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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13845 RESOLUTION NO. 13845 A RESOLUTION APPROVING A FIRE MANAGEMENT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF PUEBLO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, AND THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, AND AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL TO EXECUTE THE SAME BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that: SECTION 1: The Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Pueblo, a Municipal Corporation, and the Nature Conservancy, a Non-Profit Organization, dated December 11, 2017, a true copy of which is attached hereto, having been approved as to form by the City Attorney, is hereby approved. SECTION 2: The President of City Council is hereby authorized and directed to execute the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the City, and the City Clerk is directed to affix the seal of the City thereto and attest the same. SECTION 3: The officers and staff of the City are directed and authorized to perform any and all acts consistent with the intent of this Resolution, the attached Memorandum of Understanding, and the related Exhibits to effectuate the transactions described herein. SECTION 4: This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage. INTRODUCED: December 11, 2017 BY: Ed Brown City Clerk’s Office Item # M-10 BACKGROUND PAPER FOR PROPOSED RESOLUTION COUNCIL MEETING DATE: December 11, 2017 TO: President Stephen G. Nawrocki and Members of City Council CC: Sam Azad, City Manager VIA: Brenda Armijo, Acting City Clerk FROM: Steven Meier, Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION APPROVING A FIRE MANAGEMENT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF PUEBLO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, AND THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, AND AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL TO EXECUTE THE SAME SUMMARY: This Resolution will approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Pueblo and the Nature Conservancy to facilitate cooperation between the two parties for wildland fire management. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: None BACKGROUND: The City of Pueblo and the Mountain Park Environmental Center (MPEC) have been cooperatively working on a fire mitigation plan since 2003. In the aftermath of the 2016 wildfire that came close to impacting Beulah Valley, Jonathan Pilarski, MPEC Executive Director, contacted the Nature Conservancy to gauge their interest in working with the City and MPEC to develop a fire management plan. The parties agreed to the attached Fire Management MOU, which outlines fire management responsibilities for the City and the Conservancy. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: None BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: None STAKEHOLDER PROCESS: The Mountain Park Environmental Center, Pueblo Fire Department, Pueblo Parks and Recreation, Beulah Fire Protection and Ambulance District, and the Nature Conservancy have come together in recent years to develop an on-going “Prescribed Fire – Concept Plan” for the City property known as Pueblo Mountain Park. This MOU is a portion of the overarching Concept Plan. ALTERNATIVES: By not approving this Resolution, there will not be a MOU for Fire Management between the City of Pueblo and the Nature Conservancy. RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the Resolution. PROPOSED MOTION: This Resolution will be placed on the Consent Agenda. Attachments: Fire Management Memorandum of Understanding Exhibit A: Minimum Prescribed Burn Plan Components Exhibit B: Definitions of the Prescribed Fire Crew Members (RXCM) and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 3 (RXB3) Exhibit C: Important Information for Landowners About Risks from Prescribed Burn Activities FIRE MANAGEMENT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Between THE NATURE CONSERVANCY And THE CITY OF PUEBLO This is a Fire Management Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between The Nature Conservancy, a non-profit organization, hereinafter referred to as the"Conservancy," and The City of Pueblo, a Municipal Corporation, hereinafter referred to as the "Agency." This agreement is to facilitate cooperation of the two parties in wildland fire management. The Agency and the Conservancy shall be referred to individually hereinafter as a"Party" and collectively as the"Parties." WITNESSETH WHEREAS, the Conservancy's mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends; and WHEREAS, the Conservancy owns and manages land in Colorado; and WHEREAS, the Agency manages public and/or private lands in Colorado that contain a diverse array of plants and animals; and WHEREAS, the management of many Conservancy and Agency lands requires proper use of fire management including prescribed burning, in a manner that considers natural resource needs; and WHEREAS, the Conservancy and/or the Agency have expertise in fire management, including prescribed burning, and currently employ or have under contract personnel and equipment capable of performing wildland fire management activities; and WHEREAS, the Agency and the Conservancy benefit from experiences and training gained