C04 Fire Plan.pdf

Coronado National Forest Industrial Fire Precautions Plan

The following requirements are part of the 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.

2. Execution of Industrial Fire Plan

a. Forest Service personnel involved will, in all cases, coordinate through the Contracting

Officer’s Representative (COR) 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, see Supplement

1.

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 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. 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 ensure that the terms of the Industrial

Fire Plan requirements are met at all times, both on the jobsite and in the contractor’s camp.

4. Fire Pre-Suppression Requirements

a. Fire Toolbox - During contract performance, the contractor shall furnish and maintain, at their expense, one mobile Fire Toolbox, within ¼ mile or less of the location where the contractor is currently performing work and camping. The fire toolbox is to be maintained with tools in good condition, in such quantities and mix to provide a fire tool for each person in the contractor’s workforce. This equipment is for the sole purpose of 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, a chainsaw 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.

b. 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 the alphabetical 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.

c. Blasting – Use of caps and safety fuse detonators for blasting is not permitted during periods when fire precaution plan C, or D, or Red Flag is in effect. A Fire Guard shall be required in accordance with the Industrial Fire Plan level (see Section H.3.0.). This individual, when required, shall remain on duty to check for fires for at least 1 hour after blasting is finished. Required equipment shall consist of at least one 5 lb. fire extinguisher, one shovel, size 0 or larger and one 3-5-gallon hand pump garden sprayer or backpack pump filled with water. Blasting hours are restricted under fire precaution plan C; and blasting is prohibited under fire precaution plan D and on Red Flag days.

d. Welding –Written permission must be obtained from the COR during fire precaution plan B, C, and

D. Welding is prohibited on Red Flag days. Required equipment at the welding site shall consist of at least one 5 lb. fire extinguisher, one shovel, size 0 or larger and one 3-5-gallon hand pump garden sprayer or backpack pump filled with water. An area commensurate with the amount of welding to be accomplished shall be cleared to bare mineral soil before welding operations are started. The area in the immediate vicinity of the operation shall be wet down before and after operations. The area adjacent to the welding operations shall be thoroughly checked by the Fire Guard for fires for at least 1 hour after welding.

e. 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’. This activity is prohibited on fire precaution plan C, D and Red Flag days.

f. Ash disposal – Ash from slash incineration 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 ensure 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, https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/pms310-1.

h. Fire Guard – To prevent, detect, and suppress wildfires, the contractor shall provide one or more trained Fire Guards at each operating area where internal combustion engines, incineration equipment, controlled burns or camps 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 more than twenty (20) minutes to any of the other areas.

Each Fire Guard shall be physically able, and trained to prevent, detect, and report any fire, and to immediately take suppression action with the required firefighting equipment and employees on any wildfire that starts within the contract area. The Fire Guards shall 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 level B or C. If the contractor has agreed to additional terms for operation under Fire Precaution Plan D, 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 capable of carrying a minimum 5 lb. fire extinguisher and f i r e 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, and two 3- 5-gallon hand pump garden sprayers or backpack pumps filled with water. 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 direct communication, such as a cell phone or two-way radio, between the Fire Guard(s) and the work crews, and when technically possible, between the jobsite and the Forest Service. 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 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 ensure that all fire reports are forwarded immediately to the Tucson Interagency Dispatch Center (520-202- 2710). 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 the 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 contractors, and/or Subcontractor’s, equipment must first be signed up on an Equipment Rental Agreement, USDA/USDI Optional Form 294, issued by the Coronado National Forest or other National Forests within Region 3. (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 should be operated only by physically able personnel supplied by the contractor.

Likewise, all personnel employed or subcontracted by the contractor who wishes 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.

