Prescott_Fire_Plan.doc

SOUTHWEST INTERAGENCY FIRE RESTRICTION AND CLOSURE

MASTER OPERATING PLAN

INDUSTRIAL FIRE PLAN GUIDELINES

For

AUTHORIZED USERS

Prescott National Forest

PURPOSE

The purpose of fire restrictions is to reduce the risk of human-caused fires during periods of high fire danger and/or burning conditions. The intent of these guidelines is to provide authorized users with the information they need to ensure their operations conform to the Industrial Fire Precaution Plan in the likely event that fire restrictions are implemented during critical fire season. For the purpose of these guidelines, authorized users include any permit holder, leasee, contractor, subcontractor and other user, engaged in permitted operations on National Forest Lands.

When operating on National Forest Lands, it is incumbent on the permitted user to know the current Industrial Fire Precaution Plan 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, subcontrators, etc…) of these precautions and to ensure that all requirements are being met.

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 Forest Service in the the event of a wildland fire ignition.

In the event of a wildland fire, contact Prescott Dispatch at (928) 777-5700 The Prescott National Forest may choose to provide a handheld radio to the Vendor as government-issued property to facilitate emergency communications in areas that are known to have inadequate cell phone service. Training will be provided by the Government on the proper use of the equipment.

FIRE TOOLS

Authorized users shall furnish and maintain, in good working order, fires tools to be used only for suppressing wildland fires. Each operation shall be provided with 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. These tools are in addition to fire tools mounted on equipment, and inclusive of those required for the fire guard.

FIRE TOOLS ON EQUIPMENT

Passenger carrying vehicles, including light pickup trucks and all terrain vehicles, 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. Shovels and fire extinguishers shall be so mounted as to be readily reached from the ground. Each internal combustion fuel carrying piece of equipment (dumptruck, dozer, excavator, backhoe, etc…) shall be equipped with one long-handled round-pointed shovel, and one 5-pound capacity ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher.

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) 5100-1a 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 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 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 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.

POWERED HANDTOOLS

During periods of use, each powered handtool 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 handtool shall be done in an area which has been completely cleared of material which will carry fire.

Powered handtools shall be moved at least 10 feet from the place of fueling or refueling before starting.

GAS AND 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 adminstrator. All areas shall be cleared of brush, litter, grass or other flammable debris for a radius of 50 feet.

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 Forest Service.

BLASTING

Use of fuses in blasting shall not be permitted. A long-handled round-pointed shovel and at least five gallons of water for fire fighting purposes shall be available at all times. A fire guard must remain on the blasting site for a minimum of one hour after blasting operations have concluded.

WELDING

An area of sufficient size but not less than a 10 foot radius shall be cleared down to 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.

SPECIFIC FIRE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

EMERGENCY FIRE PRECAUTION SCHEDULE

EMERGENCY FIRE PRECAUTION SCHEDULE

FIRE RESTRICTION/CLOSURE “STAGE”

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 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.

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 and welding operations will shut down from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm Mountain Standard Time (10:00 am to 9:00 pm MDT). Operations on mineral soil involving activities such as road excavation, watering, grading, surfacing, rock crushing, and/or other equipment maintenance 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. Authorized user will provide fire guard.

FIRE GUARDS

To prevent, detect, and suppress wildland fire, authorized users shall provide a fire guard at each operating area where power-driven equipment and tools have been operated during the day. The fire guards shall constantly perform their duties during operating hours and for three (3) hours after the work stops for the day, when the Fire Precaution Plan is Plan “B”, “C”, or “D”. The fire guard may perform contract work in conjunction with fire guard duties.

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 actions to prevent, detect, and report any wildland fires and to promptly and efficiently 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 fire tools maintained in serviceable condition equal to the total number of personnel engaged in the user’s operations. Approved firefighting tools may include the following: Pulaski; McLeod: long handles round pointed shovel. The fire guard will also carry at least 25 gallons of water for firefighting purposes.

Weather Warnings, Watches, and Advisories During periods of critical fire weather conditions the National Weather Service may issue fire weather watches or red flag warnings to highlight combinations of sustained high winds, low relative humidity, high temperatures and dry fuels that could result in significant fire behavior in the event of an ignition. 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 Warning.

· RED FLAG WARNING is issued to warn of a predicted, impending or ongoing combination of weather factors that support an increased probability of ignition and rapid fire growth.

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. It is the daily responsibility of the Vendor to be aware of fire weather watches or red flag warnings in the area they are working.