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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09859 ORDINANCE NO. 9859 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PRESCRIBED FIRE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF PUEBLO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, AND THE FOREST STEWARDS GUILD AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE SAME WHEREAS, the City of Pueblo entered into a Fire Management Memorandum of Understanding with the Nature Conservancy, a non-profit organization, dated December 11, 2017; and WHEREAS, the Nature Conservancy has since transferred its fire assets, portfolio, and personnel to the Forest Stewards Guild, including any proposed work at the Pueblo Mountain Park; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that: SECTION 1: The Prescribed Fire Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the City of Pueblo, a Municipal Corporation, and the Forest Stewards Guild, incorporated herein and attached hereto, having been approved as to form by the City Attorney, is hereby approved. SECTION 2: The Mayor is hereby authorized to execute the MOU on behalf of the City, and the City Clerk shall affix the Seal of the City thereto and attest the same. SECTION 3: The officers and staff of the City are authorized and directed to perform any and all acts consistent with the intent of this Ordinance and the attached MOU to implement the transactions, policies, and procedures described herein. SECTION 4: This Ordinance shall become effective on the date of final action by the Mayor and City Council. Action by City Council: Introduced and initial adoption of Ordinance by City Council on December 28, 2020. Final adoption of Ordinance by City Council on January 11, 2021 . President of City Council Action by the Mayor: ☒ Approved on January 13, 2021 . □ Disapproved on based on the following objections: _ Mayor Action by City Council After Disapproval by the Mayor: □ Council did not act to override the Mayor's veto. □ Ordinance re-adopted on a vote of , on □ Council action on _______ failed to override the Mayor’s veto. President of City Council ATTEST City Clerk City Clerk’s Office Item # R-3 BACKGROUND PAPER FOR PROPOSED ORDINANCE COUNCIL MEETING DATE: December 28, 2020 TO: President Dennis E. Flores and Members of City Council CC: Nicholas A. Gradisar, Mayor VIA: Brenda Armijo, City Clerk FROM: Michael C. Sexton, Acting Parks and Recreation Director SUBJECT: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PRESCRIBED FIRE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF PUEBLO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, AND THE FOREST STEWARDS GUILD AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE SAME SUMMARY: This Ordinance will approve a Prescribed Fire Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the City of Pueblo and the Forest Stewards Guild to facilitate cooperation between the two parties for wildland fire management at and around the Pueblo Mountain Park located in Beulah, Colorado. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: City Council approved Resolution 13845 on December 11, 2017 approving a Fire Management Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Pueblo and the Nature Conservancy. BACKGROUND: The Mason Gulch Fire in 2005 raised awareness of the Beulah area’s vulnerability to a large, watershed-wide wildland fire and led to the 2010 shaded fuel break project in the Pueblo Mountain Park. Talks with the Nature Conservancy began over a year prior to the Beulah Hill and Junkins Fires that came close to impacting the Beulah Valley in October 2016. In the year that followed, then Executive Director of the Mountain Park Environmental Center (MPEC) Jonathan Pilarski worked with the Nature Conservancy and the City of Pueblo to develop a Memorandum of Understanding to plan for and conduct prescribed fires in the Park. That agreement was approved by Resolution on December 11, 2017 and expires December 31, 2022. In the Spring of 2020, the Nature Conservancy transferred its fire assets, portfolio, and personnel to the Forest Stewards Guild, including any proposed work at the Pueblo Mountain Park, whereby the Nature Conservancy assigned the previously approved agreement to the Guild. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Not applicable to this Ordinance. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable to this Ordinance. STAKEHOLDER PROCESS: The Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center (formerly known as Mountain Park Environmental Center), City of Pueblo Fire Department, Pueblo Parks and Recreation Department, Beulah Fire Protection and Ambulance District, and the Forest Stewards Guild have been meeting on a regular basis this past year to update the on-going “Prescribed Fire – Concept Plan” for the City owned property known as Pueblo Mountain Park, as well as the surrounding Beulah Valley. This updated MOU is a portion of the overarching Concept Plan. ALTERNATIVES: Should City Council not approve this ordinance, there will not be a MOU for future prescribed fire procedures between the City of Pueblo and the Forest Stewards Guild. RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the Ordinance. Attachments: Ordinance Prescribed Fire 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 PRESCRIBED FIRE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Between THE FOREST STEWARDS GUILD And THE CITY OF PUEBLO This is a Prescribed Fire Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between The Forest Stewards Guild, hereinafter referred to as the"Guild,"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 prescribed wildland fire activities. The Agency