Standard Operating
Procedure
Requirements
  1. Wildfires
  2. Review of Laws and Regulations
  3. Prescribed Burn Unit Plans and Ignition Authorizations
  4. Personnel Qualifications
  5. PPE
  6. Annual Fitness Screening and Safety Refresher
  7. Reporting Incidents
  8. Annual Summary Reports
  9. Permission to Burn non-TNC land
  10. Emergency preparedness
Guidelines
 
 

Fire Management Requirements

This section presents requirements that must be met for all Conservancy wildland fire management activities. Requirements apply to wildfires and controlled burns and can only be exempted by the Fire Management Coordinator. All exemptions of requirements must be requested and granted in writing. See also Fire Management Guidelines for standards for Prescribed Burn operations.

If you have an unusual situation that does not conform to any of the typical fire management scenarios in which TNC becomes involved, contact the Fire Management Coordinator for individual consideration of the circumstances.

COVID-19 Safety Requirements (May 12, 2023)

  • All fireline personnel must decline to participate in fire-related fieldwork if they feel unwell.
  • TNC Fire Managers and Burn Bosses must not conduct or authorize TNC fire-related fieldwork when local hospital and emergency medical response are under exceptional strain, such as during a Crisis Standards of Care designations.
  • Positive COVID-19 cases among Conservancy personnel require Contact Tracing with Conservancy HR/Operations.

1. Wildfire Reporting

All wildfires, regardless of origin, must be reported to the appropriate fire control agency. Responsibility for a wildfire must be turned over to fire control authorities, unless a mutual aid or other cooperative agreements have been established in writing.

A wildfire is defined as a fire, regardless of ignition source, which is unplanned, has escaped control, or is not authorized under state law or local ordinances. Your Review of Laws and Regulations should list appropriate fire control authorities and explain the authorization process. Under no circumstances should TNC make the decision to allow a wildfire to burn unreported.

On large remote landscapes, naturally ignited fire may be an important means of accomplishing resource management goals. There may be instances where naturally ignited fires can be managed for benefit on TNC lands. This is most likely to be appropriate when TNC owns land near or within a large federal landholding. All naturally ignited fires on TNC owned or managed lands must be reported immediately to appropriate suppression authorities, who will manage or suppress the fire.

It is important to recognize TNC's responsibilities on different types of wildfires. Naturally ignited wildfires are generally considered "acts of God," and the landowner of the property where the fire starts is usually not held responsible for any damage the fire may do to a neighbor's property. However, if the fire is not immediately reported, it may be claimed that failure to report aggravated the damages.


2. Review of Laws and Regulations

A Review of Laws and Regulations must be completed before any prescribed burn activities are conducted (a) by Conservancy Representatives or contractors on Conservancy or non-Conservancy lands, or (b) by any third parties on property owned or managed by the Conservancy.

The purpose of the Review of Laws and Regulations is to investigate and understand all the laws and regulations controlling wildland fire practices in the geography where burn activities are conducted. The Review ensures that the activity adheres to all applicable laws and regulations when engaged in wildland fire activities. See Fire Planning for specific guidance on this requirement. Documentation that the review has been completed is made through confirmation in the Prescribed Burn Unit Plan.


3. Prescribed Burn Plans and Ignition Authorization

Burn Plans

All broadcast and non-broadcast prescribed burns must be conducted according to a written approved plan. The use of a daily Incident Action Plan (IAP) is encouraged but not required.

All burn plans must be signed and dated by the preparer and by the Fire Manager before the burn is conducted. The signature of the Fire Manager signifies their approval of the plan. See Burn Plan Review and Approval for more details, such as Fire Manager qualifications and the need for Technical Reviews.

Non-broadcast burning includes burning brush piles, old structures and spot burning invasives. All non-broadcast burns must have an approved burn plan. See the Format of the Non-broadcast Burn Plan for more details. All non-broadcast burns must be preceded by completion of the Non-broadcast Burn Go/No-go Checklist.

Ignition Authorization (required for all TNC burns after January 1, 2024).

All ignitions of broadcast and non-broadcast prescribed burns by Conservancy Representatives and Conservancy contractors must be authorized by the business unit responsible for the burn (“Ignition Authorization”).

