New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 6 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION › Chapter II - LANDS AND FORESTS › Part 194 - Forest Practices › Section 194.3 - Prescribed fire management plan for state land under the jurisdiction of the department

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
No prescribed fire shall be set unless a prescribed fire
				  management plan has been prepared in advance and approved in writing by the
				  department. Prescribed fire plans shall address all the following requirements;
				  except that prescribed fire plans for natural ignitions will not include cost
				  estimates, preparation work descriptions, test fire procedures and the ignition
				  method or pattern. Additional requirements may be added to a prescribed fire
				  plan as needed to achieve unique fire objectives or to meet local
				  requirements.
(a) Fire unit
				description: a narrative description of the physical and biological features of
				the fire unit, including topography, fuels and vegetation.
(b) Vicinity map: a map at the appropriate
				scale showing the relationship of the fire unit to the surrounding
				area.
(c) Project map: a detailed
				map at the appropriate scale of the project area, showing project boundary
				(including distance between project and adjacent lands or property to be
				protected), topographic features, potential hazards, control lines, ignition
				pattern and other relevant information.
(d) Goals and objectives: a statement of the
				goals and objectives to be accomplished by the prescribed fire. It should
				include the purpose of the prescribed fire as well as measurable objectives
				such as tons of fuel to be consumed, percent of mineral soil to be exposed or
				percent of vegetative species controlled.
(e) Cost: an itemized estimate of the costs
				involved for each segment of the prescribed fire: planning, ignition or firing,
				mop-up, patrol and any other costs.
(f) Equipment and personnel: a list of
				equipment and personnel, including personnel duty titles, needed on site and on
				standby.
(g) Fire prescription: the
				description of the acceptable range of fire weather, fuel and soil moisture,
				fuel quantity and fire behavior conditions to achieve the desired
				effects.
(h) Weather information:
				an outline of prefire desired weather conditions and procedures for obtaining
				spot weather information during the prescribed fire and for smoke dispersal
				forecasts.
(i) Preparation work: a
				list of required activities required to take place prior to ignition, including
				but not limited to fire lines, special features to be protected and
				installation of monitoring equipment.
(j) Protection of special features: a list of
				instructions and actions to take to protect sensitive features within and
				adjacent to the prescribed fire project site. Such features include but are not
				limited to, historic and archeological sites, gas and oil wells, streams,
				habitats Of threatened and endangered species that would be adversely impacted
				by the prescribed fire, adjacent structures and fragile soils.
(k) Smoke management: identify potential
				smoke affected areas and smoke management strategies to avoid such areas, and
				to reduce and/or disperse emissions to minimize any adverse effect on the
				environment, including human health and welfare. Also describe procedures to
				comply with applicable State and local regulations.
(l) Prefire coordination and public
				involvement: where applicable, establish responsibility for preburn
				coordination with affected agencies, lessees and landowners. Assess the need
				for public envolvement and media contacts in advance of the prescribed fire and
				take action where necessary.
(m)
				Fire day notification: establish responsibility for fire day contacts. List
				individuals, lessees, agencies and public groups to be contacted, how contacts
				will be accomplished and by whom.
(n) Public and personnel safety: a
				description of safety and emergency procedures. List pertinent names and means
				of contact. Identify emergency medical evacuation routes and
				facilities.
(o) Communications: a
				list of key communication contacts and telephone numbers.
(p) Briefing guidelines and "go" or "no go"
				checklist: a description of the project procedures which should be reviewed
				with those conducting the prescribed fire to make sure all involved personnel
				are familiar with them. The checklist must be completed prior to ignition and
				will describe the conditions beyond which the prescribed fire must not be
				ignited. Provide the name of the individual who has the authority to issue the
				"go" or "no go" command.
(q) Test
				fire: a list of procedures for conducting a test fire to determine whether the
				ground and atmospheric conditions meet the requirements established in the
				prescribed fire plan.
(r) Firing,
				containment, mop-up and patrol: a description of the method of ignition,
				ignition pattern, containment, mop-up and patrol procedures. Include personnel,
				equipment and standards for each action.
(s) Contingency: identify potential fire
				escapes and specify actions to be taken should such an event occur. Designate a
				person in charge of suppression action and identify the personnel and equipment
				available for suppression.
(t)
				Monitoring and evaluation: a description of the variables that will be
				monitored and evaluated to determine if project objectives have been met.
				Establish time frame guidelines and personnel and equipment
				requirements.
(u) Rehabilitation: a
				description of standards for site clean up and erosion control and for site
				restoration, if needed.
(v)
				Necessary support documentation: a listing of all documentation necessary to
				support (as applicable) all elements of the prescribed fire plan.
(w) Required signatures and approvals: the
				names and signature lines of the preparers of the prescribed fire plan and
				those who have the authority to review and approve the plan and modifications
				of the plan.