during wildland fire management activities; and NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. The following terms shall have the following meanings as used in this MOU: a. Assisting Party: Party that provides employees or volunteers to assist the Jurisdictional Party with fire activities. b. Jurisdictional Party: The Party that possesses ownership of and/or management authority over the land involved in the fire activities. c. Burn Boss: Person responsible for supervising a prescribed fire from ignition through mop- up, on behalf of and at the request of the Jurisdictional Party. d. Chief-of-Party: Designated leader of Assisting Party for a particular fire activity. e. Jurisdictional Chief-of-Party: Designated leader of the Jurisdictional Party when the Burn Boss is an employee, volunteer or contractor of the Assisting Party f. Project Officer: Individual for each Party that is responsible for implementation of this MOU. g. Incident Commander: Person determined by local jurisdiction to be responsible for overall management under this MOU of a particular suppression incident. The Burn Boss shall be responsible for oversight of the suppression action until the Incident Commander arrives on site. The Incident Commander may assign one or more deputies from the Jurisdictional Party and/or from an Assisting Party to assist in suppression action. h. Conservancy Fire Manager: Conservancy employee who provides overall fire management supervision and coordination on behalf of the Conservancy for a particular geographic area. i. Prescribed Fire: Any fire ignited by management actions to meet specific objectives. 2. Upon request, personnel and equipment may be provided by the Agency to the Conservancy, or the Conservancy to the Agency, pursuant to the terms and conditions outlined in this MOU. Provision of personnel and equipment shall be at the discretion of each individual Party, depending on workloads, priorities, and fire danger. Staff and equipment provided under this MOU may be used for, but are not limited to, the following purposes: a. Technical assistance, including preparation or review of site or landscape-level fire management plans and prescribed burn unit plans, forest and other management plans, inventories and analysis. b. Preburn preparations, including vegetation and fuel load sampling, control line construction and maintenance, environmental monitoring, and fuels manipulation. c. Burn implementation, including project supervision, ignition, holding, fire behavior and weather monitoring, logistical support and mop-up. d. Post-burn monitoring and evaluation. e. Fire management training, annual refresher, and annual physical fitness testing. 3. The Jurisdictional Party shall determine who will perform as the Burn Boss for any given fire. The Parties shall mutually agree on who will prepare the prescribed burn plan (the"Burn Plan"). The Burn Plan must be reviewed and approved by the Jurisdictional Party prior to burn implementation. In addition, the Burn Boss must be provided an opportunity to review the Burn Plan prior to burn implementation. For burns in which the Conservancy is the Jurisdictional Party, the Burn Plan must be approved by the designated Conservancy Fire Manager, and must address at a minimum the information listed in Exhibit A or follow the National Wildiand Fire Coordination Group (NWCG) burn plan template. In addition, when the Conservancy is the Jurisdictional Party and/or when the Conservancy prepares the Burn Plan, the Conservancy will complete an internal consequence analysis for the proposed burn, in accordance with Conservancy policies and procedures. Each Burn Plan shall contain sufficient specificity with regard to objectives, responsibilities for various activities, reimbursement of costs, and each Party's role in particular tasks. The Burn Plan must be prepared with a high regard for safety and shall require implementation by an experienced Burn Boss. The Burn Plans shall identify the qualifications of burn personnel needed to implement the burn. Contingency planning in the event of an escaped fire will be an essential element of each Burn Plan. To the extent the Party preparing the Burn Plan authorizes another Party to use said plan, the authorization is explicitly limited to the terms and conditions set forth in the Burn Plan. In addition, use of the Burn Plan shall not be authorized if the preparer of the Burn Plan gives verbal or written indication that burning is not appropriate on any given day. Any Party leading a burn and using a Burn Plan shall bear the risk and liability of its use. 4. In the event of an escaped fire, the Burn Boss shall declare the escape and notify local suppression authorities. The Conservancy will support local fire suppression agencies as requested based on skills and qualifications of available personnel. Conservancy properties have a Wildfire Response Plan (WRP)that considers the ecologically sensitive areas that are important to biodiversity and provides guidance for wildfire suppression. The Parties will request that the Incident Commander follow these plans to the extent practicable when suppressing wildfires involving Conservancy properties. A Conservancy representative may fill the role of resource advisor and provide guidance identified in the WRP as requested by the suppression organization, however, the Incident Commander has the ultimate authority on how the fire will be suppressed. 