NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Bureau of Forestry and the Division of Forest Fire Protection
[39 Pa.B. 5687]
[Saturday, September 26, 2009]The Prescribed Burn Standards developed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, under the requirements of P. L. 76, Act 17, 2009, The Prescribed Burning Practices Act, effective July 14, 2009.
A 60-day period for public inquiry or comment will be in effect commencing September 26, 2009, and ending November 25, 2009. Written comments or questions concerning the Prescribed Burn Standards may be addressed to John G. Miller, Office of Parks and Forestry, Forest Fire Protection, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8552, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Standards Introduction
The purpose of this guide is to provide standards, establish common terminology and definitions, and identify planning and implementation procedures for the use of prescribed fire in Pennsylvania.
These standards specify what is minimally acceptable for prescribed fire planning and implementation. Organizations may choose to establish additional standards and policy direction, but they must adhere to, and cannot modify, these minimums.
Prescribed Fire Program Goals
Pennsylvania's prescribed fire program goals are to:
1. Provide for firefighter and public safety as the first priority.
2. Ensure that risk management is incorporated into all prescribed fire activities.
3. Use prescribed fire in a safe, carefully planned manner.
4. Utilize prescribed fire to achieve specific fire and natural resource management objectives.
Authorities
Prescribed fire in Pennsylvania is authorized by the Pennsylvania Prescribed Burning Practices Act (Act 17 of 2009). All prescribed fires conducted in this Commonwealth must be performed in accordance with this act and these standards.
This guide was developed by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and the Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Council, Training and Standards Committee.
Notifications
Two separate notifications are required by Pennsylvania Prescribed Burning Practices Act:
1) Notification of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Written notification of the intent to conduct a prescribed fire, including two copies of the burn plan must be sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. One copy to DEP, Bureau of Air Quality, Division of Compliance & Enforcement, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 and one copy to the appropriate regional office (Appendix I) at least 25 working days prior to the earliest possible date that a burn could occur.
2) Notification of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Written notification of the intent to conduct a prescribed fire, including three copies of the burn plan must be sent to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Forest Fire Protection, Attn: Chief Forest Fire Warden, P. O. Box 8552, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8552 at least 25 working days prior to the earliest possible date that a burn could occur.
Written notification must again be made to the Chief Forest Fire Warden no more than 5 working days after the prescribed fire has been completed. This notification must include the dates that the fire occurred, ownership of the land burned, county, township and final acreage.
Prescribed Fire Qualifications and Organization
Pennsylvania Qualifications
All personnel who participate in prescribed burning in Pennsylvania must be qualified for their assigned position. The minimum qualification standards are listed in the Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Qualification Standards (Appendix B). These standards will apply only to prescribed fires conducted within the state. Organizations will be responsible for qualifying and tracking the training and experience of their own personnel. Thorough documentation will be necessary in order to provide individuals with the protection provided by legislation.
Qualifications are obtained through a combination of training and experience. Experience is measured by completing a position-specific task book that is evaluated by a fully qualified evaluator and also by meeting the minimum prerequisite operational period experience required for each position. Completed task books then need to be certified by the organization. Currency of qualifications will be maintained by acting in the subject capacity at least once every 5 years. In this manner, currency will also be maintained in each lower position. Trainees may participate on the scene only under the direct supervision of a qualified evaluator and the trainee must be fully qualified at the next lower level.
Organizations who are members of the Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Council Steering Committee may grandfather their personnel in accordance with the Grandfathering Standards (Appendix D).
Individuals who fail to meet the responsibilities of their qualified position may have their qualifications revoked by their organization.
National Qualifications
Individuals who are qualified at a position(s) according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualifications System Guide (PMS-310-1) standards will also be considered as qualified at the corresponding position(s) in Pennsylvania.
Organization
All member organizations of the Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Council Steering Committee agree to accept each other's qualifications; provided that they meet the Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Qualification Standards or the NWCG 310-1 Standards. The organizational structure that is outlined in the approved Prescribed Fire Plan must be used and staffed with qualified individuals for the implementation of the prescribed fire.
