Appendix B Fire Plan.doc

Lassen NF Cone Collection Task Order 2021 - 2023

APPENDIX B

FIRE PLAN FOR SERVICE CONTRACTS USING MANUAL LABOR AND HAND TOOLS

Lassen NF Cone Collection Task Order 2021 - 2023 04/04/2021

1. SCOPE:

The provisions set forth below outline the responsibility for fire prevention and suppression activities and establish a suppression plan for fires within the contract area. The contract area is delineated by map in the contract. The provisions set forth below also specify conditions under which contract activities will be curtailed or shut down.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Contractor

(1) Shall abide by the requirements of this Fire Plan.

(2) Shall take all steps necessary to prevent his/her employees, subcontractors and their employees from setting fires not required in completion of the contract, shall be responsible for preventing the escape of fires set directly or indirectly as a result of contract operations, and shall extinguish all such fires which may escape.

(3) Shall permit and assist in periodic testing and inspection of required fire equipment. Contractor shall certify compliance with specific fire precautionary measures in the fire plan, before beginning operations during Fire Precautionary Period and shall update such certification when operations change.

(4) Shall designate in the Fire Plan and furnish on Contract Area, during operating hours, a qualified fire supervisor authorized to act on behalf of Contractor in fire prevention and suppression matters.

B. Forest Service

The Forest Service may conduct one or more inspections for compliance with the Fire Plan. The number, timing, and scope of such inspections will be at the discretion of agency employees responsible for contract administration. Such inspections do not relieve the Contractor of responsibility for correcting violations of the fire plan or for fire safety in general, as outlined in paragraph 2.A above.

3. DEFINITIONS:

The following definitions shall apply:

Active Landing: A location the contractor may be skidding logs into, or performing other operations such as delimbing, log manufacturing, and chipping logs. Except for EV and E days, loading logs or stockpiling chips only, on a cleared landing, does not constitute an Active Landing.

Hot Saw: A harvesting system that employs a high-speed (>1100 rpm) rotating felling head, i.e., full rotation lateral tilt head.

Mechanical Operations: The process of felling, skidding, chipping, shredding, masticating, piling, log processing and/or yarding which requires the use of motorized power which includes, chainsaws, chippers, motorized carriages, masticators, stroke delimbers, skidders , dozers etc.

4. TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT:

The Contractor shall comply with the following requirements during the fire precautionary period, as defined by unit administering contracts:

The Fire Precautionary Period is set by the State of California which is April 1 through December 1 of any year.

· This contract DOES NOT require a Fire Box and associated Fire Tools.

· Fire Extinguishers: Contractor shall equip each vehicle. All Fire Extinguishers shall be mounted, readily accessible, properly maintained and fully charged.

5. GENERAL

A.

State Law: In addition to the requirements in this Fire Plan, the Contractor shall comply with all applicable laws of the State of California. In particular, see California Public Resource Codes.

B.

Permits Required: The Contractor must secure a special written permit from the District Ranger or designated representative before burning, welding or cutting metal or starting any warming fires. If contract requires Blasting and Storing of Explosives and Detonators, an Explosives Permit may be required pursuant to the California Health and Safety Code, Section 12101.

C.

Blasting: Contractor shall use electric caps only unless otherwise agreed in writing. When blasting is necessary in slash areas, a Fire Patrolperson equipped with a size 0 or larger shovel with an overall length of not less than 46 inches and a filled backpack can (4 or 5 gallon) with hand pump shall remain in the immediate area for an hour after blasting has been completed.

D.

Smoking: Smoking shall not be permitted during fire season, except in a barren area or in an area cleared to mineral soil at least three feet in diameter. In areas closed to smoking, the CO may approve special areas to be used for smoking. The Contractor shall sign designated smoking areas. Contractor shall post signs regarding smoking and fire rules in conspicuous places for all employees to see. Contractor's supervisory personnel shall require compliance with these rules. Under no circumstances shall smoking be permitted during fire season while employees are operating light or heavy equipment, or walking or working in grass and woodlands.

E.

Storage and Parking Areas. Equipment service areas, parking areas, and gas and oil storage areas shall be cleared of all flammable material for a radius of at least 10 feet unless otherwise specified by local administrative unit. Small mobile or stationary internal combustion engine sites shall be cleared of flammable material for a slope distance of at least 10 feet from such engine. The COR shall approve such sites in writing.

F.

Reporting Fires: As soon as feasible but no later than 15 minutes after initial discovery, Contractor shall notify Forest Service of any fires on Contract Area or along roads used by Contractor. Contractor's employees shall report all fires as soon as possible to any of the following Forest Service facilities and/or personnel listed below, but not necessarily in the order shown:

When reporting a fire, provide the following information:

· Your Name

· Call back telephone number

· Project Name

· Location: Legal description (Township, Range, Section); and Descriptive location (Reference point)

· Fire Information: Including Acres, Rate of Spread and Wind Conditions.

G.

Communications: Contractor shall furnish a serviceable telephone, radio-telephone or radio system connecting each operating side with Contractor's headquarters. When such headquarters is at a location which makes communication to it clearly impractical, Forest Service may accept a reasonable alternative location. The communication system shall provide prompt and reliable communications between Contractor's headquarters (or agreed to alternative) and Forest Service via commercial or Forest Service telephone.