The Ignition Authorization, provided by the Fire Manager, identifies that the burn may be ignited within an identified period. Ignition Authorization is typically made within 24 hours of the start of a burn and is documented on the completed Go/NoGo Checklist. Using an Ignition Authorization form, either TNC or NWCG, is encouraged but not required. Day-of-burn notification to the Fire Manager is also required.

Multiple burns may be pre-authorized. The Fire Manager can pre-authorize a list of specific burns (e.g., location, unit name and size) no more than 90 days before ignition. A pre-authorization list provided to the burn boss becomes part of the Burn Documentation. Burn-day notification to the Fire Manager is required for all pre-authorized burns.

If a Fire Manager is also serving as the Burn Boss or a Fire Manager is not available, Ignition Authorization and burn-day Fire Manager notification must be made to either a Supporting Fire Manager or the Fire Management Coordinator (currently the Director of Fire Management or their designate).


4. Personnel Qualifications
Only qualified personnel may participate in wildland fire management for the Conservancy. All fire personnel must maintain written documentation of their training, experience, and performance qualifications.

All individuals participating in wildland fire activities for the Conservancy must be at least 18 years of age and meet stated qualification criteria. All personnel must maintain documentation related to their training and experience, including copies of their training certificates, a log of their fire experience, and completed task books.

See Personnel for complete information on qualification standards, training, and other administrative issues related to personnel.


5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

All fire management personnel actively involved on a fire must wear fire-protective clothing 1, hard hat, leather gloves, fire/heat resistant boots 2, eye protection, and carry fire shelters. Personnel should be trained in the uses, advantages and drawbacks of their personal safety equipment. A first aid kit must be available on all controlled burns.

See Fire Shelters for exemptions to the use of fire shelters on controlled burns, and Burning After Dark regarding use of headlamps after dark. Chainsaw Operator provides chainsaw-specific PPE requirements. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) specifies general requirements for PPE for fire work in the U.S.

1 Fire-protective clothing - clothing made of Nomex or similarly protective fabric is required for outwear (coveralls, shirts, pants or jackets) that may be exposed to lofted embers or direct flame impingement. Undergarments, including socks and t-shirts, should be similarly flame resistant or made predominantly of natural fibers such as cotton or wool.

2 Fire/heat resistant boots - A number of different boot types may meet this requirement, including heavy duty lace-type work boots with leather or leather/Kevlar uppers and soles made of heat-resistant material such as Vibram. In some instances, such as when burning wetlands, fire-resistant rubber boots are permissible when noted in the Prescribed Burn Plan.


6. Annual Fitness Screening and Safety Refresher

All Conservancy personnel actively involved on a wildland fire event (wildfire or prescribed fire, including pile burns) must be screened annually for physical fitness. All personnel must take part in annual fireline safety refresher training.

All personnel, staff and volunteers, must be screened annually for physical fitness using accepted testing methods to be considered "current" in position qualifications. The minimum level of required fitness varies among wildland fire positions as noted in the personnel section of this manual and in Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide PMS 310-1. Generally, fireline positions on wildfires require an arduous level of fitness and some prescribed burn positions require moderate fitness. As exceptions, Observer, Planner and Public Information Officer do not require fitness testing. The Fire Manager may require an increased level of fitness for any position on specific burns or sites, depending on factors such as topography, fuels or climate. See Physical Fitness Testing for a full discussion of fitness testing procedures.

All Conservancy fire management personnel must attend an annual safety refresher. It is the responsibility of the Fire Manager and Burn Boss to be sure this refresher takes place and all personnel participating in fire management have attended. See Annual Safety Refresher Guidelines for specific instructions.


7. Reporting Incidents

All incidents related to fire management (wildfires, prescribed burns (including non-broadcast burning), and burn assists) must be reported as soon as possible, typically within 12-24 hours or less, to the Fire Manager, Fire Management Coordinator, program or project director, and assigned TNC attorney. Certain incidents must also be reported to TNC's Insurance Agent. A written report must be filed within four weeks of the incident, unless directed otherwise by the Fire Management Coordinator or TNC attorney.

