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CPBM Training: Planning and Evaluation of the Burn

CPBM Training: Planning and Evaluation of the Burn. Interagency Basic RX Fire Course Training Manual Chapter 10. School of Forest Resources and Conservation Forest Ecology and Management 2011 Leda Kobziar, Instructor. Four Operational Phases of all Rx Burns. Planning & Evaluation

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CPBM Training: Planning and Evaluation of the Burn

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  1. CPBM Training: Planning and Evaluation of the Burn Interagency Basic RX Fire Course Training Manual Chapter 10 School of Forest Resources and Conservation Forest Ecology and Management 2011 Leda Kobziar, Instructor

  2. Four Operational Phases of all Rx Burns • Planning & Evaluation • Ignition/ suppression • Mop up • Declaring the fire “out”

  3. Why plan? “Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.” (Will Rogers) “You can no more get to where you don’t know where you’re going than you got to where you think you are from where you don’t know where you’ve been.” (John Bethea) Preclude bad judgment and a loss of perspective using careful, well-thought out planning… Don’t get stuck playing the Blues!

  4. You’re outside of the burn unit! Planning is useless, unless it’s well-communicated to everyone involved

  5. OBJECTIVES of this unit 1) Identify the key elements to be addressed in every burn plan. 2) Write clear and measurable objectives for specific burns. 3) Describe the contingency plan elements for an escaped prescribed fire in Florida. 4) Develop a prescription which meets legal requirements, landowner directives, and best management practices for Florida. 5) Execute an evaluation for a prescribed burn.

  6. Planning and Evaluation • Should be done before season begins • First, develop prescriptions for each unit you’d like to burn: “A written statement defining the range of conditions of temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, fuel moisture, atmospheric stability, soil moisture and geographical area under which a fire will be ignited and/or allowed to burn in order to obtain given objectives.” • Everyone on burn should review the prescription

  7. 14 Major components of FL Burn prescriptions 1) Purpose and Objectives 2) Description of Burn Unit 3) Map Of burn Unit 4) Weather Factors 5) Safety 6) Fuel Conditions 7) Season and Time of Day 8) Smoke Screening 9) Publicity 10) Legal Requirements 11) Firing Plan 12) Equipment and Personnel 13) Contingencies, Control and MopUp, Declaring Fire Out 14) Evaluation/Monitoring

  8. 1. Purpose and Objectives • Purpose- established by the landowner: Why burn??? • Objectives- benchmarks which serve as indicators of the results of each prescribed burn. Objectives should bemeasurable. • Helps in operations, public relations, and to evaluate the success of the burn

  9. 2. Description of the Burn Unit 1. Location and size 2. Burn History 3. Soils 4. Plant Communities (Overstory & Understory) 5. Topography 6. Special Features 7. Fuels

  10. 3. Map of burn unit

  11. Weather Topography Fuels 4. Weather factors 1. Wind 2. Relative Humidity 3. Fine Fuel Moisture 4. Temperature 5. Stability 6. Mixing height 7. Transport wind speed 8. Dispersion index 9. Fire danger indices

  12. 5. Safety • PPE • LCES • Individual concerns (asthma, allergies, etc.) • Equipment operation & use • Emergency contacts • Smoke management

  13. 6. Fuel Conditions • Type • Loading and continuity • Drought conditions (KBDI > 500 = risk to duff) • Moisture Content (8-20%) • Hazards (jackpots? Snags?)

  14. 7. Season & Time of Day • Link to objectives (vegetation, wildlife- growing season burns and birds pub.) • Depends on fuels and hazards • Predictability of weather (e.g. established cold fronts usually bring consistent winds in FL– good for burning)

  15. 8. Smoke Screening The objectives of smoke management are to: 1) Reduce the emissions produced, 2) Identify and avoid smoke-sensitive areas (SSA’s) such as airports, hospitals, schools and public roads, and 3) Burn only when atmospheric conditions assure good smoke transport anddispersion

  16. 9. Public Relations • Who should be notified before burning? • Pamphlets, fliers, notices, postings in nearby neighborhoods • Blog? Tweets? http://Nat'l Forests in Florida Twitter • Public support is based on an informed public– no surprises = no complaints!

  17. 10. Legal Requirements • 1) Notify DOF at the time the authorization is secured that the burn is being conducted under the provisions of the Certified Prescribed Burn Act. • 2) Inspect the burn unit prior to ignition to ensure that endangered species will not be adversely impacted by the burn and to ensure that improved property and structures will be protected. • 3) Provide a reliable communication link with DOF during the burn. • 4) Notify DOF if any problems arise on the burn. If the fire escapes from the designated burn unit notification and a request for help must be requested immediately. • 5) Be prepared to extinguish the prescribed burn within two hours after notification by the DOF. • 6) Be prepared to enact contingency plans for other problems which may arise.

