or rhino tool.

GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORIZED USERS

The fire guard will also carry at least 300 gallons of water with a pump capable of sustaining a minimum pressure of 100 psi and a flow rate of 15 gallons per minute. The must equip the system with 200 feet of 1-inch hose on a reel and a nozzle capable of both straight and fog pattern for firefighting purposes.

On smaller operations where only one type of activity, that is covered by this plan, is occurring a fire guard and appropriate tools is addressed in each section.

FIRE TOOLS

Authorized users shall furnish and maintain, in good working order, fires tools to be used only for suppressing wildland fires. Each contractor/permitee shall provide one firefighting tool per person to equip all personnel engaged in authorized user’s operations. Approved firefighting tools may include the following:

Pulaski, McLeod tool, long handled shovel, combi-tool or rhino tool.

Additionally 2 five-gallon backpack pumps or similar container that can spray water shall be available and full of water.

FIRE TOOLS ON EQUIPMENT

Passenger carrying vehicles, including light pickup trucks and ATV’s/UTV’s, shall be equipped with one (1) long-handled round pointed shovel and one (1) ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher not less than 2 1/2 pounds capacity. Each internal combustion fuel carrying piece of equipment (dump truck, dozer, excavator, backhoe, etc…) shall be equipped with one long-handled round-pointed shovel, and one 5-pound capacity ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher. Shovels and fire extinguishers shall be so mounted as to be readily reached from the ground.

SPARK ARRESTERS AND MUFFLERS

Authorized user will ensure that each internal combustion engine shall be equipped with a spark arrester qualified and rated under USDA Forest Service Standard (Spark Arrester Guide) 5100-lb or the latest revision of Society of Automotive Engineers "medium size engine, SAE recommended practice J350" unless it is:

(a) Equipped with a turbine-driven exhaust supercharger such as the turbocharger. There shall be no exhaust bypass.

(b) A multi-position engine, such as on chain saws, weed eaters, brush cutters, hedge trimmers, and cut-off saws purchased after 6/30/78, must meet the performance levels set forth in the “SAE recommended practice J335B" as now or hereafter amended. Those purchased prior to the above date shall be equipped with an approved spark arrester/muffler containing a

0.023 inch mesh screen in good condition.

(c) A passenger carrying vehicle or light truck, or medium truck up to 40,000 GVW, used on roads and equipped with a factory designed muffler and an exhaust system in good working condition.

(d) A heavy duty truck, such as a dump truck, or other vehicle used for commercial hauling, used only on roads and equipped with a factory designed muffler and with a vertical stack exhaust system

GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORIZED USERS

extending above the cab.

Exhaust equipment described in this Subsection, including spark arresters and mufflers, shall be properly installed and constantly maintained in serviceable condition and not modified in any manner.

POWERED HAND TOOLS

During periods of use, each powered hand tool operator shall have readily available for use, one long-handled round-pointed shovel and one chemical-pressurized ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher of not less than 8-ounce capacity by weight. Muffler, extinguisher, and shovel shall be maintained in good working order at all times. Fueling or refueling of a powered hand tool shall be done in an area which has been completely cleared of material which will carry fire at least 10 feet from the point of operation.

BURNING OF REFUSE

No slash or other debris, such as that resulting from clearing on right-of-way, shall be burned without the written consent of the Tonto National Forest.

BLASTING

Use of caps and safety fuse detonators for blasting is not permitted during periods when fire precaution plan C or D is in effect. Minimum equipment shall consist of a round-pointed, shovel and a 5 gallon backpack pump or larger portable tank with pump filled with water. Blasting hours are restricted under fire precaution plan C, and blasting is prohibited under fire precaution plan D. Industrial mining operations as approved under a mining plan of operations in large areas devoid of vegetation such as pits, are exempted from blasting restrictions.

GAS OIL STORAGE AND SERVICE AREAS

The location of equipment service areas and gas and oil storage areas shall be approved in writing by the permit administrator. All areas shall be cleared of brush, litter, grass or other flammable debris for a radius of 50 feet.

WELDING

An area commensurate with the amount of welding to be accomplished shall be cleared before welding operations are started at a minimum 10 feet of ground will be cleared of all flammable materials. Written permission must be obtained from the COR/Permit Administrator during fire precaution plan B, C and D.

As a minimum, three – 5-gallon backpack pumps (or other tank capable of spraying water) filled with water is to be available in addition to the vehicle fire extinguisher. The area in the immediate vicinity of the operation shall be wet down before and after operations. The area adjacent to the welding operations shall be thoroughly checked for fires for 1 hour after welding. Industrial mining operations as approved under a mining plan of operations in large areas devoid of vegetation such as pits, are exempted from welding restrictions.

GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORIZED USERS

SPECIFIC FIRE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

EMERGENCY FIRE PRECAUTION SCHEDULE

FIRE RESTRICTION/CLOSURE “STAGE”

“STAGED” RESTRICTION LEVELS INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTION PLAN

LEVEL

NO RESTRICTIONS A

STAGE I B

STAGE II C

STAGE III PARTIAL FOREST CLOSURE ** C/D

STAGE IV FOREST CLOSURE D

RED FLAG WARNING

(Issued by National Weather Service)

D

** Partial Forest Closure:

Project areas which are outside the boundaries of the partial forest closure may continue to operate under Industrial Fire Precaution Plan C operating criteria as agreed upon between the Permit Administrator and Purchaser in writing.

Project areas within the boundaries of the proclaimed partial forest closure area are to operate under Industrial Fire Precaution Plan D.

Staged restriction levels are determined by the appropriate Forest Line Officer in consultation with the Forest Fire Management Officer and Contract/Permit Administrator. The appropriate Forest Line Officer may adjust the predicted Industrial Fire Precaution Plan for local weather conditions within a Project Area. Changes in the predicted Industrial Fire Precaution Plan shall be agreed to in writing.

GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORIZED USERS

INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTION PLAN – DESCRIPTION

Authorized user will restrict operations in accordance with the attached Emergency Fire Precaution Schedule:

A - Normal Fire Precautions - No fire guard required except for welding and blasting operations.

B - Normal Fire Precautions – Authorized user will provide fire guard.

C - All power equipment use as well as blasting, welding, metal cutting, and clearing operations will shut down from 12 noon until 8 p.m. MST. No smoking, warming, or cooking fires permitted at any time. Operations on mineral soil involving road excavation, watering, grading, surfacing, rock crushing and/or other equipment maintenance, as well as industrial mining operations under an approved mining plan of operations including welding and blasting in pit areas may continue. Authorized user will provide fire guard.

D - Shutdown all operations; except operations on mineral soil involving road excavation, watering, grading, gravel surfacing, and rock crushing may continue with special Forest Service permit. Blasting and welding are prohibited. Industrial mining operations under an approved mining plan of operations including welding and blasting in pit areas may continue. Authorized user will provide fire guard.

RED FLAG WARNING

A red flag warning is issued when the combination of dry fuels and weather conditions support extreme fire danger. Red flag warnings are issued by the National Weather Service for land and fire managers to highlight the increased fire danger.

• RED FLAG WARNING is issued if conditions are occurring or will occur within the next 24 hours that would support extreme fire danger.

When a Red Flag Warning is issued by the National Weather Service, all authorized user operations will adhere to Industrial Fire Precaution Plan “D” and will shut down operations until the Red Flag Warning is rescinded.