Conservation Practice Specification ID-338-SPEC

Prescribed Burning Conservation Practice Specification ID-338-SPEC Natural Resources Conservation Service, Idaho March 2009

Client:

Plans and Specifications A written burn plan will be prepared by certified individuals. Specifications for applying this practice shall be prepared for each site and recorded using approved specification sheets, job sheets, technical notes, and narrative statements in the conservation plan, or other acceptable documentation. All necessary permits must be obtained before implementation of the practice.

Definition A Prescribed Burning Plan will include: Controlled fire applied to a predetermined area  Location and description of the burn area Purposes  Pre-burn vegetation cover  To control undesirable vegetation.  To prepare sites for harvesting, planting or  Resource management objectives seeding.  Required weather conditions for prescribed burn  To control plant disease.  To reduce wildfire hazards.  Notification check list  To improve wildlife habitat.  Pre-burn preparation  To improve plant production quantity and/or quality.  Equipment checklist/personnel assignments and  To remove slash and debris. needs/safety requirements  To enhance seed and seedling production.  Post-burn evaluation criteria  To facilitate distribution of grazing and browsing animals.  Firing sequence  To restore and maintain ecological sites.  Ignition method Where Used  Approval signatures On rangeland, forestland, pastureland, wildlife land, hayland, and other lands as appropriate. Operation and Maintenance Resource Management System Operation: The kinds and expected variability of site Prescribed Burning will be planned and applied as factors (e.g., fuel condition and moisture content, part of a Resource Management System (RMS) weather conditions, human and vehicular traffic that using the guidelines provided in the Prescribed may be impeded by heat or smoke, liability, and Burning (338) standard. Additional practices shall be safety and health precautions) shall be monitored planned to address resource concerns and achieve during the operation of this practice. Sufficient fire objectives of land owner. These may include suppression equipment and personnel shall be Prescribed Grazing (528), Pest Management (595), available commensurate with the expected behavior Pasture and Hay Planting (512), Range Seeding of these factors during the time of burning to prevent (550), Brush Management (314), Upland Wildlife a wildfire or other safety, health or liability incident. Habitat Management (645, and others. Maintenance: Maintenance shall include monitoring of the burned site and adjacent areas until such time as ash, debris and other consumed material is at pre- burn temperatures. PRESCRIBED BURNING MANAGEMENT PLAN Client Information Name: Phone: Ranch Name: Address: County: City: State: Zip:

Design Approval: Check appropriate box Practice Job class code Practice Controlling factor Units No. I II III IV 338 Prescribed Burning Acres Acres See Idaho GM 190 Part Fuel Type / Size See App. B 413 Prescribed Burning Slope Percent Appendix B This practice is classified as Job Class (check one):

Design by: Date:

Job title: Job Approval Level:

The following must be signed by individuals with appropriate Job Approval Authority and agreed-to and signed by the Client/Landowner

NRCS APPROVAL: Reviewed by: Job Approval Level:_____ Date: ______

Approved by: ______Job Approval Level:_____ Date:______

Client’s Acknowledgement and Liability Statement: The Client acknowledges that: a. They have received a copy of the specification and understand the contents and requirements. b. It shall be the responsibility of the client to obtain all necessary permits and/or rights, and to comply with all ordinances and laws pertaining to the application of this practice. c. I, Landowner assume all liability for any damages that may occur as a result of this prescribed burn. Accepted by: /s/ Date:

Certification: I have completed a review of the information provided by the client and certify this practice has been applied. Certification by: /s/ Date:

Job title:

Description of Area to be Burned Pasture Name and/or Number: Vegetation Type: Acres:

Legal Description: Section: Township: Range: GPS Coordinates (if known): Written Directions from nearest town: (Be specific so that these directions can be read to emergency personnel if needed)

Projected Date of Burn: Date of Previous Burn: Objectives to be Accomplished through the Prescribed Burn

Notifications: Responsibility of Client Fire Departments Date, Time and Person Phone Number Notified

Date and Time of Adjoining Landowners Phone Number Notification

Others, as Needed : Sheriff, IDL, DEQ, Date, Time and Person Phone Number BLM, USFS, Utility Companies, Tribes Notified

Pre-Burn Preparations – Describe management needed prior to burn in order to successfully accomplish burn and meet objectives. (Deferred grazing to build fuel loads; prescribed grazing to reduce fuel loads; fireguard preparation; burning of bush piles; etc.) Firebreak Types (include locations on Dimensions Preparation / Installation map)

Smoke Management Considerations – Refer to Idaho DEQ and Montana/Idaho Airshed Group Sensitive Areas Identified Direction from Burn Area Distance to Area

