The use of industrial firefighters is and has been an important element in Walker Range F.P.A.'s fire suppression plan. They are a crucial part of the district resources during multiple fire and project potential situations. These firefighters are primarily persons employed by logging contractors or others who are used to working in a forest environment.

During fire emergencies it is critical these persons continually remain a viable element in the districts firefighting organization. It is also important that when these firefighters are working for the district, they carry out suppression activities in an effective and safe manner. Policy Statement.

It is the policy of Walker Range F.P.A. that all industrial firefighters employed by the district for fire suppression will meet minimum firefighting training and safety requirements outlined in OAR 437-007-0080.

GUIDE TO LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

CONTROLLING FIRES	FIRE EXTINGUISHERS	POWER SAWS
DEFINITIONS	WATER SUPPLY/EQUIPMENT	SNAGS
PERMITS	SPARK ARRESTER	WATCHMAN
ACTION TO CONTROL FIRES	FIRE TOOLS ON TRUCKS	DEBRIS ACCUMULATION
CLOSEDOWNS FOR FIRE	CABLE LOGGING	ALTERNATE METHODS
HAND TOOLS	SMOKING	QUESTIONS?

CONTROLLING FIRES

IN OPERATIONS ON AND NEAR FOREST LAND IN OREGON   THE OPERATION FIRE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED BELOW ARE ESTABLISHED BY OREGON LAW AND ADMINISTRATIVE RULE. THIS IS ONLY A DIGEST OF THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS AND IS DESIGNED TO SERVE AS A USEFUL GUIDE FOR COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS DURING FIRE SEASON. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO DESCRIBE EVERY REQUIREMENT OR EVERY SITUATION.

DEFINITIONS

SOME WORDS AND PHRASES USED IN THIS GUIDE HAVE SPECIFIC LEGAL DEFINITIONS, INCLUDING:   "DISTRICT" MEANS A FOREST PROTECTION DISTRICT.   "FORESTLAND" MEANS ANY WOODLAND, BRUSH LAND, TIMBERLAND, GRAZING LAND OR CLEARING, WHICH DURING ANY TIME OF THE YEAR, CONTAINS ENOUGH FOREST GROWTH, SLASHING OR VEGETATION TO CONSTITUTE, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE FORESTER, A FIRE HAZARD, REGARDLESS OF HOW THE LAND IS ZONED OR TAXED.   "GOOD OPERATING CONDITION" MEANS FULLY READY FOR INTENDED USE, MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND , WHERE APPROPRIATE, PROPERLY INSTALLED AND FREE OF LEAKS.   "IMMEDIATE USE" MEANS (A) IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION; AND (B) REQUIRES THE ADDITION OF NO COMPONENTS, FUEL, OIL, PARTS OR WATER TO BE MADE OPERABLE; AND (C) MAINTAINED IN A KNOWN LOCATION WHICH IS EASILY AND RAPIDLY ACCESSIBLE BY THE OPERATOR.   "OPERATION" MEANS ANY INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY, ANY DEVELOPMENT OR ANY IMPROVEMENT ON FORESTLAND INSIDE OR WITHIN ONE-EIGHTH OF ONE MILE OF A FOREST PROTECTION DISTRICT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE HARVESTING OF FOREST TREE SPECIES, THE CLEARING OF LAND, THE USE OF POWER DRIVEN MACHINERY AND THE USE OF FIRE, EXCLUDING, HOWEVER, THE CULTURE AND HARVESTING OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS.   "OPERATION AREA" MEANS THE AREA ON WHICH AN OPERATION IS BEING CONDUCTED AND THE AREA ON WHICH OPERATION ACTIVITY MAY HAVE RESULTED IN THE IGNITION OF A FIRE.   "OPERATOR" MEANS ANY PERSON WHO, EITHER PERSONALLY OR THROUGH EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES OR CONTRACTORS, IS CARRYING ON OR HAS CARRIED ON ANY OPERATION.   "SPARK ARRESTER" MEANS AN EXHAUST SYSTEM DEVICE WHICH TRAPS OR PULVERIZES EXHAUST CARBON PARTICLES TO A SIZE BELOW 0.023 INCHES IN DIAMETER BEFORE THEY ARE EXPELLED FROM AN EXHAUST SYSTEM. MUFFLERS ARE NOT SPARK ARRESTORS.   "TRUCK" MEANS A MOTOR VEHICLE DESIGNED PRIMARILY FOR CARRYING LOADS OTHER THAN PASSENGERS AND WHICH IS USED TO CONDUCT AN OPERATION.

