ASNF Industrial Fire Plan.pdf

The following requirements are a part of this solicitation and any resultant contract or permit, and shall be provided at the Contractor’s expense:

1. Wildfire Prevention – During periods of contract/permit performance, fire prevention and immediate suppression actions shall be performed by the Contractor.

2. Execution of Industrial Fire Plan

a. Forest Service personnel involved will, in all cases, coordinate through the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or Permit Administrator, except in cases of emergency, Red Flag Days, or Forest closure.

b. The Contractor shall designate a Fire Guard, fluent in English, who shall be responsible for executing and carrying out the Industrial Fire Plan requirements. The name of this representative will be provided to the COR at the pre-work meeting.

c. The Contractor shall include the Industrial Fire Plan requirements in all subcontracts.

d. The Contractor shall assure that all contract employees are informed of the existence and conditions of the Industrial Fire Plan requirements.

3. Compliance Inspection

a. Inspection by the Forest Service will be made to insure compliance with the fire requirements.

b. Should any deficiencies appear during the inspection, the Contractor/Permit holder will be informed and the deficiencies shall be corrected within 24 hours. Activities with the potential to start fires shall be halted until the deficiencies are corrected and the corrections are approved by the COR.

c. The Contractor’s Fire Guard shall make daily inspections to insure that the terms of the Industrial Fire Plan requirements are met at all times, both on the job-site and in the Contractor’s camp.

4. Fire Prevention Requirements

a. Work Hours – The Contractor shall restrict operations in accordance with the following Industrial Fire Plan level unless the COR waives the requirement in writing.

Each day of operation when there is a predicted change in the Industrial Fire Plan level, the Forest Service will inform the Contractor between 3 and 6 pm MST (4 and 7 pm MDT). Notification will be made of which stage in the industrial fire precaution plan (Supplement 1) to be followed the next day within the local operating area.

No later than 9 am MST (10 am MDT) the following day, the Forest Service will inform the Contractor of any change in the fire precaution schedule. In the case of Red Flag Days, the Forest Service will inform the Contractor as soon as possible after the National Weather Service issues their high wind warning for that day, which often comes after 9 am

MST.

Blasting – Use of fuses in blasting shall not be permitted. A Fire Guard must remain on the blasting site for a minimum of one hour after blasting operations have concluded. Required equipment shall consist of at least one 5 lb. fire extinguisher, one long-handled round-pointed shovel size 0 or larger and one 5-gallon hand pump garden sprayer or backpack pump filled with water. Written permission must be obtained from the CO during fire precaution plan B and C days. Blasting hours are restricted under fire precaution plan C; and blasting is prohibited under fire precaution plan D and on Red Flag days.

b.

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests: INDUSTRIAL FIRE PLAN

c. Welding – An area of sufficient size but not less than a 10 foot radius shall be cleared down to bare mineral soil before welding operations are started. Prior to welding, authorized user shall have available a round-pointed long-handled shovel, at least 5-gallons of water, and a 5-pound fire ABC dry chemical extinguisher at each welding site. A Fire Guard must remain on the welding site for a minimum of one hour after welding operations have concluded. Written permission must be obtained from the COR during fire precaution plan B, C, and D days. Welding is prohibited on Red Flag days.

d. Slash Incineration – Operation of forced-air burners must comply with all state and federal open burning laws, regulations and policies. Forced air burners shall be operated with a minimum set back from combustibles of 100 feet.

