Instructions - GFC Prescribed Burn Unit Plan

Transcription

1 Instructions - GFC Prescribed Burn Unit Plan This Prescribed Burn Unit Plan should be used by all GFC personnel when conducting prescribed burn assistance for landowners and when conducting prescribed burning on GFC owned lands. A Certified Prescribed Burn Manager must prepare this Prescribed Burn Unit Plan and be on site during the Prescribed Burn until it is completed. A copy of this plan should be available on site and reviewed by all personnel who are assisting. Instructions are numbered to correspond to specific information required and given on the Prescribed Burn Unit Plan 1. Landowner (if the person responsible for the burn is Enter the First and Last Name of the legal owner of the property. different than the landowner see 1a. below) 1.a Person Responsible for Burn If the person responsible for the burn is not the legal owner of the property enter the First and Last Name of the person who will be responsible for the burn. (Not a company name, hunting club, or consulting firm. CAN NOT be a GFC employee) 2. County: The County Name in which the prescribed burn is taking place. 3. Acres to be Burned: The number of acres to be prescribed burned under this Plan. If the burning operations will be for multiple days then only the weather forecast needs to be updated on the original burn plan as long as the objectives and fuels remain the same. Smoke plotting also if winds are from a different direction. If objective and or fuel are different then a new burn plan should be completed. Review this Prescribed Burn Unit Plan as well as the predicted or current fire and smoke management weather carefully for each day to insure conditions remain favorable for burning this location. Burning smaller areas may be necessary. 4. Address/Location of Burn 5. Latitude and Longitude of Burn Site: Degree/Min./Sec. 6. Reason/Objective for Burning 7. Date or Year Last Burned 8. Month or time period plan is written for 8. Attach a detailed Map: 9. Instructions for firebreaks/firing operations 10. GFC Class Day 11. Wind Direction Weather Condition/Description 12. Surface Wind Speed (Open) Enter street address with City/Zip or provide the location giving road names, crossroads and/or distance from landmark for the burn. Enter Lat/Long using degrees/minutes/seconds. Example: N 32 07' 09.83" W 82 41' 09.33" Enter the reason(s)and purpose of this prescribed burn operation. Thisshould be a measurable that you can go back and check against to see if the prescribed burn was succesful. Example: reduce the duff layer by 20%, top kill 80% of the hardwoods; remove 70% of the logging slash to allow for planting. Enter the date or year this site was last burned. (could have been burned by prescribed fire or wildfire). Note: If 3 years or more since last burn expect high accumulations of available fuels which may increase fire intensity and difficulty of control. Plans should be for a particular month or time of year/ season. Indicate on the map the location/boundary of property to prescribed bun under this plan. Show control lines, installed firebreaks, hazards, structures/improvements, areas to protect, adjoining property, smoke sensitive areas, predicted smoke impact areas, timber type(s), open areas, firing locations, wind direction inedicator, etc... Enter special considerations for: firebreak installation such as minimum width, firing techniques to use, time of day to stop firing, etc Enter GFC Class Day that is best to prescribed burn this site. Note: GFC Class 3, 4 and 5 days indicate higher fire danger. Enter the wind direction that is best to burn this site. Wind direction is defined as the direction the wind is coming from. Use the 8 intercardinal direction indicators: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW. Consider downwind hazards, fuels on adjoining property, roadways, critical impact areas and smoke sensitive areas. Use spot weather forecast to determine if wind shifts are predicted. Forecasted/Actual Desired Values for this Site Enter the forecasted ( use an average if a range is given) or actual Surface Wind Speed. Surface Winds are measured in an open area at 20 feet above ground level. Can be obtained from the GFC Weather Forecast daily; point weather forecast or the nearest GFC weather station. Enter the desired Surface Wind Speed for this specific site. Surface Winds Speeds between 8-12 mph are common for prescribed burning. Greater than 12 mph may cause control issues.

2 13. Canopy Wind Speed 14. Mixing Height (feet) Enter the forecasted Canopy Wind Speed. Canopy Winds are measured inside a timber stand. Can be obtained from the GFC Weather fire weather forcast Enter the forecasted Mixing Height in feet. Can be obtained from the GFC Weather Forecast daily or point weather forecast. If the GFC weather is not available then use NWS fire weather forcast Enter the desired Canopy Wind Speed for this site. Canopy Wind Speeds between 5-8 mph are common. Greater than 8 mph may cause control issues. Enter the desired Mixing Height for this site. Mixing height above 1650 is recommended. Less than 1650 feet may indicate potential negative smoke impacts. Mixing height above 6500 feet may indicate erratic fire behavior and control issues.