The complexity of each prescribed fire will dictate the organizational structure that is needed to safely achieve the objectives that are specified in the prescribed fire plan. All prescribed fire plans must, at a minimum, identify the following positions, how they will be staffed, and how they will fit into the organization:
• Agency Administrator (AA)
• Burn Boss (RXB1, RXB2 or RXB3 as appropriate)
• Holding Specialist
• Firing Boss (FIRB)
On low-complexity burns, the Burn Boss may assume the duties of the Holding Specialist and/or the Firing Boss. If this is the case, it must be outlined in the Prescribed Fire Plan.
Minimum Burn Boss qualifications required to implement the plan will be determined by analyzing the complexity of each prescribed fire. Complexity is determined by using the Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Complexity Rating Worksheet (Appendix H). The NWCG Prescribed Fire Complexity Rating System Guide is also acceptable. Resources will be assigned based on the following chart:
Complexity Rating Position High Moderate Low RXB1 Required Optional Optional RXB2 Not Allowed Required Optional RXB3 Not Allowed Not Allowed Required FIRB Required Required Optional Holding Specialist Holding functions should be managed by someone who is qualified at the appropriate ICS wildland fire operations position. On low complexity projects, the holding duties may be assigned to the Burn Boss. Responsibilities
Thorough planning and review processes are required prior to implementation. All prescribed fire activities should be based on natural resource and fire management objectives.
Agency Administrator
The Agency Administrator is the individual who is the managing officer of an agency, division thereof, or jurisdiction having responsibility for incident mitigation and management. Examples: Park Superintendent, District Forest Fire Warden, USFS Forest Supervisor, FWS Refuge Manager, Fire Chief. On private lands, the Agency Administrator will be the landowner. Individual organizations will need to designate who their accepted Agency Administrators will be.
The Agency Administrator has final approval authority for all Prescribed Fire Plans. The Prescribed Fire Plan is a contract between the Burn Boss and the Agency Administrator. Once the Prescribed Fire Plan is approved, the Agency Administrator is authorizing the Burn Boss to implement the burn. It then becomes the responsibility of the Burn Boss to ensure that all prescription, staffing, equipment and other plan specifications are met before, during and after the burn.
The Agency Administrator is responsible to:
1. Approve Prescribed Fire Plans. When approving the plan, understand the risks that are associated with it. Ensure that the objectives within the plan are consistent with natural resource or fire management objectives.
2. Ensure that fully qualified personnel are available to implement the burn plan, assign a fully qualified burn boss, and ensure that only trained and qualified personnel participate in the implementation of the prescribed fire. Ensure that projects are monitored, evaluated and documented.
3. Ensure that the proper notifications are made to cooperators, partners and/or local emergency management agencies.
4. Allow the Prescribed Fire Burn Boss to have tactical control of the Prescribed Burn.
5. Ensure that all prescribed fires are conducted in accordance with the approved prescribed fire plan and established standards and guidelines.
6. Report all wildfires resulting from prescribed fires to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry.
7. Ensure that written notifications are completed in a timely manner as outlined in the ''Notifications'' section of these standards.
Prescribed Fire Burn Boss
The Prescribed Fire Burn Boss is responsible to the Agency Administrator. They are responsible to insure that the prescribed fire is implemented as outlined in the prescribed fire plan.
The Prescribed Fire Burn Boss is responsible to:
1. Review the Prescribed Fire Plan prior to implementation to ensure that all necessary elements and objectives are addressed.
2. Inspect the prescribed fire area to ensure that the plan addresses all areas of special concern and that the expected fire behavior will be within the capabilities of the holding and contingency plan.
3. Evaluate the proposed ignition plan to ensure that it will meet the objectives.
4. Obtain current weather and smoke forecasts, updates and advisories from accepted fire weather forecasters.
5. Maintain communication with the Agency Administrator.
6. Complete and sign the Prescribed Fire GO/NO-GO Checklist (See Appendix B).
7. Confirm the availability of the contingency resources specified in the Prescribed Fire Plan.
8. Ensure that all operations are conducted in a safe manner and in accordance with the approved plan and established standards and guidelines.
9. Verify the qualifications of assigned personnel.
10. Conduct a personnel/safety briefing to ensure a safe operation.
11. Conduct the test fire and document results.
12. Exercise tactical control by supervising assigned personnel and directing the ignition, holding and monitoring operations, including mop-up and patrol.
13. Ensure that weather conditions and fire behavior are being monitored and documented.
14. Declare the prescribed fire out per organization specific standards.
15. Determine when the prescribed fire is not within prescription parameters or is not meeting the plan objectives, and initiate the necessary contingency action.
