aspen release burn plan

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Project Name: 2009 Aspen Release Prescribed Fire PlanUnit Name:Madison Ranger District

PRESCRIBED FIRE PLAN

ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT(S)Madison Ranger District, BDF, USFS

PRESCRIBED FIRE NAME

& UNITS2009 Aspen Release Prescribed Fire Plan

PREPARED BYMichael Gue RXB2DATE09/25/2015

ADDITIONAL PREPARERJeff Barnes, RXB2(T)DATE09/25/2015

TECHNICAL

REVIEW Paul Roose RXB2DATE10/01/2015

RECOMMENDING OFFICIAL REVIEW DATE

DATE

MINIMUM RXB REQUIREMENT:________RXB2______Complexity Rating:__Moderate__

APPROVED BY:DATE:

Agency Administrator

Annual Certification of Burn PlanDateFMOAgency AdministratorBurn Boss

AGENCY ADMINISTRATOR IGNITION AUTHORIZATION

(Prescribed Fire Plan, Element 2A)Instructions: The Agency Administrator Ignition Authorization must be completed before a prescribed fire can be implemented. If ignition of the prescribed fire is not initiated prior to expiration date determined by the agency administrator, a new authorization will be required.

Prior to signature the agency administrator should discuss the following key items with the fire management officer (FMO), fuels specialist, or burn boss. Attach any additional instructions or discussion documentation (optional) to this document.Key Discussion ItemsA. Has anything changed since the Prescribed Fire Plan was approved or revalidated?

Such as drought or other climate indicators of increased risk, insect activity, new subdivisions/structures, smoke requirements, Complexity Analysis Rating.

B. Have compliance requirements and pre-burn considerations been completed?

Such as preparation work, NEPA mitigation requirements, cultural, threatened and endangered species, smoke permits, state burn permits/authorizations.C. Can all of the elements and conditions specified in Prescribed Fire Plan be met?

Such as weather, scheduling, smoke management conditions, suitable prescription window, correct season, staffing and organization, safety considerations, etc.D.Are processes in place to ensure all internal and external notifications and media releases will be completed?

E.Have key agency staffs been fully briefed about the implementation of this prescribed fire?

F.Are there circumstances that could affect the successful implementation of the plan?

Such as preparedness level restrictions, resource availability, other prescribed fire or wildfire activityG.Have you communicated your expectations to the Burn Boss and FMO regarding if and when you are to be notified that contingency actions are being taken?

H.Have you communicated your expectations to the Burn Boss and FMO regarding decisions to declare the prescribed fire a wildfire?

Implementation Recommended by: FMO, Fuels

Specialist, or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Signature: Date:

I am authorizing ignition of this prescribed fire between the dates of and . It is my expectation that the project will be implemented within this time frame and as discussed and documented and attached to this plan. If the conditions we discussed change during this time frame, it is my expectation you will brief me on the circumstances and an updated authorization will be negotiated if necessary.

Additional Instructions or Discussion Documentation attached (Optional): Yes NoIgnition Authorized by:

Agency Administrator Signature and Title: Date:

PRESCRIBED FIRE GO/NO-GO CHECKLIST(Prescribed Fire Plan Element 2B)Preliminary QuestionsCircle YES or NO

A. Have conditions in or adjacent to the ignition unit changed, (for example: drought conditions or fuel loadings), which were not considered in the prescription development?

If NO proceed with the Go/NO-GO Checklist below, if YES go to item B.YESNO

B. Has the prescribed fire plan been reviewed and an amendment been approved; or has it been determined that no amendment is necessary?

If YES, proceed with checklist below.

If NO, STOP: Implementation is not allowed. An amendment is needed.YESNO

GO/NO-GO ChecklistCircle YES or NO

Have ALL permits and clearances been obtained?YESNO

Have ALL the required notifications been made?YESNO

Have ALL the pre-burn considerations and preparation work identified in the prescribed fire plan been completed or addressed and checked?YESNO

Have ALL required current and projected fire weather forecast been obtained and are they favorable?YESNO

Are ALL prescription parameters met?YESNO

Are ALL smoke management specifications met?YESNO

Are ALL planned operations personnel and equipment on-site, available and operational ?YESNO

Has the availability of contingency resources applicable to todays implementation been checked and are they available?YESNO

Have ALL personnel been briefed on the project objectives, their assignment, safety hazards, escape routes, and safety zones?YESNO

If all the questions were answered YES proceed with a test fire. Document the current conditions, location and results. If any questions were answered NO, DO NOT proceed with the test fire: Implementation is not allowed.

After evaluating the test fire, in your judgment can the prescribed fire be carried out according to the prescribed fire plan and will it meet the planned objective?Circle: YES or NO

SIGNED DATE

Prescribed Fire Burn Boss

CONCURRENCEDATE

Ignition Specialist Function

CONCURRENCEDATE

Holding Specialist Function

ELEMENT 3 - COMPLEXITY ANALYSIS SUMMARY

ELEMENTRISKPOTENTIAL CONSEQUENCETECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

1. Potential for escapeLowModerateLow

2. The number and dependence of activitiesLowLowModerate

3. Off-site ValuesLowLowLow

4. On-Site ValuesLowLowLow

5. Fire Behavior ModerateModerateModerate

6. Management organizationLowLowLow

7. Public and political interest ModerateModerateLow

8. Fire Treatment objectives LowLowLow

9. ConstraintsLowLowLow

10. Safety LowModerateLow

11. Ignition procedures/ methods LowLowModerate

12. Interagency coordination LowLowLow

13. Project logistics LowLowLow

14. Smoke management ModerateModerateLow

COMPLEXITY RATING SUMMARY

OVERALL RATING

RISKLow

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCESModerate

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY Moderate

SUMMARY COMPLEXITY DETERMINATIONModerate

Rationale

Pile burning is generally a low complexity operation. The majority of elements in this complexity analysis are rated as Low Complexity. However, because of the variable nature of prescribed burning, specifically, variables in fire intensity and ignition patterns, as well as the number of and the distances between individual units creating increased logistics and planning needs this burn plan is being rated as Moderate Complexity. The burns will be conducted in fall or early spring. The units will be patrolled after ignition for 3-5 days or until weather conditions are conducive to leaving the area unattended.