This activity is prohibited on fire precaution plan C, D and Red Flag days. This activity is restricted and only permitted under a specifically-designated contract.

e. Refuse Burning – No slash (such as that resulting from thinning, or clearing a right-of-way), or other debris shall be burned without advance written consent of the Forest Service. Waste such as broken tools, worn tarps, camp tables, etc. shall be disposed of properly off-Forest, rather than burning.

f. Ash disposal – Ash from cooking or warming fires shall be treated in such a manner as to not constitute a wildfire risk, and shall be disposed of in an approved manner designated by the COR.

g. Controlled Burning – All planned burns, including pile burns or use of air curtain burners, conducted by the Contractor under the terms and conditions of the contract are required to have a written Burn Plan that meets the requirements of Forest Service Manual 5140 for the project. The Burn Plan must be prepared, recommended and approved by the appropriate Forest Service Officers. The Contractor will notify the CO, COR, and District Fire Management Officer prior to implementation of a burning project. The Contractor will insure all appropriate Federal, State and local laws, regulations, and policies pertinent to the Burn Plan, are adhered to. Training and qualification standards for the Contractor’s employees conducting burning operations will be required according to the applicable regulations in NWCG 310-1, which can found at the National Wildfire Coordinating Group website, www.nwcg.gov/pms/docs/docs.htm.

h. Fire Guard – To prevent, detect, and suppress wildfires, the Contractor/Permit holder shall provide one or more trained

Fire Guards at each operating area where internal combustion engines, power-driven equipment, incineration equipment, or camp/warming fires are used. Each Fire Guard is required to read, understand, and perform the Industrial Fire Plan duties. The Fire Guards may perform other contract work in conjunction with Fire Guard duties, provided such other work does not distract from Fire Guard responsibilities. A Fire Guard(s) assigned 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, and provided the Fire Guard patrols all areas where operations have occurred.

Each Fire Guard shall be trained, vigilant, able and prepared, to prevent, detect, and report any wildfire; and to promptly and efficiently take suppression action with available required firefighting equipment and personnel on any wildfire that starts on the contract/project area. The Fire Guards shall constantly perform their duties during normal operating hours, with an added three (3) hour watch after work stops for the day when the Fire Precaution Plan is at Plan B, C, or D (see Supplement 1). If the Contractor has agreed to additional terms for operation under Fire Precaution Plan D (see Supplement 2), the Fire Guard will perform all requirements specified in the Plan D Authorization Letter issued by the CO.

Each Fire Guard shall be equipped with a vehicle and shall carry a minimum 5 lb. fire extinguisher and fire tools consisting of a cache box with one shovel, size 0 or larger, one cutting tool such as either an axe, Pulaski or chainsaw, one fire rake or heavy duty garden rake, two 5-gallon hand pump garden sprayers or backpack pumps, and 25 gallons of water for firefighting purposes. All equipment and tools shall be maintained in serviceable and operable condition.

The tool cache for the Fire Guard will be in addition to the Fire Toolbox maintained for the work crews and available for use at both the work site and campsite.

i. Communications –The Contractor shall provide some form of prompt and reliable direct communication, such as a cell phone or two-way radio, between the Fire Guard(s) and the work crews, and between the contractor’s operations and the Forest Service. The Contractor’s cell phone number, and Fire Guard’s cell number, or other form of prompt contact, will be reported to the COR at the pre-work meeting. All communications will be in English.

5. Wildfire Suppression

a. The Contractor shall take independent action immediately to suppress all fires originating within the contract boundary and camp location. The Contractor shall continue fighting the fire until released from the fire by the Forest Service.

The Contractor will take appropriate action on a fire outside the contract area or campsite to the level of their firefighting experience, abilities and qualifications. The Contractor may be requested to assist the Forest Service with fighting a fire if the personnel have been trained and equipped with the proper personnel protective equipment (PPE).

If contract operations are interrupted for firefighting purposes the Contractor shall notify the COR as soon as practical.

b. If the Contractor pursues fighting any wildfire which has moved from off the USFS contract land and crosses onto lands of other ownership, such as private property, the Contractor shall be aware that dangers may be present associated with urbanized areas. For example, the Contractor will need to become highly alert, and take extreme care to avoid dangers associated with open flames or operating heavy equipment near propane/butane tanks and underground gas lines, overhead/underground electric lines, underground septic tanks, and private outbuildings which may contain hazardous or flammable/explosive chemicals. Coordination as soon as possible with USFS and/or local municipal firefighters who are better trained for safe wildland/urban-interface fire suppression tactics is recommended when faced with fires on private lands.