Equipment Requirements

a. All gasoline and diesel equipment (except turbocharged) used on the project, and in camp, shall be equipped with spark arresters approved in the Spark Arrester Guide, USDA Forest Service, which will be used by the USFS for equipment inspections. Copies of this Guide can be viewed on the internet at https://www.fs.usda.gov/t-d/pubs/pdfpubs/pdf21511814P/2151_1814P_SparkArresterGuide.pdf . To downlaod the most recent Guide, go to the above-mentioned website.

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 - see attached Supplement 3: Order Southwestern Region USDA Forest Service pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50 and 261.52 (f) and (j).

c. Serviceable baffled mufflers with standard exhaust tailpipes and catalytic converter heat shields are considered adequate on trucks, pickups, vans, sedans, motorhomes, and ATVs provided the muffler system meets the USDA Forest Service, Spark Arrester Guide. Care shall still be taken to avoid parking such 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. Each piece of motorized equipment not included in item (f.) below shall be equipped with a round-point shovel and fire extinguisher.

f. Fuel trucks, service trucks, and the work camp shall be equipped with a shovel, double bit axe, and class ADC pressurized chemical fire extinguisher of not less than 15 pounds capacity by weight.

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.

g. 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.

h. 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 defined by USDA Forest Service Spark Arrester Guide. All exhaust products must pass through the screen, which has openings of 0.023-inch 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.

(2.) Power saws 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.

(3.) 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 always to be kept with the power saw operator while working on the project. The shovel is to be kept with the fuel supply can.

6. Smoking and Fires

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

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

(2.) 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.

(3.) Smoking is not permitted while refueling or while in the fuel storage/ service area.

b. Fires – Warming fires, cooking fires, or burning of waste debris at camp or on the jobsite, 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., and 4.g.

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.

b. The Contractor shall advise all employees of Forest campfire, smoking, power saw, 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.

8. 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 (i.e., “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 fire plan.

Emergency Fire Precaution Schedule Fire Restriction/Closure “Stage”

Restriction Levels Industrial Fire Precaution Plan No Restriction A Stage I B Stage II C Stage III/ Forest Closure* D Red Flag Warning (Issued by National Weather Service)

D

*Areas outside of the closure will still be permitted to work. Only areas within the closure will shut down operations.

Industrial Fire Precaution Plan-Description

Plan Item MST (Mtn.

Standard

Time)

MDT (Mtn.

Daylight

Time)

A Normal Fire Precautions. No fire guard required.

B Normal Fire Precautions. Contactor will provide fire guard.

C No smoking, warming, or cooking fires are permitted at any time.

Contractor will provide fire guard.

All power saws except for chainsaws used for limbing on landings cleared to mineral soil will shut down:

Mechanical fellers except or mechanical fellers equipped with hydraulic shears will shut down:

9:00 AM to

8:00 PM

10:00 AM

to 9:00 PM

Shutdown all machine treatment of slash; mechanical equipment used for shearing, bunching or delimbing; skidding; cable yarding;

blasting or clearing:

12:00 noon to 8:00 PM

1:00 PM to

9:00 PM

Welding, metal cutting on cleared mineral soil will be shut down: 12:00 noon to 8:00 PM

1:00 PM to

9:00 PM

All chainsaws used for limbing on landings cleared to mineral soil will shut down:

2:00 PM to

8:00 PM

3:00 PM to

9:00 PM

Operation on mineral soil involving road excavation, watering, grading, surfacing, rock crushing, and/or other equipment maintenance may continue.

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. Contractor will provide fire guard.

Restriction levels are determined by the appropriate Forest Line Officer in consultation with the Forest Fire Management Officer and Contractor. 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.

FIRE GUARDS

To prevent, detect, and suppress wildland fire, contractors 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”.

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. 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.

RED FLAG WARNING

A red flag warning is issued when the combination of dry fuels and weather conditions support extreme fire danger. Red flag warnings are issued by the National Weather Service for land and fire managers to highlight the increased fire danger.

RED FLAG WARNING is issued if conditions are occurring or will occur within the next 24 hours that would support extreme fire danger.

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.