3 15. Transport Wind Speed 16. Daytime Dispersion Index 17. Nighttime Dispersion Index 18. Relative Humidity (%) 19. Temperature *F 20. LVORI (day of burn and next two (2) 12 hour forecast periods) Enter the forecasted Transport Wind Speed. Can be obtained from the GFC Weather fire weather forcast. Enter the forecasted Daytime Dispersion Index. Can be obtained from the GFC Weather fire weather forcast. Enter the forecasted Nighttime Dispersion Index. Can be obtained from the GFC Weather fire weather forcast Enter the forecasted or actual Relative Humidity, obtained from the GFC Weather fire weather forcast or nearest weather station (GFC or UGA) or from actual on-site readings (using Kestrel, Belt Weather Kit, etc Enter forecasted or actual Air Temperature. Can be obtained from the GFC Weather fire weather forcast or nearest weather station (GFC or UGA) or from actual on-site readings (using Kestrel, Belt Weather Kit, etc Enter the forecasted Low Visibility Occurrence Risk Index (LVORI). Can be obtained from the GFC Weather Forecast daily or point weather forecast. If the GFC weather is not available then use NWS fire weather forcast. Enter the desired Transport Wind Speed for this site. Transport Wind Speeds between 9-20 mph is recommended. Transport Wind Speed of 8 or less may cause negative smoke impacts; Speed greater than 20 may indicate erratic fire behavior and control issues. Enter the desired Daytime Dispersion Index for this site. Daytime Dispersion Index between is recommended. Dispersion Index below 40 may cause negative smoke impacts; An Index over 90 may indicate erratic fire behavior and control problems. Enter the desired Nighttime Dispersion Index for this site. Nighttime Dispersion Index of 6 or greater is recommended. A Nighttime Dispersion Index less than 6 indicates potential negative smoke impacts. If Nighttime Dispersion is less than 6 consider burning smaller areas, stop firing operations early and/or perform mop-up of residual smoke. Notification to local LE and GSP may be necessary if smoke is likely to impact roadways. Enter the desired Relative Humidity for this site. RH of 30% or greater is recommended. RH less than 30% may cause erratic fire behavior and control issues. Enter the desired Air Temperature for this site. Temperatures of less than 85 F is recommended. If conducting understory burning, the higher the temperature the more likely of causing mortality of desired timber/trees as well as increased fire intensity. Temperatures of less than 60 F is recommended when burning understory. Enter the desired LVORI for this site. LVORI of 6 or less is recommended. Must consider the LVORI for the upcoming night and the next day. (next two 12 hour periods on the weather forecast). Residual smoke has the potential to settle on the ground when LVORI is above 6 and may contribute to reduced visibility and/or other negative impacts.

4 21. KBDI 22. Turner & Atmosphere Tendency (Scale = 1-7) 23 and & 10 hour fuel moisture % 25. Red Flag Weather Factors 26. Watch Out Situations 27. Precautions to be taken... Enter the current Keetch Byram Drought Index (KBDI) on the day(s) the prescribed burn is being conducted. Enter the forecasted Turner Stability Index. Can be obtained from the GFC Weather Forecast daily or point weather forecast. If the GFC weather is not available then use NWS fire weather forcast. Enter the forecasted or actual 1 hr. and 10 hr. fuel moistures. Can be obtained from the GFC Fire Danger Rating Forecast, the afternoon GFC Fire Danger Ratings, UGA Fire Danger Ratings or NWS. Enter the desired KBDI for this site. It is recommended that KBDI less than 550 for open sites or site prep burning (no overstory) and a KBDI less than 450 for understory burning. Expect fire intensity to increase as the KBDI increases which could cause mortality of desired timber/trees and control issues. Enter the desired Turner Stability for this site. It is recommended that the Turner Stability be 3, 4 or 5. A Turner Stability of 1-2 indicates a very unstable atmosphere that will increase fire intensity. 6-7 indicates a stable atmosphere that will subdue the fire and cause smoke not to disperse. Enter the desired 1 hr. and 10 hr. fuel moisture for this site. It is recommended that 1 hr. and 10 hr. fuel moisture not be less than 8%. Fuel moisture below 8% could cause mortality of desired timber/trees and control issues. Pre-identified conditions to consider that may cause prescribed fire issues related to fire control or smoke management. This is not an all conclusive list. Others factors may also be present or forecasted to consider. Situations that should be considered before initiating prescribed burns. Mitigation actions may be be required prior to ignition to eliminate the watch out situation or the prescribed burn postponed until conditions change. This is not an all conclusive list. Other watch out situations may also be present or forecasted to consider. List precautions and areas of concern; identify and map smoke sensitive areas to avoid negativly impacting them. Develop a contingency plan in case of un-forecasted or unplanned events occur. 28. A Burning Permit must be received Contact the local GFC County Unit or the GFC Response Center on the day of the prescribed burn to receive updated fire weather info and to obtain a Burning Permit. Enter permit information once obtained. 29. Other Local, State or Federal Regulations Use this section to document any other rules or regulations that may be in effect such as local ordinances, conducting this prescribed fire during the EPD Summer Burn Ban, this burn classified as an Agriculture Burn and exempt from the Burning Permit requirements, etc Prepared by and Signature This Prescribed Burn Plan must be completed by a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager and signed/dated by the person completing this Plan. The Prescribed Burn Manager's Certification # must be entered. A Prescribed Burn Manager must be on site during all GFC Prescribed Burn Assistance services until the prescribed burn is completed.