c. All fires shall be reported immediately to the most available Forest Service office. The COR will insure that all fire reports are forwarded immediately to the Apache-Sitgreaves NF Fire Dispatcher’s Office. Even though the fire may have been suppressed by the Contractor’s crew, this report is still required. The office and telephone numbers to which fires shall be reported will be furnished to the Contractor at the contract pre-work meeting.

d. The Contractor shall not perform fire suppression activity, or provide reinforcement support, on any wildfires that originates and remains outside the contract boundary or Contractor’s camp location, without meeting the criteria below.

If the Contractor wishes to be available to assist the Forest Service with emergency wildfire suppression or support activities beyond the contract boundary, all the Contractor’s, and/or Subcontractor’s, equipment must first be signed up on an Equipment Rental Agreement, USDA/USDI Optional Form 294, issued by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. (In cases of extreme emergency, the Forest Service can finalize this agreement at the fire location.)

Emergency use of equipment manned with operators, such as dozers, skidders, tree shears, chainsaws and water trucks/trailers, would then be compensated to the Contractor at current Forest Service fire-fighting rental equipment rates common to the area. Equipment rented by the Forest Service under this agreement shall be operated only by physically able personnel supplied by the Contractor.

Likewise, all personnel employed or subcontracted by the Contractor who wish to work on wildfires as individuals must first be currently certified with the required fire training to be qualified as a wildland firefighter before being permitted to assist the Forest Service with fire suppression. Firefighters must also have completed the necessary forms to become temporary emergency Forest Service fire-fighting employees. Contract personnel temporarily released off this contract by the Contractor to fight off-contract fires, shall be paid by the Forest Service at current USFS standard emergency “administratively determined” (AD) fire-fighting rates.

The COR can direct you on how and where to make these preparations in advance. The contract COR must be notified as soon as possible in writing when the above conditions for fire rental equipment and personnel have been met. The Contractor must also notify the COR as soon as practical if contract operations are interrupted for emergency firefighting outside the contract area. If the Contractor does not wish to meet these criteria to help fight wildland fire outside the contract area, the Contractor is not required to do so.

6. Equipment Requirements

Authorized user will ensure that each internal combustion engine (both gasoline and diesel fueled) used on the project and in camp shall be equipped with a spark arrester qualified and rated under USDA Forest Service Standard (Spark Arrester Guide) 5100-1a or the latest revision of Society of Automotive Engineers "medium size engine, SAE recommended practice J350" unless it is:

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

(ii) A multi-position engine, such as on power saws purchased after 6/30/77 which must meet the performance levels set forth in the Society of Automotive Engineers "multi-positioned small engine exhaust fire ignition standard, 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 which all exhaust products must pass through. The effective exhaust area of the screen (total area of all screen openings) shall not be less than 200 percent of the engine exhaust port area at its smallest cross-section. Screen material will be heat and corrosion resistant, and shall provide at least 100 hours of service life.

(iii) 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.

(iv) 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 extending above the cab.

Exhaust equipment described here, including spark arresters and mufflers, shall be properly installed and constantly maintained in serviceable condition.

b. All internal combustion engines must be inspected before use in the job and periodically thereafter by the Forest Service. Equipment not passing inspection cannot be used until repairs are made, re-inspected, and passed by the Forest Service.

c. Care shall still be taken at all times to avoid parking all vehicles over tall grass, brush or flammable materials.

d. Equipment service areas, and gas and oil storage areas, shall be cleared of brush, litter, debris, and grass for a radius of at least 50 feet. Locations shall be pre-approved by the Forest Service.

e. All crawler tractors and rubber-tired equipment suitable for fire suppression work shall be equipped with lights for nighttime use. This includes two functioning headlights, and 1 to 2 backup lights.

f. Powered handtools (saws, augers, drills, jack hammers, pumps, etc.) shall be kept in a safe, serviceable condition at all times. Each power tool shall be equipped with an approved spark arrester screen muffler system as defined in this section.

