A04_Fire_Suppression_Plan-_BTR_Hondo.pdf

Bitterlake Wildlife Refuge – Contractor Wildfire Prevention Plan

The Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and the surrounding area are at high risk for wildfire at any time of the year. The region is extremely arid with continuous stands of highly flammable grasses and trees. The Refuge and vicinity are home to numerous structures, improvement and critical wildlife habitat that can be quickly threatened by wildfire started in the area. Any project involving vehicles or heavy machinery in the area should be fully aware of the risks posed by wildfires. Contractors should take all precautions to prevent accidently starting wildfires and have a plan to quickly respond to fires that they might start and to prioritize keeping personnel safe.

The following requirements are a part of this U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) solicitation and any resultant contract, and shall be provided at the Contractor’s expense:

1. Wildfire Prevention

During periods of contract performance, fire prevention and immediate suppression actions shall be performed by the Contractor. The Contractor and crews should observe best practices when performing their work including to avoid starting a wildfire:

• Don’t park vehicles in dry grass or near vegetation.

• Don’t throw a cigarette butt on the ground.

• Be sure required machinery and chainsaws have operating spark arrestors and are maintained regularly.

• No burning or campfires

• Have a plan for quickly responding to a fire.

• Train personnel on how to prevent and respond to a wildfire.

• Immediately report wildfires to Alamogordo Dispatch (575-437-0778) and the

Contract Officer’s Representative (Clyde Burris- 505-506-0719).

• The Bitter Lake NWR is always considered high risk for wildfires, no matter the conditions or the time of year.

2. Execution of Wildfire Prevention Plan

a. USFWS personnel involved will, in all cases, coordinate through the Contract Officer’s Representative (COR) except in case of emergency, Red Flag Days, or Refuge closure.

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

c. The Contractor shall include the Wildfire Prevention Plan requirements in all subcontracts.

d. The Contractor shall ensure that all contract employees are informed of the existence and conditions of the Wildfire Prevention Plan requirements.

e. The Contractor shall train supervisors and employees on both the causes and control measures for wildfires, including trade-specific ignition sources (like welding sparks) and the project-specific Wildfire Prevention Plan.

3. Compliance Inspection

a. Inspection by the COR will be made to ensure compliance with the fire requirements.

b. Should any deficiencies appear during the inspection, the Contractor will be informed, and the deficiencies shall be corrected within 24 hours.

c. Activities with the potential to start fires shall be halted until the deficiencies are corrected and the COR approves the corrections.

d. The Contractor’s Fire Guard shall make daily inspections to ensure that the terms of the Wildfire Prevention Plan requirements are always met on the job site.

4. Fire Pre-Suppression Requirements

a. Fire Toolbox - During contract performance, the Contractor shall furnish and maintain, at the Contractor’s expense, one mobile Fire Toolbox, within ¼ mile or less of the location where the Contractor is currently performing work. The fire toolbox is to be maintained with tools in good condition, in such quantities, and mixed to provide a fire tool for each person in the Contractor’s workforce. This equipment is for firefighting: a mix of three shovels, size 0 or larger, one axe, two fire rakes, two Pulaski’s, and two 3–5-gallon hand pump garden sprayers or backpack pumps filled with water. Where appropriate, chainsaws may be substituted for the axe; a McLeod tool or heavy-duty garden rake for a fire rake, and a heavy-duty garden wide hoe or other sturdy digging/scraping tool may be substituted for the Pulaski.

The fire toolbox shall be replenished with re-sharpened, reconditioned, or new tools by the Contractor after each use. The Contractor will ensure that work crews are trained to use the equipment in the toolbox and fight spot fires.

b. Communications –The Contractor shall provide some form of direct communication, such as a cell phone or two-way radio, between the work crews, and when technically possible, between the job site and the COR. The Contractor’s cell phone number, or other form of contact, will be reported to the COR at the pre-work meeting. All communications will be in English.

5. Wildfire Response and Suppression

a. The Contractor shall take independent action immediately to suppress all fires originating within the contract boundary. The Contractor shall continue fighting the fire until an appropriate response has arrived.

b. All fires shall be reported immediately to the Alamogordo Dispatch (575-437-0778) and the COR. 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.

c. The Contractor shall not perform fire suppression activity, or provide reinforcement support, on any wildfires that originate and remain outside the Refuge boundary without coordinating with the COR.

6. Equipment Requirements

a. All gasoline and diesel equipment (except turbocharged) used on the project shall be equipped with spark arresters.

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

c. Serviceable baffled mufflers with standard exhaust tailpipes and catalytic converter heat shields are considered adequate on trucks, pickups, vans, sedans, motorhomes, and ATVs. Care shall still be taken to avoid parking such vehicles over tall grass, brush, or flammable materials.

d. Trucks and other vehicles shall be equipped with a shovel and class ADC pressurized chemical fire extinguisher of not less than 15 pounds capacity by weight.

e. The shovels and fire extinguishers are in addition to those required for the Fire Guard tool cache (4.a.) and the mobile fire toolbox (4.e). These shall be furnished and maintained at the Contractor’s expense.

f. If needed for the project, power saws shall be kept in a safe, serviceable condition at all times. Each power saw shall be equipped with an approved spark arrester screen muffler system. All exhaust products must pass through the screen, which has openings of 0.023 inches or less. 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. (1.) The refueling of power saws shall be done on bare mineral soil and the saw shall be moved at least 10 feet from the point of refueling to another barren spot before being started.

g. Power saws with warm or hot spark arresters and screen mufflers—running or not— shall not be placed or rested on sawdust piles, litter duff, stumps, or spots that are easily ignited.

h. Each crew with power saws shall be accompanied by at least one round point shovel in good condition and a Factory Mutual (FM) approved fuel can. One chemical pressurized fire extinguisher, 8 ounces or larger, is to be kept with the power saw operator at all times while working on the project. The shovel is to be kept with the fuel supply can.

7. 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.