Attachment 006 - Fire Precaution Standard Langauge.pdf

Fire Control

(a) Contractor's Responsibility for Contractor-Caused Fires. The Contractor, whether or not directed by the Forest Service, shall immediately extinguish, without expense to the Government, all fires on or in the vicinity of the project which are caused by Contractor's employees, whether set directly or indirectly as a result of Contractor operations. The Contractor may be held liable for all damages and costs of additional labor, subsistence, equipment, supplies, and transportation resulting from fires set or caused by the Contractor's employees or resulting from contract operations.

(b) Other Fires. For the purpose of fighting forest fires on or in the vicinity of the project which are not caused by the Contractor or the Contractor’s employees, the Contractor when requested by the Contracting Officer shall place the employees and equipment temporarily at the disposal of the Forest Service. Payment for such services will be made by the Government at not less than the current rate for fire-fighting services established by the Forest Service in the area concerned.

Any employees and equipment furnished will be relieved from fire fighting as soon as the Forest Service finds that it is practicable to employ other labor and equipment adequate for the protection of the area.

An equitable adjustment in contract time may be made for this period.

(c) Fire Protection Requirements - Fire Plan. At all times during closed fire season period, as specified by State law, the Contractor shall comply with each of the following provisions to the extent applicable to the Contractor’s operation under the contract.

(1) Fire Tools. The Contractor will provide for each employee in the contract area at least one approved handtool of a type appropriate in the contract area, such as shovel, pulaski, or ax. Tools required and furnished under (2) and (4) below, shall count toward fulfillment of the above requirement. Where additional tools, beyond those required under (2) and (4) below, are to be provided, the Contractor shall seal such tools in one or more boxes painted red and marked "Tools for Fire Only." All tools required herein shall be kept sharp and in good serviceable condition and maintained at locations to be designated by the Forest Service.

(2) Fire Extinguishers and Tools on Mobile or Stationary Equipment. Each unit of powered equipment used in connection with this contract, including automobiles, trucks, tractors, etc., shall be equipped with serviceable tools and fire extinguishers as follows:

One - fire extinguisher, dry chemical type of not less than 2-1/2 pound capacity with 4 BC or higher rating.

One - shovel, round point #0 lady or equal.

One - ax, 2 pounds or over, 26-inch minimum length, or one pulaski.

One - water container (at least 1-gallon capacity), not required with stationary equipment.

(3) Spark Arresters. Each internal combustion engine shall be provided with a spark arrester or spark arresting device approved by the Forest Service. Exceptions where the Forest Service may approve mufflers, or other equipment in lieu of spark arresters qualified and rated under Forest Service Standard 5100-1a are: (a) small multiposition engines, such as chain saws, shall meet Society of Automotive Engineers J335b standards;

(b) passenger-carrying vehicles and light trucks may have baffle-type mufflers with tail pipe; (c) heavy-duty trucks may have a vertical stack exhaust system and muffler, provided the exhaust stack extends above the cab of the vehicle. An exhaust-driven turbocharger is considered to be a satisfactory spark arrester. Internal combustion engine exhaust systems, arresters, and other devices must be properly installed and maintained.

(4) Powersaws. For each powersaw used in connection with this contract, the following will be provided:

One - shovel, round point #0 lady or equal. Shovel must be immediately available for use.

One - Fire extinguisher, containing not less than 8 ounces of extinguisher fluid, or a dry chemical powder-type of not less than 1-pound capacity. The extinguisher must be immediately accessible to the saw operator at all times.

Any fueling or refueling of a powersaw shall only be done in an area which has first been cleared or is free of all material capable of carrying fire; powersaw shall be moved at least 10 feet from place of fueling before starting.

(5) Blasting. Fuse or prima cord shall not be used unless authorized in writing by the COR with special precautions stated.

(6) Smoking. Smoking shall not be permitted within the contract area except on surfaced or dirt roads, at landings, within closed vehicles, in camps, or at other posted places, and shall never be allowed while working or traveling on foot.

(7) Storage of Petroleum and Other Highly Flammable Products. Gasoline, oil, grease, or other highly flammable material will be stored either in a separate building used exclusively for such storage, or at a site where all combustible debris and vegetation is cleared away within a radius of 25 feet. Fire extinguishers and/or sand barrels may be required at such locations specified by the Forest Service when unusually hazardous conditions exist.