(i) The refueling of powered tools shall be done in an area which is completely cleared of flammable materials (such as on bare mineral soil) and the tool shall be moved at least 10 feet from the point of refueling to another barren spot before being started.

(ii) Power tools with warm or hot spark arresters/screen mufflers—running or not—shall not be placed or rested on sawdust piles, litter duff, stumps, or spots that are easily ignited.

(iii) During periods of use, each powered handtool operator shall have readily available for use, one long-handled round-pointed shovel, one chemical-pressurized ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher of not less than 8-ounce capacity by weight, and a Factory Mutual (FM) approved fuel can. Muffler, extinguisher, shovel and fuel can shall be maintained in good working order at all times. The shovel is to be kept with the fuel supply can.

g. Forced Air Burners shall be kept in serviceable conditions at all times. Blower unit power supplies must comply with 6 b, c and d above.

7. Smoking and Fires

a. Smoking – When/where smoking is permitted, cigarette butts or other smoking materials shall be extinguished completely and disposed of responsibly.

i. No smoking shall be allowed while traveling, except on surfaced highways. A surfaced highway is any road that is oiled, graveled, or otherwise paved.

ii. Smoking is not permitted while working. Smoking is only permitted in camp or on breaks, and only in areas having a clearing of at least 3 feet in diameter to bare mineral soil or rock, or preferably inside an enclosed vehicle with an ash tray.

iii. Smoking is not permitted while refueling, or while in the fuel storage service area.

b. Fires – Warming fires, cooking fires, or burning of daily kitchen waste at camp or on the job-site, shall not be permitted during periods of high to extreme fire danger except in designated places by written consent of the Forest Service. All other fires (such as burning of debris resulting from clearing a camp or right-of-way) and ash disposal are covered under sections 4.e., 4.f., 4.g., and 4.h.

8. Red Flag Events –

A “Red Flag Event” by definition, is a combination of environmental factors that can lead to extreme wildland fire behavior. The criteria for a Red Flag Event include a combination of sustained high winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels. The thresholds for Red Flag Events are established by the local National Weather Service office. Red Flag Events are categorized in the following order:

FIRE WEATHER WATCH is issued to alert the possibility of the development of conditions that would lead to a Red Flag Alert.

RED FLAG WARNING is issued to warn of a predicted, impending or ongoing event that will meet the criteria of a Red Flag Alert within the next 24 hour period. This warning will generally precede a full alert.

RED FLAG ALERT is the most critical stage and implemented when conditions are extreme

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

Red Flag categories are announced publicly on 24-hour radio broadcasts on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio channels for localized vicinities. The contract COR or Permit Administrator can provide operators the correct weather radio channel to use for a particular project area.

9. Fire Plan and Closure Order Violations

a. Contractor’s violation or deficiency in meeting fire plan requirements shall result in a state of non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the contract. Immediate suspension of contract operations will be enforced until the deficiency or violation is corrected.

b. The Contractor shall advise all employees of Forest campfire, smoking, powersaw, and/or area closure orders

(36 CFR 261.52 (a) (c) (d) (e) (h)). After notification to the Contractor by the Forest Service of such orders taking effect, the Contractor and their employees may be subject to criminal action under Federal Regulations separate from this contract should a violation occur.

