The
potential for a catastrophic fire in
Immediate
notification of all wildland fires within
The
Colfax County E9-1-1 shall notify the district State forestry division of all
reported wildland fires within
Taos Pines
shall appoint or elect members of the community to act as
notification personnel in
the event of an emergency situation. The notification
may be through
any means so long as the notification process is inclusive of
all the residents
of the community. The means of communication will be posted in
the annual
community meeting minutes, in the Firewise book and a copy will be
given to the
property owners, the responding agencies (to include the local fire
department and local
forestry office) and to the
notification procedure
will be updated every six months to insure accuracy of
contact information.
LOCAL
COMMUNITY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
The
local resident and responder incident notification will consist of at minimum
the following:
Type
of incident
Location
of incident
Evacuation
rally point location (if required)
Report
of notification to responding units
Report
of persons needing evacuation assistance
Possible
water sources
Authorization
of water source use
Other
special information that may have bearing on the situation
EVACUATION
RALLY POINTS
Evacuation
rally points are as follows:
The
eastern evacuation primary rally point will be the
The
western rally point location is the Wal-mart parking
lot in
Each
person should have a drop off location for their animals in the event of an
evacuation.
EQUIPMENT TO
TAKE ON EVACUATION NOTICE
Three
day pack containing; water, food, medicines, copies of necessary documents,
change of clothes, and contact list.
Create
one pack per person and one pack for each animal.
Location of the animal drop off location.
An
Incident Commander (IC) is defined as the
All
on-scene Incident Commanders (IC) on wildland fires
occurring within Colfax County that threaten public safety, infrastructure or
private property shall establish and maintain operations under the NIMS ICS/UC
Unified Command Incident Management System.
Wildland
fire suppression and any mitigation actions taken within a 200' radius of
structures (improvements) shall be a unified fire command decision, and all
actions taken shall be coordinated with Colfax County fire resources, who will
work directly with property owner(s) making unified mitigation decisions when
available, or make the necessary mitigation decisions based on imminent threat
implied consent for the Colfax County property owner.
The
first due (first on scene) County Incident Commander shall maintain ICS/UC
Unified Command until transition to the Colfax County Chief Fire Officer or the
Colfax County IC Team occurs, or the wildland fire
incident is contained.
The
Colfax County Fire Marshall, IC, or any County Rural Fire Protection District
Chief or their acting Chief Officer may transition Incident Command to State or
federal government agencies having wildland fire
suppression responsibility within Colfax County when, in his/her best informed
judgment, the threat to public safety, infrastructure and private property has
been mitigated.
All
Colfax County fire resources dispatched and mobilized by the Colfax County
E9-1-1 shall focus on the delivery of safe, effective, rapid initial attack and
containment within or contiguous to Colfax County's urban interface and
intermix areas in an ongoing effort to prevent major wildland
fires from developing.
All
The
appropriate State or federal wildland protection
agency shall be held financially accountable for wildland
fire suppression and containment costs incurred by
Where applicable, NFPA-1 standards chapter 17, Wildland
Urban Interface will apply. (Copy attached)
Where
applicable, The Fire Chiefs Handbook’s article 18, Powers of Municipalities
and 4-37-1 Counties; Powers; Ordinances will apply. (Copy attached)
There
appears to be varying interpretations within the federal agencies regarding the
application of 310-1 qualification/certification standards to local,
non-federal resources, particularly during initial attack. The following points
summarize NWCG policy.
The
310-1 qualification/certification standards are mandatory only for national
mobilization of wildland fire fighting resources.
During
initial attack, all agencies (federal, state, local and tribal) accept each
other's standards. Once jurisdiction is clearly established, then the standards
of the agency(s) with jurisdiction prevail.
Federal
and State agencies should determine with their local and tribal agency
partners, the qualification/certification standards that will apply to the use
of local, non-federal and state firefighters during initial attack.
The
Geographic Area Coordinating Groups should determine the application of 310-1
qualification/certification standards for mobilization within the geographic
area.