16. Declare an escaped prescribed fire a wildfire, as defined by these standards.
17. Manage the suppression of the wildfire or oversee the transition to another Incident Commander if an escape occurs.
18. Ensure that reports are completed.
19. Coordinate with adjacent landowners and cooperators as designated in the Prescribed Fire Plan.
Holding Specialist
The supervisory position in charge of the holding forces reports to the Prescribed Fire Burn Boss. There is no specific position in the Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Qualification Standards for this function, but the position should be staffed with someone who is qualified at the appropriate Incident Command System position. The complexity of the holding organization, contained in the Prescribed Fire Plan, will determine the appropriate position designation. The level of staffing should take into consideration assigned resources and span of control.
The Holding Specialist is responsible to:
1. Review the Prescribed Fire Plan and the prescribed fire area prior to implementation, preferably with both the Burn Boss and the Firing Boss.
2. Brief holding personnel on project objectives and holding operations.
3. Conduct holding operations in a safe manner according to the holding plan.
4. Provide for the safety and welfare of assigned resources.
5. Coordinate holding operations with the Firing Boss.
6. Confine the fire to a predetermined area as outlined in the Prescribed Fire Plan, including mop-up and patrol.
7. Maintain communication with the Burn Boss on holding progress and/or problems.
Firing Boss
The Firing Boss reports to the Prescribed Fire Burn Boss and is responsible for supervising and directing ignition operations according to established standards in the Prescribed Fire Plan.
The Firing Boss is responsible to:
1. Review the Prescribed Fire Plan and the burn unit prior to implementation.
2. Brief personnel on project objectives and ignition operations.
3. Complete the test fire according to the ignition plan at the directions of the Prescribed Fire Burn Boss.
4. Conduct ignition operations in a safe manner according to the ignition plan.
5. Identify the impacts of ignition on the holding operation and the desired fire effects.
6. Coordinate ignition operations with the holding specialist.
7. Ensure that only those personnel designated as members of the firing team actually perform the ignition.
Safety
Within all wildfire operations, firefighter and public safety are the first priority. Prescribed Fire Plans must also reflect this commitment. Every person involved in a prescribed fire is responsible for identifying safety issues and concerns. It is the responsibility of each individual participating in prescribed fire activities to notify their supervisor of any possible misunderstanding of assigned tasks or concerns related to an assignment.
All personnel assigned to the prescribed fire must be equipped with personal protective equipment meeting established agency standards.
Ignition operations must be halted when weather conditions are not within the parameters outlined in the prescribed fire plan, unless the ignition operations are deemed essential by the Burn Boss for immediate safety or control measures. Ignition operations may only be performed by those individuals designated by the burn boss and the burn boss must authorize all changes to the planned firing operation.
Exposure to smoke during prescribed fire operations can be a significant safety concern. Experience has shown that exposure to smoke on prescribed fires, especially for holding forces, often exceeds that on wildfires. Public safety impacts from smoke should be addressed in the Smoke Management Element of the Prescribed Fire Plan.
The risk management process identified in the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG, PMS 410-1) helps ensure that critical factors and risks associated with prescribed fire operations are considered during decision making. This process is the standard that should be applied to all prescribed fire planning and operations. Consider using a Safety Officer on highly complex or highly hazardous burns.
Escaped Prescribed Fires
A prescribed fire must be declared a wildfire when it has spread outside the prescribed fire boundary, as identified in the prescribed fire plan, or is likely to do so, and cannot be contained by the resources on hand and the specified contingency resources. Due to the nature of prescribed fire activities, some fire outside of control lines may be expected. Quick and decisive action on the part of the Burn Boss and/or the Holding Specialist will usually mitigate any potential problems. Specific management action points will be specified in the Prescribed Fire Plan.
In the event that the fire escapes the prescribed fire area and it overwhelms both the resources on hand and the contingency resources, the Burn Boss must declare the prescribed fire a wildfire. The Burn Boss may then become the Incident Commander of the suppression organization, or transfer command to another qualified Incident Commander. These details must be specified in the Prescribed Fire Plan.
The District Forest Fire Warden having jurisdiction must be notified of all wildfires that resulted from prescribed fires.