10. Fire Suppression Costs – The USDA Forest Service reserves the right to participate in extinguishing any fires caused by the Contractor’s operations. Contractor’s obligations for cost of fire suppression, and all suppression activities ordered or directed by the Forest Service, vary according to three classifications of fires as follow below:

a. Operations Fire. An “Operations Fire” is a fire caused by Contractor’s operations other than a Negligent Fire, when all requirements of this industrial fire safety plan have been met and consistently maintained by the Contractor. The Government (Forest Service) shall perform fire suppression activities on Operations Fires, under the authorities of 16 USC 572. Contractor agrees to reimburse the Forest Service for expenses incurred by the Forest Service for the cost of an Operations Fire, to a maximum of $10,000 dollars for each occurrence.

b. Negligent Fire. A “Negligent Fire” is a fire caused by negligence or fault of the Contractor’s deficient operations by failure to comply with all requirements of this industrial fire plan (ie. “Fire Plan Negligence”), which results in a wildfire starting or permitting a controlled fire to spread out of control. Damages and the cost of suppressing Negligent Fires shall be borne by the Contractor. The Contractor shall also be responsible for full or partial costs and damages to any property of the USDA Forest Service or third parties caused by escaped fires resulting from Contractor’s negligence.

c. Other Fires in Immediate Area. This situation is covered under section 5.d. of this industrial fire plan.

150 110 140 175

204 145 200 215 220 190 145 220 210

270 220

95 15 50 20 10 25 55 20 10 20 32 D

30 15 70 30 10 10 15 20 35 24 C

B

15 60 15 50 75 55 85 A

AVG

Industrial Fire Precautionary Plan Levels

2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993

11. Historical Data –

The following data on the Forest area involved is provided for the Contractor’s information. The data are averaged from records for the past 10 years based on the Energy Release Component (ERC) for the appropriate Fuel Models, at various weather stations across the Forest.

Total operating year used for the following information is January 1 through December 31. (Most years lack some days of data collection during winter months when weather stations were not functional.)

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest – Average # days/year by Industrial Plan for past 10 years:

A-S Industrial Plan SIG (Heber – Lakeside – Alpine) NFDRS Fuel Model J

Approx. # Days per Year at Each Industrial Plan Level (5-day averaged ERC)

Average number of Red Flag Days = 1 to 15 (highly variable by year).

The majority of Plan C, D, and Red Flag days generally occur between the periods of March 15th to September 25th.

Wildfire risk is usually at its greatest between mid-April through mid-July each year.

12. Emergency Fire Precaution Schedule – Supplement 1 to this fire plan shows and defines the levels of operational restrictions, in accordance with regionally-standardized restrictions and closures.

FIRE PLAN SUPPLEMENT 1

EMERGENCY FIRE PRECAUTIONS (2/13)

Contractor/permit holder will restrict operations in accordance with the Emergency Fire Precaution Schedule shown below.

When there is a predicted change, Forest Service shall inform the Contractor by 6:00 pm, Mountain Standard Time (7:00 pm MDT), of the predicted change in the Industrial Fire Precaution Plan. The procedure for the Forest Service to notify the Contractor of a change in the Fire Precaution Plan stage in the following table is stated in section 4.b.“Work Hours” of this Industrial Fire Plan, and shall also be reviewed at the pre-work meeting.

EMERGENCY FIRE PRECAUTION SCHEDULE

FIRE RESTRICTION/CLOSURE “STAGE”

“STAGED” RESTRICTION LEVELS INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTION PLAN

NO RESTRICTIONS A

STAGE I B

STAGE II C or D

PARTIAL/ FOREST CLOSURE ** D

RED FLAG WARNING

(Issued by National Weather Service)

D

** Partial Forest Closure:

Contract/permit 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 CO and Contractor in writing.

Contract/permit 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 Fire Management Officer(s) and Contracting Officer(s)/Permit Administrator(s). The Contracting Officer/Permit Administrator may, after consultation with the appropriate Forest Line Officer, adjust the predicted Industrial Fire Precaution Plan for local weather conditions on the contract/permit area. Deviations from the predicted Industrial Fire Precaution Plan shall be agreed to in writing.

INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTION PLAN – DESCRIPTIONS

A - NO RESTRICTIONS -Normal Fire Precautions. No Fire Guard required, except for welding and blasting operations.

B - STAGE I - Normal Fire Precautions, except designated areas for smoking and warming or cooking fires require a written permit. Contractor/permit holder will provide Fire Guard.