5 Prescribed Burning Unit Plan Site Information 1. Landowner Name: 1a. Person Responsible Name: 2. County: 3. Acres to be Burned: 4. Address/Location of Burn: 5. Latitude & Longitude of Burn Site - Degree/Min./Sec. N W 6. Reason/Objective for Burning: 7. Date or Year Last Burned: 8. Month or time period Plan is written for 9. Attach a detailed Map to include: firelines; (if installed) natural or man-made barriers; roads; open areas; power lines; firing location adjoining property and improvements; wind direction indicator; true north; timber types 10. Instructions for firebreaks/firing Operations: WEATHER VALUES/CONDITIONS Enter Forecasted or Actual Enter Desired Range of Value for this Burn Site 11. GFC Class Day 12. Wind Direction (use spot weather forecast to determine any predicted wind shifts.) Enter Forecasted average Common Range of Values Enter Desired Range of Value for this Burn Weather Condition/ Description or actual (use single for all Prescribed Burns Site number-not range) 13. Surface Wind (Open) 8 to 14 mph 14. Canopy Wind 5 to 8 mph 15. Mixing Height (feet) 1650 or above 16. Transport Wind Speed 9 to 20 mph 17. Daytime Dispersion Index 40 through Nighttime Dispersion Index Above Relative Humidity (%) Above 30% 20. Temperature F Less than 85* 21. LVORI (Day of burn & next two 12 hour forecast periods) 1 through KBDI Below 450 (below 550 for site prep.) 23. Turner & Atmosphere Tendency (Scale = 1-7) 3, 4, or hour fuel moisture % 8% or above hour fuel moisture % 8% or above Values highlighted in orange indicate possible watch out situations for prescribed burning which may indicate the need to further evaluate prescribed burning operations under current or forecasted weather conditions depending on objectives and desired weather conditions for burn site. 26. Red Flag Weather Factors To Look For Before Conducting An Rx Burning KBDI 450 or above RH lower than 30% Smoke Dispersion Index below 40 (day) and below 6 (night) LVORI 7 or above tonight or tomorrow night Mixing Height (ft.) less than 1,650 or greater than 6,500 Surface winds greater than 15 mph Wind shift is forecasted (use GFC spot weather forecast Watch Out Situations and Site Specific Conditions to Consider The adjoining property contains wildland fuels that will burn rapidly Standing dead snags along the fireline More than three years since the property was burned Hazardous fuels or dry organic soils surrounding burn site Moderate or high fog potential the night following burn Continuous amount of draped/ladder fuels Utility poles and other structures on site Piles, windrows, or heavy fuels or heavey amounts of dead/down fuel within the area to be burned Openings such as roads, powerlines, timber stand height changes, fields, etc. that will cause winds to increase or change direction (eddv effect) Smoke Sensitive Area (SSA) downwind or down drainage - use point/spot weather forecast 28 Precautions to be taken or justifications: Examples: Smoke Sensitive Areas ( include a map); adjoining structures/improvement; threatened; endangered habitat; heavy adjacent fuels; power lines etc Contingency plan for escape or adverse burning conditions. 29. On the day of the burn, a permit must be received from the local unit of the Georgia Forestry Commission. Local GFC Office/Unit: Phone #: 30. Other Local, State or Federal Regulations: Burning Permit Number: 31. Prepared by Printed/Typed Name: Prescribed Burn Manager Certification # Prepared by Signature: Date of Prescribed Burn: For more Information that defines interpretations for the GFC Weather Conditions and provides recommendations please visit or The "Introduction to Prescribed Fire in the Southern Ecosystems" can be viewed and a copy of obtained at This guide can provide more details that can help prescribed burn practitioners plan for and use prescribed fire to meet burning objectives. For spot weather forecast - Revised 07/20/2016