After Action Review (AAR)
Each operational shift on a prescribed burn should have an informal After Action Review (AAR). The questions to answer in conducting an AAR are:
1. What did we set out to do?
2. What actually happened?
3. Why did it happen that way?
4. What should be sustained?
5. What can be improved?
Prescribed fires that were converted to a wildfire should receive a formal AAR. Organizations should determine what constitutes a ''formal'' AAR. The goal of any AAR should be to guide future prescribed fires and policies to minimize future resource damage or threats to life and property. Other objectives are to determine if overall policy, guidance and procedures relating to prescribed fire operations are adequate.
Documentation
All prescribed fires must have a project file that will be maintained in the agency office. This documentation should be retained for a minimum of two years after the fire has been completed. The file will contain the following information:
1. Prescribed Fire Plan—original, signed copy.
2. Monitoring data including, weather, fire behavior, fire effects and smoke effects.
3. Appropriate weather forecasts.
4. Spot weather forecast requests and responses.
5. Completed GO/NO-GO checklist.
6. Any completed Unit Logs (ICS-214 or equivalent).
Optional information that may be included, but is not limited to:
1. After Action Review notes.
2. Incident Action Plan.
3. Press Releases, media inquires.
4. Post Burn reports, documentation, etc.
Prescribed Fire Plan
The Prescribed Fire Plan is the site-specific implementation document. It serves as a contract between the Agency Administrator and the Burn Boss. By signing the cover page, the Agency Administrator approves of the plan and agrees to allow the Burn Boss to implement the plan. The Burn Boss' signature guarantees that the prescribed fire will only be conducted within the scope of the plan. The plan includes all of the information needed to implement the prescribed fire. The size and complexity of each prescribed fire will determine the level of detail that is required in the fire plan. Prescribed fires must be implemented in compliance with the written plan. A thorough and well-written plan is essential to the success of any prescribed fire.
Amendments to the Prescribed Fire Plan
There may be a need to make amendments to the Prescribed Fire Plan. These are changes to the Prescribed Fire Plan that require Agency Administrator signature. When changes are necessary, plans must be amended to identify the affected sections; the reason for the changes; and have the changes clearly identified. For amendments, the same standards for Prescribed Fire Plan preparation, review, and approval apply. Common reasons for amending the Prescribed Fire Plan may include, but are not limited to:
• Changes to objectives.
• Changes to complexity.
• Changes to fire behavior prescription parameters.
• Changes to prescribed fire area boundaries resulting in either an increase or decrease in area.
• Reduction in resource capabilities identified as required in the plan.
• Major changes to ignition methods.
To avoid having to amend the Prescribed Fire Plan, flexibility should be built into the plan that will allow for a range of adjustments during the prescribed fire. Examples of flexibility that can be built into a prescribed fire plan:
• The Prescribed Fire Plan may state that on burn day and subsequent days of the prescribed fire, a mix of the number and kinds of hand crews and engines may be modified as long as stated production capabilities are not compromised.
• Minor changes in the prescribed fire area boundaries to facilitate holding and/or ignition requires no change in holding or ignition resources and is within the project boundaries.
• Additional resources may be assigned to the project without amending the burn plan if the addition of these resources does not change the complexity of the burn or require additional supervisory positions. These changes must be discussed at the briefing.
Required Elements of All Prescribed Fire Plans
The template in this document lists the minimum amount of information that must be included in a plan for all prescribed fires conducted in Commonwealth. Other formats may be used as long as they contain the 24 required elements listed here. If a specific element of the plan does not apply to a specific fire, simply write not applicable (N/A) in the blank. Any additional information such as maps, diagrams, and the like, should be added as appendices to the plan.
Cover Page
At least three dated signatures must appear on the front cover: a plan preparer, the Burn Boss, and the Agency Administrator. If the plan needs to be amended, the signed and dated amendments must be attached to the Prescribed Fire Plan.
Element 1—Location
Include information on the location of the burn including ownership, forest district, township, county, and the like.
Element 2—Prescribed Fire Area Description
A. Prescribed Fire Area Narrative Description—Include a written description of the prescribed fire area, topography, fuels in the area, and the fuels surrounding the burn area. A definitive description of the prescribed fire boundaries must be included. This is the area where the fire will be ignited and allowed to burn. A short history of the project and related treatments should also be included. The prescribed fire area may be divided into smaller units, per organizational standards.