C - STAGE II -- All power saws and mechanical fellers except for mechanical fellers equipped with hydraulic shears will shut down from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm Mountain Standard Time (10:00 am to 9:00 pm MDT), except chainsaws may be used from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm Mountain Standard Time (10:00 am to 3:00 pm MDT), for limbing on landings cleared to mineral soil.

Loading is authorized to continue from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm, Mountain Standard Time (1:00 pm to 3:00 pm MDT), on landings cleared to mineral soil. Log hauling trucks must be out of the contract area to a surfaced road by 2:00 pm, Mountain Standard Time (3:00 pm MDT). Shutdown from 12:00 noon until 8:00 pm Mountain Standard Time (1:00 pm to 9:00 pm MDT); all machine treatment of slash; mechanical equipment used for shearing, bunching, or de-limbing; skidding; cable yarding; blasting;

welding; metal cutting; and clearing. Operations on mineral soil involving road excavation, watering, grading, surfacing, rock crushing, and/or other equipment maintenance may continue. No smoking, warming or cooking fires are permitted at any time.

Contractor/permit holder will provide Fire Guard.

D - STAGE II or RED FLAG-- 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. Contractor/permit holder will provide Fire Guard.

13. Plan D Authorization Letter - Attached as Fire Plan Supplement 2, is a sample of the additional requirements the Contractor must agree to, only if he wishes to continue limited operations on Fire Plan “D” days. This authorization letter would only be issued by the Contracting Officer to contractors who already have a dozer or skidder available on that job to quickly dig fire line. Recommendation for such authorization would be determined by the District Fire Management Officer and the COR on an individual contract basis, taking into consideration such things as contract location, terrain, road access, hazardous fuels present, long-term fire weather forecasts, and other risk factors. Contractors who chose not to work on this limited basis during Plan “D” days may decline these additional terms, in which case normal shutdown and/or suspension of contract time would be likely until field conditions improve.

In select cases, acceptance and possession of such a letter may also serve as the special USFS permit required for legal operation during times of fire and powersaw restriction orders. A separate Forest Entry Permit, issued by the designated ranger district at no cost, would still be required for work to continue within forest areas closed to the public by special order.

District permits to continue contract work involving heat or spark-causing activities during powersaw restrictions and/or area closure orders will not be issued without very serious consideration beforehand by the District Fire Management Officer, District Ranger, COR and contract CO, and are not likely to be granted except in the most unique of circumstances.

FIRE PLAN SUPPLEMENT 2

(Printed on ASNF Forest Business Letterhead)

File Code: 6320/5100 To: Service Contractor/Permit Holder: Date: xxxxxxxxx

Name Address

To facilitate production on the XXXXXXXXXX TSI Contract # xx-xxxx-x-xxxx, on the XYZ Ranger District, you are temporarily authorized to operate under “hoot-owl” conditions during Industrial Fire Precautionary Plan “D” days, as per the “INDUSTRIAL FIRE PLAN” portion of your service contract, IF you agree to take the following required and additional measures. If you wish to keep working during Plan “D” days, then acceptance of these additional measures is mandatory. If you are not willing to accept these extra terms, then the contract will revert to the shutdown requirements for Plan “D” days as stated in the contract Fire Plan. Once accepted, this authorization will be revoked if you are found in non-compliance of these extra terms, or if the fire danger becomes more extreme as determined by Forest Service Fire Specialists.

1. Full compliance with all measures listed in the FIRE PLAN, including absolutely NO open flames on the job or in camp at any time. Smoking is allowed only within enclosed vehicles with ash trays.

2. All operations will be on “hoot-owl” shift, with shutdown times according to Fire Precaution Plan “C”. No ignition of broadcast or pile burns are permitted at any time.

