Seevan Timber Stand Improvement Burn
IV. Scheduling
Proposed Ignition Date: Mar.-June and/or Oct.
Projected Burn Duration: 4 hours
V. Pre-Burn ConsiderationsA.Preparation NeedsOn Site: Monitor fuels and weather conditions on-site leading up to ignition with weather obs and protometer readings documented the day of the burn. Check control lines prior to ignition and make improvements to control lines, if needed, prior to ignition. Obtain a spot weather forecast the day of the planned burn.
Off Site: Monitor general weather forecasts to establish day and time of ignition.
B.Special Precautions, Regulations, Documentation (Utility lines, historical sites, safety, aircraft, ect.)Beware of vehicle traffic on D-2000 road system, Highway 200 and Highway 93. Fully brief project personnel on project objectives, assignments, expected fire behavior, holding concerns, ignition patterns, safety concerns, communications, escape routes, and safety zones.
VI.Burning Prescriptions and Observed Conditions Fuel Model: 13
Weather: Average Range Actual
Temperature: 60 F 45-70 F
Relative Humidity: 30% 25-40 %
Wind Direction: Northeast N to E
Wind Speed (eye level): 3 mph0-6 mph
Fuel Moistures: 1 hr. < 8 %5 to 13 %
10 hr.< 11 %7 to 15 %
100 hr.> 9 % 9 to 17 %
1000 hr. NA NA
Woody (live) NA NA
Herbaceous (live): Cured
Fire Characteristics: Rate of Spread: 18 CH/HR18 to 27
Flame Length: 8 feet< 1 to 14
Burning Index < 50N/A
ERC< 50N/A
VII.Ignition Methods and Burn Sequence
Ignition Overhead: The project requires a qualified Type II Ignition Specialist to manage the ignition operation and organization.
Ignition Briefing: The Ignition Specialist will conduct an operational briefing with the ignition team immediately following the general briefing (conducted by the Burn Boss). The following items will be addressed in the operational briefing: LCES, ignition sequence/pattern and all hazards associated with the ignition process.
Test Fire Procedures: Following the operational briefing, project personnel will report to their assigned work area. With personnel and operational equipment in place the Burn Boss, Ignition Specialist and Holding Specialist will establish a test fire location. The Burn Boss will contact the Flathead Agency Dispatch and inform them that the operational briefing has been conducted, request that notifications be made and inform dispatch that the test fire id being conducted. The Burn Boss will direct the Ignition Specialist to light the test fire. The test fire will be evaluated using the following criteria: meets burn objectives, resistance to control, and smoke management. If the test fire does not meet prescription criteria the Burn Boss will contact Flathead Agency Dispatch and inform them the project will be terminated and the Holding Specialist will direct the suppression of the test fire area. If the test fire meets prescription criteria the Burn Boss will contact Flathead Agency Dispatch and inform them that the test fire meets criteria and ignition has started.
Ignition Personnel, Method, Equipment & Pattern: The project requires ten (10) individuals using a hand, drip torch ignition device in which a combination of spot, headstrip, and backing fire techniques may be used depending on resulting fire behavior. The Burn boss, Ignition specialist and igniters may need to evaluate and adjust ignition patterns utilized to maintain flame lengths of less than 8-feet (preferred flame lengths of 2 to 4 feet) to meet project mortality objectives.
Ignition Sequence: Block #’s 842613, 842614 & 842714 combination:(62 acres total)
(1) Establish a 20’ x 20’ test fire in the top, southeast corner of unit 842613 with up-slope, diurnal winds out of the northeast (see burn sequence map) to evaluate flame lengths, burn duration, fire intensity and smoke dispersal. [If winds are out of the east move test fire to the top, southwest corner of block 482714.] If the test fire does not meet prescription criteria, stop ignition, secure and suppress test burn area. If test burn meets prescription criteria; (2) the ignition team will establish a head strip pattern below the top (south) hand line (see burn sequence map). The initial head strip will be 5-feet deep and allowed to back down slope. Ignition team will be instructed to fill in any gaps that are created by the backing fire to keep the head strip pattern even on the contour across the unit. This pattern will be repeated until the portion of the burn unit above the upper D-2000 road has been burned. Once this buffer is established the Ignition Specialist (with approval from the Burn Boss and Holding Specialist) will; (3) establish a head strip ignition pattern on the contour with widths and timing of strips allowing for 1 to 8 foot surface flame lengths (preferred flame lengths of 2 to 4 feet). This ignition pattern will be implemented for the remainder of the unit with holding and/or ignition personnel (4) trimming the East and West flanks from the top control line down along the hand lines to the bottom of the unit, which are the D-2000 and D-2007 roads. Ignition Specialist will be responsible for the safety of all individuals assigned to the ignition organization.