PERMITS

AN ANNUAL PERMIT TO USE FIRE OR POWER-DRIVEN MACHINERY MUST NORMALLY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DISTRICT, PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF AN OPERATION. DISTRICTS MAY WAIVE THE PERMIT REQUIREMENT WHEN, IN THEIR JUDGMENT, THE OPERATION WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A SUFFICIENT FIRE HAZARD. WAIVER OF THE PERMIT REQUIREMENT, HOWEVER, DOES NOT RELIEVE THE OPERATOR OF COMPLYING WITH ALL OTHER APPLICABLE FIRE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION REQUIREMENTS.

ACTION TO CONTROL FIRES

THE LANDOWNER AND OPERATOR MUST IMMEDIATELY PROCEED TO CONTROL AND EXTINGUISH ANY FIRE STARTED IN A OPERATION WHILE THE OPERATION IS ACTIVE, ANY FIRE WHICH RESULTS FROM OPERATION ACTIVITY, AND ANY FIRE WHICH RESULTS FROM BURNING.

CLOSEDOWNS FOR FIRE

A FOUR LEVEL INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTION LEVEL (IFPL)  SYSTEM IS USED BY ALL WILDLAND FIRE PROTECTION AGENCIES IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON TO REGULATE OPERATION ACTIVITY DURING FIRE SEASON. THE IFPL SYSTEM DOES NOT APPLY ON LANDS EAST OF THE SUMMIT OF THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS, WHICH ARE PROTECTED BY THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY. HOWEVER, OTHER SPECIAL CLOSEDOWN REQUIREMENTS MAY APPLY. THE LEVEL OF IFPL CLOSEDOWN IS BASED ON THE FIRE DANGER IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE OPERATION. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC CLOSEDOWN TIMES, LOCATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE DISTRICT.

HAND TOOLS

FIREFIGHTING HAND TOOLS ARE REQUIRED ON MOST OPERATIONS. THE NUMBER OF TOOLS NEEDED DEPENDS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK IN AN OPERATION AREA. THE CHART BELOW SHOWS THE NUMBER OF HAND TOOLS REQUIRED.   PEOPLE IN OPERATION   1-4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 TOOL BOX   1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 AXES OR PULASKIS   1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 SHOVELS   2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 7 7 7 HAZEL HOES /PULASKIS   1 2 3 3 4 5 5 5 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 9 10 AN OPERATION HAVING IN EXCESS OF 20 PEOPLE MUST HAVE MULTIPLES OF THE APPROPRIATE TABLE COLUMN WHICH IS EQUAL TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WORKING IN THE OPERATION AREA.   REQUIRED FIREFIGHTING TOOLS MAY BE USED ONLY FOR FIREFIGHTING AND MUST BE KEPT READY FOR IMMEDIATE USE. FIRE TOOL BOX STORE ALL REQUIRED FIREFIGHTING HAND TOOLS IN A CLEARLY IDENTIFIED TOOL BOX.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

MOST EQUIPMENT POWERED BY AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH A 2-1/2 POUND SIZE CLASS A, B, C RATED CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHICH IS APPROVED BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TESTING LABORATORY, AND IS READY FOR IMMEDIATE USE.

WATER SUPPLY/EQUIPMENT

A WATER SUPPLY, INCLUDING A PUMP, HOSE AND A NOZZLE, IS REQUIRED ON MOST OPERATIONS. ALL WATER SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT COMPONENTS MUST BE MAINTAINED READY FOR IMMEDIATE USE.   THE WATER SUPPLY MUST BE 300 GALLONS OR LARGER, WHEN IT IS SELF-PROPELLED OR 500 GALLONS OR LARGER, WHEN IT IS NOT SELF-PROPELLED.   THE PUMP MUST BE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING A DISCHARGE OF NOT LESS THAN 20 GALLONS PER MINUTE, WHEN PUMPING THROUGH 50 FEET OF HOSE AND A 1/4 INCH DIAMETER NOZZLE. AT LEAST 500 FEET OF 3/4 INCH DIAMETER OR LARGER HOSE MUST BE PROVIDED. NOT LESS THAN 250 FEET OF THE HOSE MUST BE FITTED WITH A NOZZLE, CONNECTED TO THE PUMP, AND TO THE WATER SUPPLY AS ONE OPERATING UNIT.

SPARK ARRESTER

ALL ENGINES MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH A SPARK ARRESTER. EXCEPTIONS ARE ALLOWED FOR FULLY TURBO-CHARGED ENGINES, FOR ENGINES OF 50 CUBIC INCH DISPLACEMENT OR SMALLER, FOR CERTAIN TRUCKS AND FOR PUMPS USED EXCLUSIVELY TO FIGHT FIRE. MOST EXCEPTED ENGINES MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH A MUFFLER AND WITH AN EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH ARE IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION.