Other Smoke Management Considerations (Category Day, hours of burning; local ordinances; dispersion conditions; applying various smoke control strategies such as avoidance (burn when the wind is blowing away from all smoke-sensitive areas, avoid burning if temperature inversions are present, etc.), dilution (reducing smoke concentrations by burning during good and rapid dispersion conditions, burning at slower rates, burning smaller areas, burning lighter fuel loads if the desired results can be achieved by doing so, burning mid-day rather than late afternoon or evening, etc.), emission reduction (minimize smoke output per unit area by utilizing effective firing techniques such as backfires, by proper scheduling for periods when duff and larger fuels are too wet to burn, by removing larger materials from the area to reduce emissions from residual smoldering smoke, etc.);burning under favorable moisture conditions; “mop-up” quickly to reduce residual smoldering smoke; etc.) Pre-Burn Checklist - The following items should be addressed prior to implementing burn and appropriate action taken. Protection of facilities and/or special areas should be documented and included on map.

Accomplished Action needed / Recommended (Client Checks)

Permits and

Notifications

Pens/Barns

Oil/Gas/Pipelines/

Utility Structures

Fences

Homes/Cabins

Windmills

Watering Facilities

Feeding Facilities/Hay

Storage

Equipment/Vehicles

Wildlife Habitat Areas

Critical Eroding Areas

Remnant Livestock

Volatile Fuels

Other Areas Desired for Protection

Inspection of

Firebreaks (Check all firelines for “fuel bridging” before starting the burn. Fuel Conditions Needed to Accomplish the Burn and Achieve Objectives – Planning should begin early enough to achieve adequate fuel conditions needed to accomplish the burn. Special management needed to achieve this should be addressed in pre-burn preparations. Prescription Actual (day of burn) Fine Fuel Amount (lbs/ac) 1 Continuity 1 Good Fair Poor Good Fair Poor 10 hour fuel moisture (% dry wt.

Basis) 2 Mulch Load (lbs./ac) 2 Mulch Depth (inches) 2 Mulch moisture content (%) 2 1 – Required entry ; 2 – As needed Weather Conditions - Prescription Prescription Firebreaks or Backfires Prescribed Burn Optimum Maximum Range Optimum Maximum Range Wind Speed Wind Direction Relative Humidity Air Temperature Duff and Soil Surface Dry Damp Wet Dry Damp Wet Soil Profile Dry Damp Wet Dry Damp Wet Risk of Spotfires High Med Low High Med Low

Other Fuel or Weather Considerations (Fine fuel moisture, Days since last major rainfall event, any other special considerations)

Weather Forecasts – (Responsibility of Client) Timing of burning is dependent upon prescribed weather conditions. Both the 7 day and 24 hour forecasts should be checked and documented in order to plan burn according to prescription. Forecasted Item Seven (7) day Forecast Twenty-Four (24) hour Forecast Predicted Windshifts Wind Speeds Wind Direction Temperatures Relative Humidity Other as needed Source of Data Possible Sources of Weather Data

Forecasts: National Weather Service – Fire Weather

Equipment Needs and Crew Member Responsibilities Checklist – Various types of equipment may be needed in order to have a safe and successful burn. The following checklist should be used to inventory available equipment and plan for needed equipment. All equipment should be tested prior to starting the fire. It is also a good idea to have back- up equipment on hand. Comments / Available Equipment Amount Amount Equipment Items Other Day Of Suggestions On-Hand Needed Considerations Burn Used for lighting the firelines; should be held upright to prevent dripping Drip torch(es) fuel or extinguished; air vent should be adjusted for fine fuel conditions and walking pace Place and hold over fire or use like a mop over an Flapper(s) area to smother flames – Do Not Flap Or Swat! Clear small areas of Shovel(s) firebreak; smother flames; place dirt over flames Clear areas or widen Rake(s) firebreaks, especially in (McLeod rakes, wooded areas; spread fire by dragging fine fuel; S garden rakes, L prevent fire from spreading

O etc.) by dragging fine fuel & fire O back on itself T Used for putting fire out D Backpack

N especially in areas where pump(s) / A larger sprayers or H Sprayer(s) equipment is hard to get in Mainly used in timbered areas to blow a clean line to bare soil through leaf Leaf Blower(s) litter; can also blow out small backfires or small flank fires Flags for To regulate traffic on roads or highways when smoke flagmen reduces visibility Chainsaw(s) / Helpful for cutting down snags and hollow trees Tree saw(s) before or after the burn

T Good to have on standby

N Pumper truck(s) should the fire escape;

E E source of additional water G M R P Good to have on standby I Tractor(s) / A

U should the fire escape; can L Maintainer(s)