(8) Debris Burning and Warming Fires. Burning permits will be required for all debris burning fires.

Lunch and warming fires may be allowed in fireproofed areas during periods of low fire danger if and as specified in the fire plan. Such fires must not be left burning unattended.

(9) Precautions for Stoves. Stovepipes on all temporary buildings, trailers, and tents using wood burning stoves, will be equipped with roof jacks and serviceable spark arresters of mesh with openings no larger than 5/8 inch.

All stovepipes, inside and out, will not be closer than 2 feet from any wood or other flammable material or 1 foot if the combustible material is protected by a metal or asbestos shield.

(10) Welding. Welding or use of cutting torches will be permitted only in areas that have been cleared or are free of all material capable of carrying fire. Flammable debris and vegetation must be removed from within a minimum of 10 feet radius of all welding and cutting torch operations. A shovel and a 5-gallon standard backpack water container (filled) with handpump attached, shall be immediately available for use in the event of a fire start.

(11) Fire Plan. Prior to initiating work on the contract area, during the closed fire season period, a fire prevention and suppression plan will usually be prepared. The Contractor and the Forest Service will jointly prepare this plan. Such plan shall include a detailed list of men and equipment at the Contractor's disposal for implementing the plan. The fire plan shall also specify additional measures and/or special requirements, such as Hoot Owl restrictions, necessary during periods of critical fire weather conditions.

When Hoot Owl restrictions are invoked, the Forest Service may curtail or shut down all or portions of a Contractor's operations. The following requirements may be imposed:

(i) All high fire risk operations could be terminated at 1300 local time.

(ii) All burning could be stopped, including debris burning fires.

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(iii) Patrolman may be required for a period of 2 hours after high fire risk operations and 1 hour after end of work shift. The Contractor shall provide the patrolman unless the contract is for equipment rental, in which case the Government will provide the patrolman.

(12) Pump and Trailer. The Contractor shall provide at a location satisfactory to the Contracting Officer, a serviceable truck or trailer, equipped with a fire fighting tanker unit to be kept ready for instant use for suppressing forest fires. The unit shall consist of a tank of not less than 100-gallon capacity upon which shall be mounted a live hose reel or live hose basket with 250 feet of at least ¾-inch I.D. heavy-duty rubber hose; a portable or power takeoff pump with discharge capacity of at least 10 gallons per minute at 150 P.S.I. pressure.

Gear type pumps shall be provided with a bypass or pressure relief valve so that the hose nozzle may be shut while the pump is operating. Each tanker unit shall have a hose nozzle of the shut-off type, adjustable for straight stream, spray or fog, at least 12 feet of 1-inch suction hose with an intake screen, and additional 250 feet of 3/4 – inch heavy-duty rubber hose or 1-inch cotton jacket rubber-lined or linen hose to be carried on the unit for use as needed. Tools, adapters, accessories and fuel necessary to operate the pump and truck or trailer shall be provided.

If a trailer is used, a serviceable vehicle with proper trailer tow hitch shall be located at a point satisfactory to the Contracting Officer. Where water is available, a supply sufficient for rapidly filling the water tank shall be provided at one or more accessible points along or adjacent to the main truck roads.

(13) Burning. Before starting any open burning, the Contractor shall comply with the following:

(i) Submit a burning plan, subject to approval by the Contracting Officer, designed to minimize the impact on air quality and to lessen any fire damage.

(ii) Obtain a burning permit from the District Ranger.

(iii) Use weather forecasts as far as possible in scheduling burning for more favorable dispersal of smoke.

(iv) Fuel shall be reasonably free of dirt and piled to facilitate rapid and complete combustion.

Piles shall be tended during burning operations to maintain combustion and to eliminate unnecessary smudges.

Piles shall be patrolled during off-work hours to avoid wildfires.

(v) Unless fire season controls dictate otherwise, burning shall be scheduled, as far as practicable, for the most favorable conditions during the burning period.

(vi) Under certain atmospheric conditions, smoke accumulations may become excessive and in these cases, the Regional Forester may, at his/her discretion, prohibit all open burning for definite periods within specific areas of the National Forest.

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