B. Prescribed Fire Area Description Table—For each vegetation type in the prescribed fire area, an entry should be made on the table.
C. Maps—At a minimum, a location map and a burn unit map must be included. Other maps may be included if deemed appropriate. These maps should be attached to the end of the plan. Maps should show prominent features in the area, topography, water sources etc. The prescribed fire boundaries must be shown on the map.
Element 3—Prescribed Fire Justification
A. General Goals—Check all that apply, if the appropriate choice is not listed, please indicate the other goals.
B. Prescribed Fire Management Goals—Include a written description on the management goals of the project. Also, describe how they will fit in with natural resource or fire management goals for the area.
C. Specific, Measurable Prescribed Fire Objectives—Describe in clear, concise statements the specific, measurable resource and fire objectives for this prescribed fire. Objectives must be measurable and quantifiable so that prescription elements can be developed and so that the success of the project can be determined.
D. Other Alternatives Considered—Describe the other alternatives to achieve the management goals you considered and the rationale for your decision.
Element 4—Fuel and Weather Prescription
Give an acceptable and an optimum range for each parameter. At a minimum, the parameters indicated must include Air Temperature, Relative Humidity, 20-Foot Wind Speed, Wind Direction and 1-Hour Fuel Moisture.
The selection of the parameter ranges should be based on the conditions necessary to achieve the desired results in a safe and effective manner.
Element 5—Fire Behavior Prescription
Give an acceptable and an optimum range for each parameter. At a minimum, include parameters for Rate of Spread, Flame Length and Probability of Ignition for each fuel type in the prescribed fire area.
This information should be used to determine which combinations of elements in the Fuel and Weather Prescription will result in unacceptable fire behavior. In many cases, burning under the extremes of all the Fuel and Weather Prescription parameters will not meet, and will most likely exceed, the Fire Behavior Prescription. Conditions must be in the ''Acceptable'' range indicated for both the Fuel and Weather Prescription and the Fire Behavior Prescription in order for the Prescribed Fire to be considered to be in prescription.
Holding and contingency plans must be developed with the consideration of the predicted fire outside of the prescribed fire area. Fire behavior characteristics for fuel models will be derived from the worst-case prescription parameters and the most extreme environmental conditions that exist onsite.
Element 6—Fire Behavior Narrative
A narrative that summarizes fire behavior and the parameters effecting it must be included. Fire behavior modeling and or empirical evidence that supports the expected parameters should be added as an Attachment to the Prescribed Fire Plan. Also, describe the desired fire behavior and how fire behavior will be manipulated to meet resource objectives. This narrative should be correlated with Element 13, Firing Plan.
Element 7—Scheduling
Describe the timing of when the prescribed fire needs to be completed. Consider time of year, time of day, season, etc. Also, discuss how the burn may effect the availability of wildfire suppression resources in the area.
Element 8—ICS Organization Chart
Insert an ICS Organization Chart here that illustrates the Prescribed Fire Organization or include it as an Attachment to the Plan.
The complexity of each prescribed fire determines the organization capabilities needed to safely achieve the objectives that are specified in the plan. A Prescribed Fire Burn Boss must be assigned to every prescribed fire. Standard ICS fire management principles will be followed.
Element 9—Assigned Resources & Equipment
List all of the required resources that will be assigned to the burn and any specialized equipment that will be needed to accomplish the Prescribed Fire goals and objectives.
Element 10—Pre-Burn Considerations
Describe the on and off-site actions that need to be conducted prior to implementation. Examples include, but are not limited to: line to be constructed, preparation of critical holding points, snags to be felled, weather monitoring, timeframes and other responsibilities.
Methods and procedures for obtaining weather and smoke management forecasts should be detailed here. Spot weather forecasts are strongly recommended.
Element 11—Test Fire
Provisions for a test fire are required and all results must be recorded. The purpose of a test fire is to verify that the prescribed fire behavior characteristics will meet management objectives and to verify smoke dispersal. In many situations, an analysis of the initial ignitions may provide adequate test fire results.
A. Planned Location—Describe the part of the unit in which the test fire will occur. Include information on the procedures for igniting the test fire and how the results of the test fire will be evaluated. Test fires should be ignited in an area that is representative of the condition of the prescribed fire area.