and the Guild shall be referred to individually hereinafter as a"Party"and collectively as the"Parties." WITNESSETH WHEREAS, Agency entered into a Fire Management Memorandum of Understanding with the Nature Conservancy, a non-profit organization, on May 20, 2018 ("Conservancy Agreement"), pursuant to which the two parties were to cooperate in wildland fire management; and WHEREAS, the Nature Conservancy has since transferred its fire assets, portfolio, and personnel to the Forest Stewards Guild, including any proposed work at Pueblo Mountain Park, whereby the Nature Conservancy assigned the Conservancy Agreement to Guild; and WHEREAS, upon final execution of this MOU, the Conservancy Agreement will terminate and be superseded in its entirety by this MOU; and WHEREAS, the Guild practices and promotes responsible forestry as a means of sustaining the integrity of forest ecosystems and the human communities dependent upon them. The Guild engages in education, training, policy analysis, research, and advocacy to foster excellence in stewardship, support practicing foresters and allied professionals,and engage a broader community in the challenges of forest conservation and management; and WHEREAS, the Guild manages land in Colorado utilizing prescribed fire; 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 Guild projects and Agency lands requires proper use of prescribed fire, including prescribed burning, in a manner that considers natural resource needs; and WHEREAS, the Guild and Agency have expertise in prescribed fires, including prescribed burning, and currently employ or have under contract personnel and equipment capable of performing wildland prescribed fire activities; and WHEREAS, the Agency and the Guild benefit from experiences and training gained during wildland prescribed fire activities. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms herein, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. The following terms shall have the subsequent meanings as used in this MOU: a. Burn Boss: Person responsible for supervising a prescribed fire from ignition through mop- up, on behalf of and at the request of the Agency. b. Chief-of-Party: Designated leader of Guild for a particular fire activity. Page 1 of 3 c. Agency Chief-of-Party: Designated leader of the Agency when the Burn Boss is an employee, volunteer, or contractor of the Guild. d. Project Officer: Individual for each Party that is responsible for implementation of this MOU. e. Incident Commander: Person determined by Beulah Fire Protection and Ambulance District ("Beulah Fire") 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 Agency and/or from Guild to assist in suppression action. f. Director of Prescribed Fire: Guild employee who provides overall prescribed fire supervision and coordination on behalf of the Guild for a particular geographic area. g. 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 Guild, or by the Guild 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 prescribed fire plans and prescribed burn unit plans, forest and other management plans, inventories, and analysis. b. Pre-burn 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. Prescribed fire training, annual refresher, and annual physical fitness testing. 3. The Agency 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 Agency prior to burn implementation. In addition, the Burn Boss must be provided an opportunity to review the Burn Plan prior to burn implementation. The Burn Plan must be approved by the designated Director of Prescribed Fire and must address at a minimum the components listed in Exhibit A or follow the National Wildland Fire Coordination Group(NWCG) burn plan template. Each Burn Plan shall contain sufficient specificity with regards 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 Plan 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 Beulah Fire and any other local suppression authorities. The Guild will support local fire suppression agencies as directed by said agencies, based on the skills and qualifications of available personnel. 5. In general, the Burn Boss will be an employee, volunteer, or contractor of the Agency. However, in the event that the Burn Boss is an employee, volunteer, or contractor of the Guild, the final go/no-go decision for a particular burn shall be made by the Burn Boss and a representative of the Agency and the burn shall not commence unless both have reached agreement. A Chief-of-Party shall be designated for Page 2 of 9 the purpose of overseeing the Guild's employees and equipment. The Chief-of-Party shall work closely with the Burn Boss and the Agency. In cases where the Burn Boss is provided by the Guild, the Agency shall designate an Agency Chief-of-Party. The Agency Chief-of-Party shall work closely with the Burn Boss and Guild. Members of the Guild or Agency shall follow instructions of the Burn Boss when implementing this MOU, provided, however, that if the Chief-of-Party or Agency 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 Guild 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. The Burn Boss shall request that Beulah Fire review the Burn Plan, noting any recommended modifications thereto, and approve ignition prior to a burn. 6. The Guild shall be responsible for consulting with local fire districts, including Beulah Fire, air quality departments, and sheriff offices, acquiring 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 Guild shall also be responsible for obtaining written permission to burn and waivers of liability from third-party landowners. Release of liability against the Guild shall be included on all third-party landowner waiver forms when the Guild is assisting the Agency on a prescribed burn; where time does not allow the Guild to specifically be named, the Guild 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; 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. Each Party shall pay all salaries and benefits of 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. Guild shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Agency from any allegation or claim that Agency owes money to any past or present Guild employee or for any cost of operation or maintenance of Guild equipment. 