5. In general, the Burn Boss will be an employee, volunteer or contractor of the Jurisdictional Party. However, in the event that the Burn Boss is an employee, volunteer or contractor of the Assisting Party, the final go/no go decision for a particular burn shall be made by the Burn Boss and a representative of the Jurisdictional Party and the burn shall not commence unless both have reached agreement. A Chief- of-Party shall be designated for the purpose of overseeing the Assisting Party's employees and equipment. The Chief-of-Party shall work closely with the Burn Boss and the Jurisdictional Party. In cases where the Burn Boss is provided by the Assisting Party, the Jurisdictional Party shall designate a Jurisdictional Chief-of-Party. The Jurisdictional Chief-of-Party shall work closely with the Burn Boss and Assisting Party. Members of the Assisting Party or Jurisdictional Party shall follow instructions of the Burn Boss when implementing this MOU, provided, however, that if the Chief-of-Party or Jurisdictional Chief-of- Party determines that the proposed burn is unsafe or has serious concerns about the advisability of burning, and is unable to reach a satisfactory agreement with the Burn Boss to rectify the situation, he or she retains the option of refusing the assignment. Individual crew members of the Assisting Party shall have the right to refuse assignments or directives during a burn that they deem to be unsafe. Such individuals shall report their safety concerns to the Chief-of-Party. 6. The Jurisdictional Party for the burn shall be responsible for consulting with local fire districts, air quality departments, and sheriff offices, for getting necessary permits, licenses, and authorizations (including but not limited to obtaining any necessary governmental burn permits, air quality permits, and other required authorizations) at its own expense, for obtaining access, and for serving as the principal point of contact with third parties. The Jurisdictional Party shall also be responsible for obtaining written permission to burn and waivers of liability from third-party landowners. Release of liability against the Conservancy shall be included on all third-party landowner waiver forms when the Conservancy is assisting the Agency on a prescribed burn; where time does not allow the Conservancy to specifically be named, the Conservancy shall be included on third-party waiver forms through a catch-all provision releasing other cooperators from liability. Release of liability against the Agency shall be included on all third-party landowner waiver forms when the Agency is assisting the Conservancy on a prescribed burn; where time does not allow the Agency to specifically be named, the Agency shall be included on third- party waiver forms through a catch-all provision releasing other cooperators from liability. 7. Unless expressly agreed to in a written addendum to this MOU, each Party shall pay all salaries and benefits to its own employees and shall cover the costs of operation and maintenance of its own equipment, and there shall be no exchange of funds for the obligations described herein. 8. Each Party will adhere to its own fire qualification standards. Personnel dispatched by the Agency or by the Conservancy shall meet the qualification standards of the National Interagency Incident Management System Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide, PMS 310-1 (June 2009 or most recent version) for the positions that they will occupy. The National Interagency Incident Management System Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide, PMS 310-1 (June 2009 or most recent version) allows local cooperators to jointly define and accept each other's qualifications. The Parties may also use the agency specific positions of Prescribed Fire Crewmember(RXCM) and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 3 (RXB3) on prescribed burns. See Exhibit B for definitions of the RXCM and RXB3 positions. Each Party shall provide information regarding individual crew member qualifications to the other Party upon request. Each Party shall cooperate regarding fire management training opportunities. The Agency and the Conservancy agree to encourage interagency participation in sponsoring and coordinating training activities. This may include sharing instructors, providing slots in each other's training sessions, and, for NWCG qualified personnel, initialing successful completion of tasks in Position Task Books. 9. On behalf of itself, its officers, directors, members, employees, volunteers, agents, and representatives, each Party agrees that it shall be responsible for its own acts and omissions and the results thereof and that it shall not be responsible for the acts or omissions of the other Party, nor the results thereof. Each Party therefore agrees that it will assume the risk and liability for itself, its agents, employees, and volunteers for any injury to or death of persons or loss or destruction of property resulting in any manner from the conduct of the Party's own operations and/or the operations of its agents, employees, and/or volunteers under this MOU. Each Party further releases and waives all claims against the other Party for compensation for any loss, cost, damage, expense, personal injury, death, claim, or other liability arising out of the performance of this MOU, including without limitation any loss, cost, damage, expense, personal injury, death, claim, or other liability arising out of the other Party's negligence, except to the extent caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the other Party, provided, however, that either Party may agree to voluntarily compensate the other for damage to equipment in accordance with Paragraph 12. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Conservancy shall be entitled to any and all applicable protections afforded under local, state, and/or federal law relating to the fire management activities conducted hereunder, either directly or indirectly through its assistance of the Agency, or any government agency. Both Parties agree to comply with all municipal, state, and federal laws, including, but not limited to, prohibiting the employment of an illegal alien to perform work under this MOU. This MOU is expressly made subject to the limitations of the Colorado Constitution. Nothing herein shall constitute, nor be deemed to constitute, the creation of a debt or multi-year fiscal obligation or an obligation of future appropriations by the City Council of Pueblo, contrary to Article X, §20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other constitutional, statutory or charter debt limitation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this MOU, with respect to any financial obligation of Agency which may arise under this MOU in any fiscal year after 2017, in the event the budget or other means of appropriations for any such year fails to provide funds in sufficient amounts to discharge such obligation, such failure shall not constitute a default by or breach of this MOU, including any sub-agreement, attachment, schedule or exhibit thereto, by the Agency. Nothing in this MOU is intended, nor should it be construed, to create or extend any rights, claims or benefits or assume any liability for or on behalf of any third party, or to waive any immunities or limitations otherwise conferred upon Agency, a municipal corporation under or by virtue of federal or state law, including but not limited to the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, C.R.S. §24-10-101, et seq. Conservancy agrees to conform to all Agency policies, ordinances, and state and federal laws. As applicable, both Conservancy and Agency agree not to discriminate in the selection, acceptance, or treatment of any participant or representative of either Party pursuant to this MOU because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, age, veteran status, medical, ancestry, marital status, or citizenship, within the limits imposed by law or other requirements of this MOU. 10. Unless otherwise expressly provided by law, personnel or volunteers of one Party shall not be considered to be agents or employees of the other Party for any purpose, and no joint venture or principal-agent relationship shall be deemed to exist. Neither party shall hold itself out as a partner, joint venture, agent, or representative of the other under this MOU. Each Party shall carry appropriate workers compensation coverage for its employees participating in fire management activities under this MOU. 11. The Parties to this MOU appoint the following Project Officers for implementation of this MOU: THE NATURE CONSERVANCY PUEBLO MOUNTAIN PARK Parker Titus Jonathan Pilarski Planning and Partnership Coordinator Executive Director, Mountain Park 2424 Spruce Street, Suite 100 Environmental Center Boulder, Colorado 80302 9112 Mountain Park Road (303)541-0375 Beulah, CO 81023 (719)-485-4444 12. In the event of injury to personnel or volunteers of any participating Party, the Burn Boss or Incident Commander, as appropriate, shall provide or arrange for immediate medical treatment of any injuries incurred at the scene. Serious accident investigations (including but not limited to escaped prescribed fire, and accidents involving hospitalization or fatalities)will be undertaken at the discretion of either Party. All Parties will cooperate in any such investigation. In the event that the Assisting Party's equipment is excessively damaged (i.e., in excess of$1,000.00) or destroyed, an investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the Jurisdictional Party's policy and procedures. The investigation will produce a recommendation for reimbursement, replacement or repair. The Project Officers shall communicate promptly regarding any injury to personnel or damage to equipment and documentation shall be provided as requested. The non-injured Party may pay all or any part of the recommended reimbursement, replacement or repair in its sole discretion. 13. Each Party shall carry at least$5,000,000.00 of hazard and liability insurance, written on an occurrence or claims-made basis during the term of this MOU. Such insurance shall cover prescribed burn activities, including accidents or injuries resulting from smoke. If the Agency is self-insured, a Certification of Self-Insurance shall be provided to the Conservancy upon request. Certification of Self- Insurance shall be provided by the Conservancy to the Agency upon request. Conservancy and Agency hereby mutually waive any rights of subrogation one may have against the other or the other's insurance carrier for any claims, damages and/or losses arising from this MOU, presence on Agency's lands, the use of Agency equipment, supplies, or labor. 