3. Felling, pruning, and lopping saws shall be shut down at 9:00 am. Skidding and shearing with rubber-tires, turbo-charged chainsaws and skidding equipment, delimbing machines at landings, and chipping with rubber-tired transport may continue until 12 noon. Loading on bare dirt landings and hauling on contract roads may continue all day, with caution. USFS discretion will be used to set shutdown times for other equipment not listed here. Slash pullback by hand, use of hand tools, and piling by hand may continue after these times. The Fire Guard is required to monitor the entire work area and roadsides for sparks/smokes where chain saws, shears, skidders, delimbers, chippers/shredders, hydro-axes, loaders, etc. were used, for 3 hours after all mechanical operations have ceased, including departure time for the last load hauled away for the day.

4. No chainsaw work, chipper operation, off-road vehicle or equipment use, self-contained or pit-design forced air burner operation, or other heat/spark-causing activities, will be permitted whenever eye-level winds exceed 10 miles per hour. This will require your Fire Guard or on-site Contractor Representative to determine when these wind conditions have developed in the contract area, and to immediately shut down your mechanical operations until winds have subsided, or until hoot-owl times take effect, whichever comes first.

5. On any Fire Plan “D” days which turn into “Red Flag Warning” days, the Contractor is responsible for full and immediate shut down of ALL mechanical and air burner operations upon notification from the Forest Service. The Fire Guard will remain on-duty for 3 hours after shut down, to check for smokes. Absolutely NO smoking or heat/spark-causing activities are to occur while doing any handwork. Red Flag Warnings are issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for unusually severe fire weather, and extremely high fire danger due to the combination of low forest ground fuel moisture, low relative humidity, and sustained strong winds.

Letter page 2 of 2

The District Office or COR will contact you as soon as the Forest Service receives notice from the NWS that they have issued a Red Flag Warning for that day.

6. A 4-wheel drive vehicle equipped as a minimum with a 50 gallon water tank, pump, 50 feet of 1” hose with an adjustable spray nozzle attached will be required on-site where cutting, skidding, and chipping activities are in progress. A functioning dozer, tractor plow or skidder, equipped with a blade and manned with a qualified operator, must be on-site at all times dedicated to fire suppression in cutting, skidding and chipping areas, for 2 full hours after operations are shut down.

7. All operations will be restricted to one contract unit or block, unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

8. Communications: Some reliable source of communications must be established from the contract area (such as cellular phone, or two-way radio) which is manned during the same time period as your Fire Guard is on the contract area. Your radio or cellular phone must be able to communicate with the Forest Fire Dispatcher’s office during hours of contract operation. Key emergency contact phone numbers provided to you by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) shall be kept with this communication equipment at all times. All communications shall be in English.

9. The Contractor is responsible to contact the COR or designated District Office between 2:00 and 4:30 pm each day of operation, to advise of the operational status implemented the previous 24 hours. (For example, if conditions permitted the chipper to run until noon, then include this in your report. If winds were in excess of 10 mph after 8:00 pm the night before or prior to 9:00 am, then advise that operations were indeed shut down during those windy times.) During this contact, the COR or District Office will advise you of the Industrial Fire Plan precaution level predicted for the following day.

10. Scarcity of firefighting resources: During periods of extreme fire danger (Plan D and Red Flag days), when Forest fire fighting resources are committed to fighting fires on or off the Forest, and are unable to respond to a new fire starts, the Contractor’s operations may be required to totally shut down until this emergency status is over.

The District may request that the CO modify these requirements if the contract area is in a low risk area (bounded by natural fire breaks), or a high risk area (up-wind of urban-interface/residential area). The Industrial Fire Plan precaution level may be adjusted by one level up or down based on local conditions. When this occurs the District will notify the CO or COR, who will attempt to notify you verbally first, then in writing.

Please notify the Contract COR in writing by (DATE) , to clarify if you will, or will not, accept these extra terms to continue operating during Fire Plan “D” days.

Sincerely, /s/ signature

NAME

Contracting Officer, Apache-Sitgreaves NFs cc: Contract COR, District FMO, Forest Fire Dispatcher’s Office