On
a fire where a non-federal agency is also an agency with legal jurisdiction,
the standards of that agency apply.
Attachments:
Taos
Pines map
Airport
map
Firewise
plan
NFPA
1, Chapter 17
Signature
page
NFPA-1 CHAPTER 17 WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE
17.1 General.
The
planning, construction, maintenance, education, and management elements for the
protection of life and property from wildfire shall comply with NFPA 1144,
Standard for Protection of Life and
Property from Wildfire, and Chapter 17.
17.2 Plans.
The
plans for construction and development within the wildland
urban interface shall be submitted to the AHJ for review and approval.
17.3 Wildland
Fire–Prone Areas.
17.3.1* Safeguards.
Safeguards to prevent the occurrence of fires and to provide adequate fire
protection and mitigation measures in hazardous fire areas shall be provided
and maintained in accordance with Section 17.3.
17.3.2* Permits and Approvals. Permits for use of hazardous areas shall not
be issued when public safety would be at risk, as determined by the AHJ. (See 1.12.19
for additional requirements for permits.)
17.3.3 Restricted Entry.
17.3.3.1 The AHJ shall determine and publicly announce when hazardous
fire areas shall be closed to entry, and when such areas shall again be opened
to entry.
17.3.3.2 Unauthorized persons shall not be permitted to enter or
remain in closed hazardous fire areas.
17.3.3.3 Signs. Approved signs prohibiting entry by unauthorized persons
shall be placed on every closed area and access point.
17.3.4 Use of Flammable Materials and
Procedures.
17.3.4.1 Smoking. Lighting, igniting, or otherwise setting fire to any
smoking material shall be prohibited unless within structures or smoking areas
approved by the AHJ. (See Section 10.10
for additional requirements on smoking.)
17.3.4.2 Tracer Bullets, Tracer Charges,
Rockets, and Model Aircraft.
17.3.4.2.1 Tracer bullets and tracer charges shall not be possessed,
fired, or caused to be fired into or across hazardous fire areas.
17.3.4.2.2 Rockets, model planes, gliders, and balloons powered with an
engine, propellant, or other feature liable to start or cause fire shall not be
fired or projected into or across hazardous fire areas.
17.3.4.3 Explosives and Blasting. Explosives shall not be possessed, kept, stored, sold,
offered for sale, given away, used, discharged, transported, or disposed of
within hazardous fire areas except as permitted by the AHJ. (See Chapter 65
for additional guidance.)
17.3.4.4 Fireworks. Fireworks shall not be used or possessed in hazardous fire
areas unless permitted by the AHJ. (See
Chapter 65
for additional guidance.)
17.3.4.5 Apiaries. Lighted and smoldering material used in connection with
smoking bees shall not be allowed in or upon hazardous fire areas except by
permit from the AHJ.
17.3.4.6 Open-Flame Devices.
17.3.4.6.1* Welding torches, tar pots,
decorative torches, and other devices, machines, or processes liable to start
or cause fire shall not be operated or used in or upon hazardous fire areas,
except by permit from the AHJ.
17.3.4.6.2 Flame-employing devices, such as lanterns or kerosene road
flares, and fuses shall not be operated or used as a signal or marker in or
upon hazardous fire areas unless at the scene of emergencies or railroad
operations. (See Chapter 16
and Chapter 65
for additional guidance.)
17.3.4.7 Outdoor Fires.
17.3.4.7.1* Outdoor fires shall not be
built, ignited, or maintained in or upon hazardous fire areas, except by permit
from the AHJ.
17.3.4.7.2 Permanent barbecues, portable barbecues, outdoor fireplaces,
or grills shall not be used for the disposal of rubbish, trash, or combustible
waste material. (See Section 10.11
for additional guidance.)
17.3.4.8 Incinerators and Fireplaces.
17.3.4.8.1 Incinerators, outdoor fireplaces, permanent barbecues, and
grills shall not be built, installed, or maintained in hazardous fire areas
without prior approval of the AHJ.