14. This MOU shall be effective from signature date by both Parties and, unless terminated earlier shall continue in effect until December 31, 2022. This MOU supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications and negotiations, both oral and written and constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties relating to the work set out above. No amendment shall be effective except in writing signed by all Parties. Any party may terminate and withdraw from this MOU thirty days following written notification to all the other Parties. 15. This MOU shall be interpreted, construed and governed by the laws of Colorado and such laws of the United States as may be applicable. In the event of any litigation over the interpretation or application of any of the terms or provisions of this MOU, the Parties agree that litigation shall be conducted in the state of Colorado. 16. If any provision of this MOU is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall not be deemed invalid as a result, and the Parties shall revise this MOU as necessary consistent with the intent of the Parties. Any recital or preliminary statement in this MOU and all Exhibits referred to in this MOU are an integral part of this MOU and are incorporated by reference into this MOU. 17. This MOU may be executed in counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this MOU, effective as of the last date written below. CITY OF '. -A V _4 "o THE NATURE CONSERVANCY i 1111 0,.....) By: _/1- e Print Name: Stephen G. Nawrocki Print Name: 4444.16 I— O6ta«•(i,, Its: President of City Council Its: (*Le tubs Gt.'ui ( kAdAA Date: December 11, 2017 Date: C/3..4 I 1. 011, ATTE�, „u, a.,,,./wL,,g,_ . Acting City Clerk Exhibit A: MINIMUM PRESCRIBED BURN PLAN COMPONENTS: • Signature Page • Geographic location • Sources of emergency assistance • Description of the prescribed burn unit area (vegetation type and fuel models by percent of unit; narrative description of unit) • Goals and objectives • Fuel and weather prescription • Desired fire behavior to meet objectives (narrative description) • Smoke management • Crew (number and organization) • Equipment • Day of burn operations (firebreak prep, ignition plan, holding plan, communications, mop-up standards, public relations) • Contingency plan (predicted fire behavior for free-running fire, both inside and outside the unit; location, type and response time of emergency resources; secondary control lines) • Backup source of water delivery • Safety and medical information • Documentation (confirmation of required planning, exemptions and justifications for any The Nature Conservancy guidelines) • Go/No Go Checklist • Post-burn activities • Maps that clearly define the location of the burn unit and provide contingency information Exhibit B: DEFINITIONS OF THE PRESCRIBED FIRE CREW MEMBER (RXCM) AND PRESCRIBED FIRE BURN BOSS TYPE 3 (RXB3) Prescribed Fire Crew Member(RXCM) The Prescribed Fire Crew Member (RXCM) participates in prescribed fire operations, including: ignition, holding, mop-up, monitoring, etc. All Nature Conservancy staff and volunteers actively participating on a prescribed burn must be qualified as either a Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) or RXCM. The principal difference between FFT2 and RXCM is the lower minimum fitness requirement for RXCM. TNC RXCM Requirements • Required Training: • 1-100 Introduction to Incident Command System • S-130 Firefighter Training • S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior • L-180 Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service (included in S-130) • Required Experience • Participate on one prescribed fire as a trainee • Required Physical Fitness • Moderate • RXCM Position Currency (tasks to perform to remain qualified) • Complete recurrent training (RT-130) Annual Fireline Safety Refresher • Complete annual physical fitness testing • Successfully perform the position on a burn within a five (5) year timeframe • Position Documentation • A Prescribed Fire Crew Member is responsible for maintaining awarded training certificates, fitness test documentation, and a log or record of their wildland fire experience. Typical fire experience log will contain: specific dates and locations of prescribed fire assignments; site name; burn unit name, size, and fuel types; and assignment held on the burn (e.g. holding crew, ignition crew, UTV patrol, etc). The Conservancy may retain copies of these documents in a state or local office for documenting an individual's information in the IQCS database. Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 3 (RXB3) The Burn Boss Type 3 directs prescribed fire operations on some low complexity burns. This is an agency-specific position, one not defined in the PMS 310-1 qualifications guide. TNC Criteria for RXB3 Use • Complexity Analysis final ranking of"low" using either NWCG complexity analysis, or TNC complexity analysis. • Conservancy Consequence Analysis ranking of"not high" • No aerial ignition • Prescribed Burn Plan limits prescription parameters to those that provide for wide safety margins. E.g. plans consider: conservative yet effective fire behavior prescriptions; wide fire breaks; and more personnel than minimally adequate. • Prescribed Burn Unit Plan must explicitly list RXB3 as acceptable This position differs significantly from the RXB3 of many US government agencies in that the Conservancy requires additional training and experience. A person qualified by an agency as an RXB3 is not necessarily qualified for use as a Conservancy RXB3 because of additional qualifications requirements. TNC RXB3 Responsibility and Authority • Directs prescribed fire operations on some low complexity burns • Directs Non-broadcast burns • Coordinates necessary fire suppression activities, e.g. prescribed fire contingency response • Confirms crew member training, qualifications and position currency • Prepares Prescribed Burn Plans and assists with other planning • Serves as instructor for entry to mid-level wildland fire courses • Responsible for safe and effective fire operations • Instructs the science and practice of ecological burning TNC RXB3 Requirements • Required Training: • S-200 Initial Attack Incident Commander • S-390 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations • Other Training (not required) which supports development of knowledge and skills: • S-219 Firing Operations • RX-310 Introduction to Fire Effects • RX-301 Prescribed Fire Implementation, or Workshop on Ecological Burning • Required Experience • Firing Boss (FIRB) • An additional Single Resource Boss, Engine Boss (ENGB) is preferred • Participation in a total of at least ten (10) prescribed burns whose primary purpose is not training • Required Physical Fitness • Moderate • RXCM Position Currency (tasks to perform to remain qualified) • Complete recurrent training (RT-130) Annual Fireline Safety Refresher • Complete RT-300 Burn Boss Safety Refresher every two years • Complete First Aid/CPR refresher • Complete annual physical fitness testing • Successfully lead a prescribed burn within a five (5) year timeframe • Position Documentation • Meeting all of the above standards for RXB3 does not automatically qualify and give a person authority to conduct prescribed burns. The designation will depend on the recommendations from fellow burners and careful evaluation of leadership qualities by the Fire Manager. An individual may be restricted to burning in certain fuel types or in specific sites or geographic areas • A Burn Boss is responsible for maintaining awarded training certificates, completed Position Task Books, fitness test documentation, and a log or record of his/her wildland fire experience. Exhibit C: Important Information for Landowners About Risks from Prescribed Burn Activities Before agreeing to allow your property to be burned as part of a prescribed fire, you should be aware of the risks and hazards associated with fire and smoke. Fire Hazards Although the Conservancy rigorously trains all staff involved in prescribed burns and has equipment on site to suppress an escaped fire should it occur, unexpected and unpredictable weather conditions or human error may nonetheless result in a fire escaping control. An escaped fire can result in loss of structures ranging from deer stands or fence posts to much larger structures. In the worst-case scenario, an escaped fire may result in the loss of life, particularly if someone tries to fight an escaped fire without training and proper protective gear. You are not expected to, and should never assist in fighting an escaped fire unless you have been properly trained. Smoke Hazards Hazards from smoke include both health hazards and risk of property damage, as detailed below. Health Risks: The amount of smoke you may be exposed to from a prescribed burn is unlikely to cause any health problem unless you have a pulmonary disease that makes you extremely sensitive, such as asthma. However, you should be aware that: ➢ If you are a healthy person, smoke can irritate your eyes, nose and throat, and may cause headaches; > Children, older adults, and smokers need to take extra care to avoid breathing smoke; and ➢ People with heart disease or asthma and other lung diseases also need to take extra care to avoid breathing smoke; for those with such conditions, breathing smoke can also cause coughing, wheezing, chest pain and/or shortness of breath. You may not have these symptoms until several days after you breathe the smoke. If you breathe smoke and you have symptoms associated with any pre-existing conditions that do not respond to your usual recommended medications, see your health care provider immediately. In addition to your physical health, smoke from wildfires can reduce visibility on roads, creating safety hazards. You may need to take an alternate route, or wait for smoke to subside, before driving in an area affected by smoke. Also pay close attention to any fire personnel directing traffic in the area. ►Property Damage: Smoke can permeate many surfaces and cause odor and possible discoloration. If windows are left open, smoke odor may get into a home and cling to draperies or upholstered furniture for several days or weeks. You can avoid smoke damage to property by closing all windows and doors for as long as smoke is present and by not having laundry on a clothesline.