  18. Wind X Lookout gravel road 1 Test Fire X Lookout 1 berm Road 2 3 3 gravel road Safety Zone Escape Routes 11. Firing Plan Narrative AND a map

  19. 12. Equipment and personnel • Who’s the boss? • Who, how many, skills & training, assignments • TNC Required items: • Pumper on site Yes / No • Three radios Yes / No • Protective clothing Yes / No • First aid kit Yes / No • Weather kit Yes / No • Fire shelters Yes / No

  20. 13. Contingencies, Control and Mop-Up, Declaring the Fire Out • Contingencies for escapes, medical emergencies, equipment failure • Provide for both crew and public safety • “Declaring the fire out is the final step in declaring the burn unit safe. Normally a fire is not declared out until the burn manager is certain that all combustion including smoldering and glowing phases has ceased. This determination is usually made several days after the burn has been completed but in some cases it may be several weeks.”

  21. 14. Evaluation Evaluation of the burn considers: 􀂙 Were pre-burn preparations made? 􀂙 Were objectives met? 􀂙 Adherence to burning plan? 􀂙 Were conditions of weather, fuel conditions, and fire behavior within planned limits? 􀂙 Environmental effects on soil, air, vegetation, water, and wildlife? 􀂙 Any accidents or near accidents? 􀂙 Was fire confined to area? Any escape? 􀂙 Was burning techniques correct? 􀂙 Were costs comparable with benefits derived?

  22. Four Operational Phases of all Rx Burns Planning & Evaluation Ignition/ suppression Mop up Declaring the fire “out” Don’t you remember our contingency plan? Let’s light a counter fire!

  23. Holding and Contingencies • Objectives • Described how to maintain a fire within the authorized area • What to do WHEN (not if) a rx fire escapes • Standards for Mop UP and Declaring the Fire Out

  24. Why do rx burners need to know about wildfire suppression? • When a rx fire escapes, it becomes a wildfire!

  25. Specific Actions Can Prevent Escapes During Each Phase of a Rx Burn • During Planning/ Evaluation • Burn Unit • Identify travel barriers (weight limits on bridges, locked gates • Locate jackpots and lightered snags • Hazards and heavy fuels outside burn unit • Control Lines • Disked / tilled lines 8-12’ wide, wet lines, hiking trails, mowed areas, hand tool lines

  26. During planning, cont. • Communications • Included in the burn plan, with emergency contact lists • Check cell phones and radios, have extra batteries • Personnel & equipment • Experience and tools should match burn complexity • Know your suppression forces • DOF is responsible, tractor-plow is main initial attack tool • Status of suppression forces • Fire danger dictates fire readiness level

  27. Fire Readiness LevelSee: http://tlhforweb03.doacs.state.fl.us/PublicReports/ • FRL DESCRIPTION • 1 Little or no fire activity anticipated. • 2 Some "routine" fires anticipated. No more than 50% of resources expected • to be needed at any given time. No difficulty in control or mop-up • expected. • 3 Very active fire day anticipated. Fire occurrence above average and • difficulty of control expected. May have to commit 80% of resources at • any given time. • 4 Fire situation expected to be difficult. May have fires carrying over from the • previous day, new fire starting, and experiencing difficulty of control. All • resources will probably be committed and assistance from outside the • district may be required. • 5 Fire situation is extreme and ability to respond will exceed district • capability. Fires are numerous, large, and difficult to control and mop up. • Outside assistance will be needed beyond a 24-hour period, and an • incident command team may be required.

  28. During Ignitions phase • Crew briefing, crew location and behavior • Test fire • Blackline • The witching hour = 2 PM! • Unique weather conditions (sea breeze, thunderstorms etc.) • Situational awareness (weather, spotting) • Modify ignition plan only if you’re sure, but must modify the written plan and notify all personnel • Suppress slopovers and spot overs

  29. What do you do if you have multiple… • Equipment problems • Adverse weather • Smoke concerns • Unexpected fire behavior • Frequent spotting Help!!

  30. During Mop-Up • Clean off fire lines • Mop up to a given distance from fire lines (usually 25-50’, or complete mop up for SSA) • Look for aerial fuels, snags, anything that can burn over the fire lines. Remove, relocate, or wet down • Reduce smoke for any fuels you didn’t adequately protect during ignition (e.g. lightered pines) • Extinguish stumps, logs, burning duff near fire line • Dig or scrape duff- roots may also be burning and cross the line • Inspect unburned areas outside of unit • Reinspect unit the next day- early morning and afternoon • MOP UP IS CRITICAL! MANY RX ESCAPES ARE CONTRIBUTED TO LAZY MOP UP!

  31. If Your Fire Escapes!!! • Don’t deny it! • Call the DOF if it might escape, & immediately when it does • THEN stop and size up the problem • Where is my crew? My equipment? Are they safe? Move to safety zones?

  32. If Your Fire Escapes!!! • Decision you must make: • Discontinue ignitions • Where and how to attack • Where you will put in a new fire line, and how big / what type should it be? Anchor the line • Equipment/ manpower needed to shut down burn, and suppress the escaped fire • Do you need more help? • Adjacent landowners, local fire department, other agencies, law enforcement

  33. If your fire is out of prescription • Call the DOF • Put the fire out • Mop up immediately

  34. Summary • Teamwork: The Four Cs • Calm- if you’re in danger, remember LCES and stay calm • Common sense- actions should pass the common sense test • Communications- listen to experienced burners, remain in communication • Contingenices- discuss potential problems in advanced

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