VIII. Holding PlanHolding Overhead: The project requires a qualified Type IV IC (ICT4) to serve as the Holding Specialist and manage the holding operation and organization.
Holding Briefing: The Holding Specialist will conduct an operational briefing with the holding team immediately following the general briefing (conducted by the Burn Boss). The following items will be addressed in the operational briefing: LCES, areas of concern, water source for engines to refill, communication protocol for the operational period and expected hazards associated with the operational period.
Holding Operational Equipment and Personnel: The project requires a fully operational Type 4 and two (2)Type 6 Engines with two individuals assigned to each.
Holding Overview: The project will utilize roads and hand fire lines for control lines. The Holding Specialist, Burn Boss, and Ignition Specialist will evaluate all holding lines to determine if any lines need to be plumbed prior to ignition. All spot fires will be communicated through the chain of command with the Holding Specialist notifying the Burn Boss. Size-up criteria will be established prior to ignition in the holding briefing. Slop-overs and spots will be aggressively suppressed and secured (under supervision of the holding specialist). The burn area will be evaluated for mop-up guidelines after ignition is complete with a minimum of one-day patrol. Holding Specialist will advise Ignition Specialist to cease ignition activities if control problems are encountered.
IX. Contingency Plan for Fire Escape Contingency Resource Validation: The resources identified under this plan as contingency resources will be validated through correspondence with FHA Fire Dispatch prior to ignition. Resources (equipment and personnel) on-site above the required personnel identified in the prescription can count toward the contingency resources identified in this plan.
Initiation of the Contingency Plan: The Contingency Plan is initiated at the discretion of the Burn Boss.
Declaration of Wildfire: If an escape fire is declared a wildfire, the fire dispatch office will be contacted. The wildfire declaration rational and decision criteria will be documented and signed by the Burn Boss, the FMO notified of the decision and made aware of the situation. The BIA Superintendent, Forest Manager, Tribal Council, and BIA Area Fuels Specialist will also be notified. The escaped fire will be initial attacked by project personnel under the supervision of the assigned Burn Boss and/or other qualified FHA Initial Attack personnel.
Declarations of Wildfire Checklist: the following 5 events will occur as they are listed in sequence.
1. The Burn Boss has the authority to declare the escape fire a wildfire and assume the IC role on the incident.
2. The Division of Fire will be notified through the dispatch center.
3. The FMO, Forest Manager, Tribal Chairman, BIA Flathead Agency Superintendent and Portland Area Fuels Representative will be notified immediately.
4. The Operations Specialist will conduct/oversee all suppression and post suppression operations for the escaped fire.
5. The FMO will complete a WFSA.
Contingency runs using the BEHAVE MODEL were used to evaluate the potential fire behavior for a flanking, running, and head fire outside the project area in the case a spot fire occurred. Based on worst-case (dry end of the prescription) fire behavior predictions, contingency actions must address escaped wildfire in timber reserves that could spread up slope to the south towards the Reservation Boundary.
The BEHAVE MODEL outputs for a running fire with the wind and slope, flanking fire, and backing fire outside the project area can be found in the Appendix, Attachment B, section of this (Seevan TSI) plan.
Contingency Plan Forces: The following resources may be requested through CS&KT Fire Dispatch when the Contingency Plan is initiated. Estimated times of arrival are:
10 person crew/misc. overhead- On scene.
(2) wildland engines- On scene.
(1) 20 person hand crew- ETA= 5 hours.
(1) Wildland Engine- ETA= 3 hours.
Contingency Force Ordering: The following information will be provided when ordering contingency resources; location where contingency forces will report to, who the contingency forces will initially report to, special equipment and/or tool needs and if the resources will need sleeping bags and meals for an expected extended shift.