8. Each Party will adhere to its own fire qualification standards. Personnel dispatched by the Agency or by the Guild 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. See Exhibit B for the jointly defined and accepted qualifications. Each Party shall provide information regarding individual crew member qualifications to the other Party upon request. Each Party shall cooperate regarding prescribed fire training opportunities. The Agency and the Guild 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 in any way 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 16. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Agency and Guild shall be entitled to any and all Page 3 of 9 applicable protections afforded under local, state, and/or federal law relating to the prescribed fire activities conducted hereunder. 10. 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. Guild agrees to conform to all Agency policies, ordinances, and state and federal laws. 11. 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, 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. 12. 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 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. 13. Both Guild 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. 14. 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, and the Parties shall at all times be independent. 15. The Parties to this MOU appoint the following Project Officers for implementation of this MOU: THE FOREST STEWARDS GUILD CITY OF PUEBLO Dave Lasky Barb Huber Director of Prescribed Fire Fire Chief, Pueblo Fire Department 170 2nd Street SW 1551 Bonforte Boulevard Loveland, Colorado 80537 Pueblo, Colorado 81001 (303) 546-0249 (719)553-2830 16. 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 Guild's equipment is excessively damaged (i.e. in excess of $1,000.00) or destroyed, an investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the Agency's policies 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. 17. Each Party shall carry at least $1,000,000.00 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 Guild upon request. Certification of Self-Insurance shall be Page 4 of 9 provided by the Guild to the Agency upon request. Guild 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, or the use of Agency equipment, supplies, or labor. Each Party shall carry its own workers compensation coverage appropriate for employees participating in prescribed fire activities under this MOU. 18. This MOU shall be effective from the later signature date of both Parties and unless terminated earlier shall continue in effect until December 31,2026.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. Either Party may terminate and withdraw from this MOU upon thirty (30)days prior written notice to the other Party. 19. No amendment shall be effective except in writing signed by the Parties. This MOU shall not be assigned by Guild without the prior written consent of the Agency,which consent may be granted, denied, or conditioned in Agency's sole and absolute discretion. 20. This MOU shall be interpreted, construed, and governed by the laws of Colorado and such laws of the United States as may be applicable. Venue for any action arising under this MOU or for the enforcement of this MOU shall be in a state court with jurisdiction located in Pueblo County, Colorado. 21. 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 herein by reference. 22. 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 PUEBLO THE FOREST STEWARDS GUILD • By:7frieddleatedliaigooly /� By: Print Name:4 kt altdig`f.' Print Name: Dave Lasky Its: lifierie6 Its: Director of Fire Management Date: /-/7•424,6.1 Date: 03/29/2021 A City Clerk Page 5 of 9 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 Forest Stewards Guild guidelines) • Go/No Go Checklist • Post-burn activities • Maps that clearly define the location of the burn unit and provide contingency information 12.28.2020 Exhibit B: JOINTLY DEFINED AND ACCEPTED QUALIFICATIONS Prescribed Fire Crew Member(RXCM) The Prescribed Fire Crew Member(RXCM) participates in prescribed fire operations, including: ignition, holding, mop-up, monitoring, etc. All Guild 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. Guild 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 time frame • 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 Guild 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. The Forest Stewards Guild Criteria for RXB3 Use • Complexity Analysis final ranking of"low" using either NWCG complexity analysis, or Guild complexity analysis. • Guild 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 Guild requires additional training and experience.A person qualified by an agency as an RXB3 is not necessarily qualified for use as a Guild RXB3 because of additional qualifications requirements. Guild 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 Guild 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 time frame • 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. 12.28.2020 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 Guild 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. 12.28.2020