B. Test Fire Documentation—Results of the test fire should be observed and then documented in the Prescribed Fire Plan. This is important to establish a starting point for fire behavior observations and to document that the exhibited fire behavior was within the parameters established in the Fire Behavior Prescription. Also, make note of the weather conditions and compare them to the Fuel and Weather Prescription parameters to ensure that they are being met.
Element 12—Firing Plan
Describe planned ignition operations including firing methods, devices, techniques, sequences, patterns and staffing. Maps showing proposed ignition patterns may be included as an Attachment to the Prescribed Fire Plan. The appropriate firing plan will ensure that the plan objectives are met.
Element 13—Holding Plan
Describe the procedures that will be used to contain the fire within the prescribed fire area boundaries that were established in Element 2. This element should also detail mop-up and patrol procedures. Describe any critical holding points and indicate them on the map. Include minimum staffing levels and capabilities for the holding organization.
Element 14—Monitoring
Monitoring is required to ensure that the prescribed fire is meeting the objectives specified in the plan. Describe the monitoring that will be required and who will collect this information. At a minimum, weather, fire behavior, fuel conditions and smoke dispersal must be monitored once every 60 minutes during ignition operations.
Element 15—Communication Plan
Develop a Communication Plan that is specific to the project. Identify and assign command, tactical, air operations frequencies, and any repeaters that may be needed. This may be covered in an Incident Action Plan on the form ICS-205.
Element 16—Contingency Plan
The contingency plan is the portion of the Prescribed Fire Plan that considers possible but unlikely events and the contingency resources and actions needed to mitigate those events. At a minimum, a contingency plan must be developed to cover escaped fires and danger to the public from fire and smoke.
A. Management action points—Management action points need to be established and followed for each scenario that may result in an escaped prescribed fire or danger to the public from fire and smoke. Management action points units will indicate when certain actions or additional suppression resources are needed. They should be based things like weather and/or fuel conditions, fire behavior, or resistance to control.
B. Actions Needed—Describe the actions needed for each management action point. The Agency Administrator must determine when they need to be notified depending on what actions are being taken.
C. Contingency Resources and Reporting Times—List the contingency resources that will be needed for the actions listed above. Verify and document the availability and response times of the contingency resources on the day of the prescribed fire. Resources that have an indeterminate availability are not valid contingency resources.
D. Wildfire Conversion—Any prescribed fire that escapes the prescribed fire area boundaries that are established in Element #2, and cannot be controlled by the resources on hand and the specified contingency resources, must be declared a wildfire. Once this conversion has been made, immediate actions must be taken to suppress the wildfire. These actions will be listed in Element 16, Part B., previously. This section should also define the ICS structure that will be used for suppression.
Element 17—Sources of Emergency Assistance
List all pertinent sources of emergency assistance and their contact numbers such as the Volunteer Fire Department covering the area, the District Forest Fire Warden, local Forest Fire Wardens and Crews.
Element 18—Safety and Medical Plan
Develop a Medical Plan that is specific to the project. Identify resources such as ambulances, hospitals etc. that will be used in the event of a medical emergency. Also list procedures for reporting and responding to medical emergencies and make them known to personnel assigned to the project. This may be part of an Incident Action Plan and included on ICS form 206.
Element 19—Smoke Management Plan
List and describe any smoke sensitive areas that may be affected by the project, taking into account not only the day of the project, but also on the following days. Also, describe desirable smoke behavior and smoke management actions.
No burning will be conducted in an area covered by an Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast when the forecast is 101 or above. Below 101 corresponds to an air quality action day code of green and yellow. The Air Quality Index Forecast is only available in certain counties and usually available May through September (Appendix I). The forecast can be found by contacting the regional Department of Environmental Protection office or at http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.fcsummary& stateid=45.
Element 20—Notifications
List all of the names and contact information for the notifications that must be made. Examples include, but are not limited to: adjoining landowners, county EMA offices, and local fire departments. The District Forest Fire Warden (or designee) must be notified on the day of the burn prior to ignition and also after the burn has been completed. Keep careful records of all notifications.
Element 21—Evaluation
Complete an evaluation immediately after the burn and also list any future monitoring that is planned.
Element 22—Go/No-Go Checklist (Appendix B)
The NWCG Go/No-Go Checklist must be completed and signed by the Burn Boss on the day of the burn.
Element 23—Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Complexity Rating Worksheet (Appendix H)
Element 24—List of Attachments to the Prescribed Fire Plan
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