Q blade new firebreaks to E contain an escape; can blade out or cover small fires to put them out Helpful for putting out small escapes; can be used to Livestock lay down wetlines in areas sprayer(s) where bare soil firebreaks can’t be installed; source of extra water Helpful for large areas or ATV’s, (4 rough terrain; can mount Wheelers) ATV water sprayers on them or light firelines Diesel & Gas Fuel mixture is a 1:1 diesel:gas – on warmer mixture for days this can approach a torches 2:1 diesel:gas mixture Used for lighting the torches; may be needed in Matches or emergencies to burn out a black area around yourself lighters S should one get trapped E

I inside a burning area L accidentally P

P Needed for motors on

U Fuel (Not mixed) pumps, sprayers, or ATV’s S Needed to keep the fire Drinking water crew hydrated and functioning Pliers may be needed to Toolkit / Fencing cut fences to allow vehicles pliers / Other to get to an escape; other tools tools for repairs on equipment Obtain on-site weather information & monitor Weatherkit weather parameters during the burn

S Vital for communication

N Two-way between all crew members O I radio(s) & the fireboss T

A Helpful to monitor weather

C especially if a front is I NOAA Radio

N predicted

U Fireboss should have a M means of contacting M Cellular phone emergency personnel if the O

C need arises Coordinates can be useful GPS for emergency personnel if site is in a remote area Long sleeve shirts, pants - All cotton / no cuffs, worn outside of All crew

Nomex clothing boots; no rips, tears, or members frays in clothing

T Cotton cap(s) / All crew

N Long hair inside Helmet(s) E members

M Gloves – no large cuffs; P

I Leather gloves All crew Boots – lace-up preferred; U and boots No sneakers members Q E Dust masks to filter ash & Y some smoke; goggles to T

E Dust masks and protect eyes from heat & All crew F goggles smoke irritation or when A members

S using power tools (leaf blowers, chainsaws) Nomex fire resistant Face Protectors material for use on fireline to protect face from heat Crew Members and Responsibilities – Do not burn until all precautions have been taken and all personnel on site are informed of the burn plan and their responsibilities during the burn. Have on-hand sufficient equipment and manpower needed to control the fire at all times. Ensure that all personnel are able to operate their assigned equipment. Total number of crew members FIREBOSS *** needed:

***The fireboss will be the sole leader and coordinator of all prescribed burning activities. If the fireboss is not satisfied with the firebreak preparation, fire prescription, personnel, weather conditions, or other aspects of safety, then the burn shall be postponed.

Responsibility Reviewed w/ Name (i.e. torch, suppression, spotters, flagmen, etc.) Crew (Y/N)

Application Of Burn Projected Date of Burn From: To: Ignition Plan – Describe sequence of ignition for both burned firebreaks and main fire. Include details of ignition plan on burn plan map.

Plan of Action should the fire escape or wind changes directions

Burn Plan Map – (Include legend with north arrow, smoke management considerations, archaeological/cultural resource sites, roads, firebreaks, utilities, water sources, ingress/egress routes for emergency vehicles, ignition plan, areas not to be burned, facilities and other items as needed.)

“Mop-Up” After Burning Responsibility Maintenance shall include “mop-up” or monitoring of the burned site and adjacent areas until ash, debris and other consumed material is at pre-burn temperatures. Be aware that stumps, snags, fence posts, and manure piles may smolder for several days after the burn. “Mop-up” actions may include drenching with water or fire retardant, smothering with a covering of soil or sand, or flapping and raking the fuels apart. “Mop-up” procedures need to continue until all “hot spots” have been extinguished. Be especially careful with burning materials near the perimeter of the burned area and move burning or smoldering materials to a safe area inside the burned area. Maintain close observation of the burned area until the fire is completely extinguished. Maintain contact with the weather station until the fire is extinguished. Take immediate positive action to ensure safety of the fire should a dangerous change in the weather conditions occur. Check entire perimeter of the burn area for firebrand sources, hollow trees, poles and posts, smoldering brush and log piles, cow chips, and heavy mulch areas. Make sure the entire area is “safe”. Post-Burn Notification: After the burn is completed and all “mop-up” has been accomplished, the list of people and agencies notified before the burn should again be notified that the burn is complete. This will ensure that if a wildfire or accidental escape (poor “mop-up”) occurs, help will be summoned immediately OTHER ITEMS:

Post Burn Management – Management needed after the burn in order to meet objectives. Include any recommendations or considerations needed for invasive species.

Actual Weather Conditions at time of Prescribed Burn – Record periodically during time of burn Days Since Rain Wind Relative Air Time Wind Speed Source of Data Direction Humidity Temperature