FIRE TOOLS ON TRUCKS

EACH TRUCK USED TO CONDUCT AN OPERATION MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH A 2-1/2 POUND SIZE CLASS A, B, C RATED CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TESTING LABORATORY, A ROUND POINTED SHOVEL WHICH HAS A FACE NOT LESS THAN EIGHT INCHES WIDE AND A HANDLE OF NOT LESS THAN 26 INCHES LONG, AND A PULASKI OR AN AXE WITH A HANDLE OF NOT LESS THAN 26 INCHES LONG. ALL MUST BE READY FOR IMMEDIATE USE.

CABLE LOGGING

CLEAR THE GROUND BELOW BLOCKS OF ALL FLAMMABLE DEBRIS FOR NOT LESS THAN 10 FEET IN ALL DIRECTIONS. IN ADDITION, EQUIP EACH BLOCK WITH A PUMP-EQUIPPED CAN OR BLADDER WHICH CONTAINS AT LEAST FIVE GALLONS OF WATER. A ROUND POINTED SHOVEL WHICH HAS A FACE NOT LESS THAN EIGHT INCHES WIDE AND A HANDLE OF NOT LESS THAN 26 INCHES LONG IS ALSO REQUIRED AT EACH BLOCK.   DO NOT PERMIT MOVING LINES TO RUB ON ROCK OR WOODY MATERIAL IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CAUSE SPARKS OR CREATE SUFFICIENT HEAT THAT MAY CAUSE THE IGNITION OF A FIRE.

SMOKING

SMOKING IS NOT ALLOWED WHILE WORKING IN AN OPERATION AREA.

POWER SAWS

EACH POWER SAW MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH AN EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH RETAINS AT LEAST 90% OF CARBON PARTICLES AND WHICH MEETS CERTAIN EXHAUST TEMPERATURE STANDARDS. SAWS WHICH MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE LISTED IN THE "SPARK ARRESTER GUIDE" PUBLICATION. THIS CAN BE VIEWED AT MOST DISTRICT OFFICES.   AN EIGHT OUNCE OR LARGER FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND A ROUND POINTED SHOVEL WHICH HAS A FACE NOT LESS THAN EIGHT INCHES WIDE AND A HANDLE OF NOT LESS THAN 26 INCHES LONG MUST BE KEPT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.   POWER SAWS MUST BE STOPPED DURING FUELING AND THEN MUST BE MOVED AT LEAST 20 FEET FROM THE PLACE OF FUELING BEFORE BEING RESTARTED.

SNAGS

THE DISTRICT MAY REQUIRE THAT CERTAIN SNAGS WHICH CONSTITUTE A FIRE HAZARD BE FELLED EITHER BEFORE OR CONCURRENT WITH THE OPERATION OF POWER-DRIVEN MACHINERY. ONLY SNAGS, WHICH THE DISTRICT HAS DIRECTED BE FELLED, IN A WRITTEN ORDER, MUST BE FELLED.

WATCHMAN

FOR UP TO THREE HOURS AFTER POWER-DRIVEN MACHINERY HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR THE DAY, A WATCHMAN MUST CONDUCT A CONTINUAL VISUAL OBSERVATION OF THE OPERATION AREA ON WHICH THE MACHINERY WAS OPERATED.   IF WATCHMAN DETECT ANY FIRE IN THE OPERATION AREA, THEY MUST SAFELY TRY TO CONTROL AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THEY MUST ALSO SUMMON ALL NECESSARY ASSISTANCE. WATCHMAN ARE TO HAVE ADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SUMMON THE NEEDED ASSISTANCE.

DEBRIS ACCUMULATION

POWER-DRIVEN MACHINERY MUST BE KEPT FREE OF EXCESS FLAMMABLE MATERIAL WHICH MAY CREATE THE RISK OF FIRE.

ALTERNATE METHODS

IN SOME SITUATIONS, THE DISTRICT MAY ALLOW ALTERNATE METHODS OR EQUIPMENT WHICH ARE PROPOSED BY THE OPERATOR AND WHICH PROVIDE EQUAL OR BETTER SUPPRESSION OF FIRE THAT THE REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

QUESTIONS?

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OPERATION FIRE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION REQUIREMENTS, YOU MAY CONTACT ANY OFFICE OF THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, COOS FOREST PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION, DOUGLAS FOREST PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION OR THE WALKER RANGE FIRE PATROL ASSOCIATION.