(Units: 842613, 842614 & 842714)

Prepared by:
Darrell Clairmont and Art Trahan

I. Unit Description

Location:
T18 N R24W Sec. 26
T18 N R24W Sec. 26
T18 N R24W Sec. 27

Size: 62 acres total

Units: 842613 ---- 30 acres.
842614 ---- 12 acres.
842614 ---- 20 acres.


Elevation Range: 4600 Upper 4000 Lower


Slopes Units: 842613 - 36-45%.
842614 - 36-45%.
842614 - 16-25%.


Aspects Units: 842613 – Northwest to Northeast
842614 – Northeast
842614 – Northeast to Northwest

Description of Boundaries:
Project area is located in the south-central portion of the Flathead Reservation within the Southwest Landscape. The project consists of 3 post harvest activity units (842613, 842614, & 842714) totaling 62 acres, in the West Seepay Creek drainage, approximately 1.75 miles north of the border between the Flathead Reservation and the Lolo National Forest. The three units are all connected and will be burned as one unit. Hand-constructed fireline is located along the west and east flanks, and along the south (top) boundary. The D-2000 and D-2007 roads run along the north (bottom) of the unit. Specific unit boundaries are as follows:

Block # 842613 is bounded by hand-constructed fireline along the east (flank) and south (top) boundaries. The D-2000 road runs along the bottom (north) boundary and zigzags through the unit. Unit 842614 borders the entire west flank. (refer to map)

Block # 842614 lays between units 842613 (along the east flank) and 842714 (along the west flank). The D-2000 road runs along the bottom (north) boundary and zigzags through the unit. The south (top) boundary consists of hand-constructed fireline. (refer to map)

Block # 842714 is bounded by hand-constructed fireline along the west (flank) and south (top) boundaries. The D-2007 road runs along the north (bottom) boundary. The east flank is bounded by the D-2000 road and unit 842614. The D-2000 road zigzags through the unit. (refer to map)


Vegetation Type: % of Burn
Lodgepole pine/Subalpine fir/Douglas-fir/western larch/ponderosa pine 100

Canopy Configuration by Species:
There are approximately 12 to 15 large diameter (15” to 20” dbh) ponderosa pine leave trees located along the minor ridge that runs down through unit 842714. There are also a few small pockets of pole-sized Ponderosa pine located toward the bottom of unit (842714). There are no leave trees in units 842613 and 842614.

Canopy Heights by Species:
Units 842613 and 842614 have no leave trees. Leave trees located within unit 842714 are large diameter Ponderosa pine, approximately 80-feet tall, with 40 to 30% crowns.

Living and Dead Fuels:
Fuels are dominated by moderate to heavy needle litter, low shrubs, and LP/AF/DF/WLPP logging slash. The dead to live fuel rations of surface fuels is expected to be high (approximately 90% to 10%) due to the high amount of branch and top material created by the logging activity. Litter and duff depth is estimated at an average of 1 to 2 _ “. Estimated fuel loading are: 7 to 23 tons/acre 1 & 10 hr.; 28 tons/acre 100 hrs.; and 10 to 20 tons/acre 1000 hrs. Average fuel bed depth is 1 to 3 feet. Total fuel loadings are less than 45 tons/acre.

II. Purpose of Burn

Goals:
Site Preparation
Hazard Fuel Reduction

Objectives:
1. Consume litter @ >75% within burned areas.
2. PP Seedtree’s scorch mortality of <30%.
3. DF/GF residual regeneration, sapling mortality of >75%.
4. Reduce 0.25” to 1.0” fuels @ >70%.
5. Reduce 1.0” fuels & larger @ >60%.
6. Provide a minimum 300 planting spots per acre.
7. Retain a minimum _” layer of duff over < 40% of the area.


III. Fire Organization (Hand Ignition)

Manpower:
Prescribed Burn Boss: (1) Type 2 Moderate Complexity
Ignition Specialist: (1) Type 2 Moderate Complexity
Holding Specialist: (1) ICT4 Qualified Individual
Helicopter Manager: None
Weather Monitor: (1) May have collateral duties
CrewIgnition Crew: 10
Holding Crew: 10
3 days patrol: 2

IV. Scheduling

Proposed Ignition Date: Mar.-June and/or Oct.

Projected Burn Duration: 4 hours

V. Pre-Burn Considerations

A.Preparation Needs

On 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 Plan

Holding 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.

X. Smoke Management Considerations
Burn only under weather conditions that will
provide good burning conditions and proper
smoke dispersion of a minimum 4,000 feet
AGL plume development for mixing heights.
Acceptable transport winds are all wind direc-
tions, with preferred transport winds carrying
emissions in a south, southwest, west, north-
west, north, northeast, and east direction.

This burn will be approved by the Montana /
Idaho Airshed Group the day of ignition.

Notifications will be made to the CS&K Tribal
Air Quality Department the day of ignition.


XI. Communications and Coordination
Tribal Law & OrderLake Co. SheriffTribal
Air QualityMIDC-USFS



XII. Monitoring and Evaluation Procedures
Fire effects, postburn consumption, and tree mortality will be monitored using standard ocular observations. Post burn evaluation of site will be conducted by the prescribed Burn Boss and Fuels Monitor.


XIII. Other Considerations (Cultural, T&E Species, Categorical Exclusion, Etc.)
Cultural clearance has been obtained for this project through the environmental assessment process (SeeVan Timber Sale Management Area E.A.).

Communicate with the Tribal Air Quality Department prior to, and after the project is completed.


XIV. Safety
Hazards are rolling materials and bad footing due to steep slopes, snags, wind shifts during ignition, fire behavior changes during ignition, communication breakdowns, possible suppression actions, bee stings, and vehicle traffic on roads. Conduct full safety briefing prior to ignition.

Mitigate identified Hazards and Safety related issues through pre-burn briefings as identified in the plan. During ignition and possible initial attack actions, post lookouts and establish safety zones and escape routes. Maintain radio communication with all project personnel at all times. Immediately communicate changes in wind direction/velocity and resulting changes in fire behavior. Watch for falling snags and rolling material. Choose walking paths with good footing. During possible IA actions, anchor in at bottom of escape fire area and conduct flanking suppression action only (no frontal assaults). Drive vehicles in a safe and prudent manner.


LIST OF ATTACHMENTS (not included here)
Attachment A---Vicinity Map
Attachment B--- Burn Sequence Map
Attachment C--- Holding Map
Attachment D--- Smoke Trajectory Map
Attachment E--- Unit Description Map
Attachment F--- BEHAVE RUNS
Attachment G--- Complexity Analysis
Attachment H---Incident Medivac &
Burn Notification Forms
Attachment I---Go No/Go
Attachment J--- Job Hazard Analysis
Attachment K--- Extra Maps












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