6. EMERGENCY PRECAUTIONS

Contractor's Operations shall conform to the limitations or requirements in the Project Activity Level (PAL) table below. Project Activity Levels applicable to this project shall be the predicted activity levels for the Fire Danger Rating Area(s), or fire weather station(s) stated in the Contract Area Map Legend on Integrated Resource Service Contracts (IRSC’s), and other contracts where applicable.

The Forest Service, in its sole discretion, may change the predicted activity level if the current fire suppression situation, weather and vegetation conditions warrant an adjustment. If practicable, Forest Service will determine the following day’s activity level by 6:00 PM. Contractor shall obtain the predicted Project Activity Level from the appropriate Ranger District Office before starting work each day.

Forest Service may change the Project Activity Level Table to other values upon revision of the National Fire Danger Rating System. When Contractor is notified, the revised Project Activity Levels will supersede the levels in the Project Activity Level Table below.

PROJECT ACTIVITY LEVEL

When Hot Saws or Masticators are operating, a tank truck, trailer, or approved CAFS substitute shall be within ¼ mile of these operations. Effective communications shall exist between the operator and the Active Landing.

2. Immediately after Mechanical Operations cease, Fire patrol is required for two hours.

Immediately after Hot Saw or Masticator operations cease, Fire patrol is required for three hours.

2.

No Dead Tree felling after 1:00 PM, except recently dead.

No burning, blasting, welding or cutting of metal after 1:00 PM, except by special permit.

a) Loading and hauling logs decked at approved landings.

b) Loading and hauling chips stockpiled at approved landings.

c) Servicing equipment at approved sites.

d) Dust abatement, road maintenance (Chainsaw use prohibited), culvert installation within cleared area, chip sealing, paving, earth moving or rock aggregate stock pile loading and installation (does not include pit or quarry development).

e) Chainsaw and log processing operations associated with loading logs or other forest products at approved landings.

2. Hot Saws or Masticators may operate until 1:00 PM; provided that:

a) A tractor with a blade or other equipment capable of constructing fireline is on or adjacent to the active landing or within ¼ mile of the operating equipment. This piece of equipment shall have effective communication with the Hot Saw or Masticator.

b) Any additional restrictions specified by the Forest.

3. All other conventional Mechanical Operations are permitted until 1:00 PM.

4. Some operations may be permitted after 1:00 PM, on a case-by-case basis, under the terms of a PAL Ev Variance Agreement. Activities for which a Variance may be issued are:

· Rubber Tire Skidding

· Chipping on Landings

· Helicopter Yarding

· Fire Salvage When approved by a Line Officer, a Variance Agreement can be implemented when the criteria specified in the agreement are met and mitigation measures are in place. This approval is good for ten (10) days unless cancelled sooner or extended by the Contracting Officer for an additional ten (10) days. Variance approval can be withdrawn at the sole discretion of the Forest Service. Variance approval is contingent on the 7-day fire weather forecast, fuel conditions, site characteristics, current fire situation, state of Contractor’s equipment for prevention and suppression readiness, type of operation and social and community considerations etc. (See attached Project Activity Level Variance Agreement).

1.

Loading and hauling logs decked at approved landings.

2.

Loading and hauling chips stockpiled at approved landings.

3.

Servicing Equipment at approved sites.

4.

Dust abatement, road maintenance (chainsaw use prohibited) or loading stock piles and rock aggregate installation (does not include pit or quarry development).

5.

Chainsaw operation associated with loading at approved landings.

All other activities are prohibited.

A Climatology Chart that indicates the historic activity levels for the project fire danger rating area for this project is not available. The weather station used for developing daily PAL modeling (Humbug RAWS) has not been in place long enough to use for developing historic activity levels for the project fire danger rating area.

Region 5 Project Activity Level (PAL) Ev Variance Application/Agreement Project Name: __________________________________________

Contract Number: _______________________________________

Contractor Name: _______________________________

Request #__, for period: __________________________________

Units/Subdivisions Affected: _______________________________

Location of operation:

Slope

Aspect

Elevation

Fuels on site

Fuels in surrounding area

7 Day PAL Outlook

Short range predictions (Red Flags)

Fuel Moistures

Response time of suppression resources

Potential for ignition

RAWS location

Current Fire Situation:

Draw down information

National Readiness Level

Contractual considerations:

Normal Operating Season

Frequency of recent contract fires in area

Type of operation

Contractors past/current performance & equipment readiness

Other site specific mitigation or precaution (i.e. Contractors proposals)

Social & Community Considerations:

Proximity of high value resources

Sensitivity of location

Proposed Actions:

Description of Mitigation Measures:

Remarks:

Fire Management Officer Concurrence

Date

Line Officer Approval

Date

I have considered the above request and determined the specified mitigation measures or actions must be implemented to continue operations in Project Activity Level Ev. Unless extended, the approval remains in effect for ten (10) calendar days unless cancelled sooner or extended by the Forest Service for an additional ten (10) days. At the sole discretion of the Forest Service, this variance can be modified and/or cancelled at no cost to the government.

Contracting Officer

Date

Contractor Representative

Date