Incidents to report include:

  • Escaped burns or burn assists that require outside suppression assistance;
  • Escaped burns or spot-overs that leave managed property;
  • Any burn where smoke damages could potentially result in an insurance claim;
  • Any property or equipment damage estimated greater than $5,000 on a burn, burn assist or from a wildfire;
  • Any injury requiring professional medical attention on a burn, burn assist or wildfire;
  • Any deployment of a Fire Shelter on a burn, burn assist or wildfire; and
  • Any wildfire where TNC may be involved in the cause of the fire.

A review must take place following an injury requiring professional medical attention. The extent of the review is dependent on the seriousness of the events and the partners involved in the burn. It must be sufficient to identify the cause of the injury and whether steps must be taken to correct training or equipment procedures to prevent a similar accident from occurring in the future.

Any workplace injury that involves inpatient hospitalization, an amputation, or eye loss must be reported to OSHA within 24 hours. Also, a work-related fatality must be reported to OSHA within 8 hours. Reports can be made by phone to 1-800-321-OSHA (6742). More details can be found in OSHA Reporting. This does not replace the Worker's Compensation reporting process or requirement, which should also be done within 24 hours of a workplace injury.

TNC staff can reference Fire Incident Response Protocol (Internal Connect link) for guidance on dealing with Serious Incidents. Examples of Serious Incidents include: an injury resulting in admission to a hospital for something more than observation; suspected fatality; Fire Shelter deployment; property damage or operating loss initially estimated at $50,000 or more (damage value may be difficult to determine at the scene); situations which may receive significant negative attention by the public or media. Guidance has also been developed for TNC staff titled Fire Incident Response and the Role of the Attorney and for TNC Attorneys titled Evaluating and Addressing Liability Associated with Fire Incidents (Internal Connect link).


8. Annual Summary Reports

At the end of each year, each US state program is required to report Fire Management information to the Fire Management Coordinator for insurance reporting and tracking purposes.

This information must list each TNC burn by preserve or site, the date(s) of the burn, name of the Burn Boss for TNC-led burns, and other relevant information. Information includes all broadcast and non-broadcast burns conducted on TNC-owned lands, all burns led by TNC or our contractors on the lands of others, and all assists by TNC personnel on the burns of others. Wildfire occurring on TNC-owned lands must also be reported. This information is essential for tracking, planning, and training purposes. Reporting is done here (Internal Connect link) for each calendar year.


9. Permission to Burn Non-TNC land
When burning on non-TNC land, the Conservancy must obtain in writing permission to enter the property and permission to burn the property.

Before burning on third-party land, our insurance carrier requires that we, at minimum, obtain in writing both permission to enter the property and permission to burn it. This must be accompanied by a map defining the burn area boundaries. This written permission may take the form of a document signed by the landowner, or it may be included in an MOU or other management agreement developed with a government entity. It is often advisable to seek other waivers of liability. See the Administration for Special Situations section of this Manual and the Fire Administration-Special Situations (Internal Connect link) for more information on burning on non-TNC land. Permission to burn forms and waivers are found on the Fire Management Legal Resource (Internal Connect link) page.


10. Emergency Preparedness and Response

All Conservancy personnel actively involved in a wildfire or prescribed fire, including non-broadcast burns, must be prepared to respond to emergencies, including the ability to call for assistance from the nearest medical, fire or law enforcement authorities, the ability within crews to provide basic first aid and CPR, and the ability to use fire extinguishers on Conservancy vehicles (cars, trucks, ATVs, UTVs, and other types of vehicles).

Emergency contact numbers are in the Communications sections of Prescribed Burn Plans and in Incident Action Plans. Burn Bosses will confirm the availability of these numbers to personnel as part of the required Pre-burn Checklist. Personnel involved in fire suppression must confirm how to contact emergency assistance, e.g., information found in an Incident Action Plan or from local authorities. Methods of communication may involve radios, cellular phones, or other forms of communication.

Conservancy personnel will have First Aid and CPR supplies readily available and adequately trained personnel available to render first aid.

Portable fire extinguishers must be installed and available on vehicles and field equipment used in fire management activities. Fire Extinguishers must be regularly inspected, recharged, or replaced according to manufacturer recommendations.

Last updated November 30, 2023.

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