ELEMENT 4 - DESCRIPTION OF PRESCRIBED FIRE AREAA. Physical DescriptionLegal description:T11S

R1ES14,15,23

T12SR1ES26,27,34

Latitude44 49 07.34 Longitude111 35 31.76

Project Acres192CountyMadison

Primary Unit Acres90DrainageCliff Lake Bench

Low elevation5900Average aspectEast

High elevation7000Average slope15%

Legal description:T5S

R3WS6

Latitude45.43074Longitude-112.01849


Primary Unit Acres15DrainageHarris Creek

Low elevation6800Average aspectSouth



R3WS12



Primary Unit Acres51DrainageShort Creek

Low elevation7800Average aspectWest



R3WS25



Primary Unit Acres36DrainageCottonwood Creek

Low elevation7400Average aspectWest


Project Boundary

The boundary for the piles will be the aspen unit that it is in. Fire will remain inside these unit boundaries and under 3 acres in size.

B. Vegetation/Fuels Description

On-Site Fuels DataAdjacent Fuels Data

FBPS Fuel Model(s)11FBPS Fuel Model(s)1, 2, 8

Percent of Project Area100%Percent of Project Area

Fuel Loading tons/acre1 hour0.6General Description of Adjacent Fuels

10 hour5The fuels adjacent/outside the units are primarily represented by FM 1, 2 and a limited amount of FM 8.

100 hour2.2

1000 hour5

Total fuel loading12.8

C. Description of Unique Features, Natural Resources, ValuesN/A

D. Maps (see appendix A): Required Maps: Vicinity and Project ELEMENT 5 - GOALS AND OBJECTIVESA. GoalsThe goal of this burn plan is to reduce the ground fuel loading compiled during the removal of conifers from the aspen units there by reducing the risk of intense ground fire in the event of a wildfire. Burning objectives also include opening up the surface to increase sunlight and stimulate regeneration of young aspen.

B. Prescribed Fire ObjectivesResource ObjectivesPrescribed Fire Objectives

Removal of ground fuel accumulations created during the aspen release project in the units.

Burn focuses on fuels < 3+ to adequately reduce the hazardouse fuel loading while maintaining site characteristics. Consumption of 3+ fuels should be minimized to assure adequate woody debris for maintenance of site productivity and wildlife habitat.

Reduce the 1hr, 10hr, and 100hr fuels produced by the conifer removal by 70%-90%. Reduce the slash piled fuels by 70%-90%Maintain 80% of over story trees or better in the unit during burning operations.

ELEMENT 6 - FUNDINGFunding Source(s)

PhaseFuels (WFHF)

Integrated Resource Restoration(NFRR)

Brush Disposal

(BDBD)Site Prep

(CWKV)

Vegetation

Mgmt

(NFRR or SSCC)Partnership

(PSRS or NFEX)

Subtotal

Target Acres9696

Burn Plan Preparation7%7%

Site Preparation3%3%

Ignition & Holding27%27%

Mop-up6%6%

Patrol2%2%

Post Implementation Activities3%3%

Monitoring2%2%

Subtotal50%50%

Grand Total$25,000192 AcresFunding is available from both WFHF and NFRR and may be used partially or wholly from either job code or a combination of both.

ELEMENT 7 PRESCRIPTION

A. Prescription NarrativeDescribe how fire behavior will meet objectives

Acceptable fire behavior will be measured by observed fuel consumption within each pile. 1, 10 and 100 hour fuel classes should burn intense enough to consume 70 - 90% of the woody debris. Conditions adjacent to piles should be such that adjacent fuels will not sustain large fire growth.Some creeping of fire inside the unit may occur but rate of spread should be low and flame length minimal. Fire will remain within the aspen unit boundary primarily in the pile with the heat funnel varying depending on the size of the pile. No more than 3 acres of each unit will be burned.

B. Environmental Prescription

Acceptable Prescription RangeOutside area critical holding point

minimum acceptable moisture

Low Fire

IntensityDesired Fire

IntensityHigh Fire

Intensity

Temperature (F)207080

Relative humidity (%)702615

Mid-flame wind speed05-820

Wind direction (azimuth)AnyAnyAny

1-hr fuel moisture (%)14644



1000-hr fuel moisture (%)n/an/an/an/a

Live fuel moisture (%) n/an/an/a120

Duff moisture (%) n/an/an/an/a

Additional Information

Fuels data will be monitored 1-2 days in advance of the burn or the morning of the burn. If time allows personnel will collect fuel samples and dry them in an oven to calculate the fuel moisture. If time is short than collecting fuels data the morning of the burn with a protimeter will suffice.

C. Fire Behavior Prescription

Acceptable Fire Behavior RangeOutside area at critical holding points

Low Fire IntensityDesired Fire IntensityHigh Fire Intensity

Fuel Model(s) 1111111/2/8

Rate of Spread (chains/hour)0.11331345/443/6.6

Flame Length (in feet)0.257.56/9/1

Spotting Distance (in miles)0.10.10.20.2

Probability of Ignition (%)

aspen release burn plan

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