17.3.4.8.2 Incinerators, outdoor fireplaces, permanent barbecues, and
grills shall be maintained in good repair and in a safe condition at all
times.
17.3.4.8.3 Openings in incinerators, outdoor fireplaces, permanent
barbecues, and grills shall be provided with an approved spark arrester,
screen, or door.
17.3.4.9 Spark Arresters. Chimneys used in conjunction with outdoor fireplaces,
barbecues, incinerators, or heating appliances in which solid or liquid fuel is
used, upon buildings, structures, or premises located within 10 ft (3.05 m) of
hazardous vegetation shall be provided with a spark arrester in accordance with
Section 8.7 of NFPA 1144,Standard for Protection of Life and Property
from Wildfire.
17.3.5 Clearance of Brush and
Vegetative Growth.
17.3.5.1 Electrical Transmission Lines.
17.3.5.1.1 Clearance of brush and vegetative growth from electrical
transmission and distribution line(s) shall be provided and maintained in
accordance with 17.3.5.1.
17.3.5.1.2 A combustible-free space around poles and towers shall
consist of a clearing of not less than 10 ft (3.05 m) in each direction from
the outer circumference of the pole or tower during such periods of time as
designated by the AHJ.
17.3.5.1.3 Trimming Clearance.
17.3.5.1.3.1 At the time of trimming, clearances not less than those
established by Table
17.3.5.1.3.1 shall be provided.
Table 17.3.5.1.3.1 Minimum
Clearances between Vegetation and Electrical Lines at Time of Trimming
Minimal Radial Clearance from
Conductor
Line Voltage
ft
m
2400–72,000
4
1.2
72,001–110,000
6
1.8
110,001–300,000
10
3.0
300,001
or more
15
4.6
17.3.5.1.3.2 The radial clearances in Table
17.3.5.1.3.1 are minimum clearances that shall be established at
time of trimming between the vegetation and the energized conductors and
associated live parts.
17.3.5.1.4 Clearances not less than those established by Table
17.3.5.1.4 shall be maintained during such periods of time as
designated by the AHJ.
Table 17.3.5.1.4 Minimum
Clearances between Vegetation and Electrical Lines to Be Maintained
Minimum Clearance
Line Voltage
in.
cm
750–35,000
6
15.2
35,001–60,000
12
30.5
60,001–115,000
19
48.3
115,001–230,000
30.5
77.5
230,001–500,000
115
292
17.3.5.1.4.1 The site-specific clearance achieved, at the time of
pruning, shall vary based on species' growth rates, the utility company
specific trim cycle, the potential line sway due to wind, line sway due to
electrical loading and ambient temperature, and the tree's location in
proximity to the high voltage lines.
17.3.5.1.4.2 The AHJ shall establish minimum clearances different than
those specified by Table
17.3.5.1.4 when evidence substantiating such other clearances is
submitted to the AHJ and approved.
17.3.5.1.5* Electrical Power Line Emergencies. During emergencies, the utility
company shall perform the required work to the extent necessary to clear the
hazard.
17.3.5.2 Structures.
17.3.5.2.1 Persons owning, leasing, controlling, operating, or
maintaining buildings or structures in, upon, or adjoining hazardous fire
areas, and persons owning, leasing, or controlling land adjacent to such
buildings or structures, shall maintain an effective defensible space in
accordance with NFPA 1144,
Standard for Protection of Life and
Property from Wildfire.
17.3.5.2.2 Where required by the AHJ because of extra hazardous
conditions, additional areas shall be maintained to include additional
defensible space from buildings or structures, trees adjacent to or overhanging
a building shall be maintained free of deadwood, and the roof of a structure
shall be free of leaves, needles, or other dead vegetative growth.
17.3.5.3 Roadways. Areas within 10 ft (3 m) on each side of portions of
highways and private streets shall be cleared of combustible vegetation and
other combustible growth. Single specimens of trees, shrubbery, or cultivated
ground cover such as green grass, ivy, succulents, or similar plants used as
ground covers, shall be permitted to be exempt provided that they do not form a
means of readily transmitting fire.
17.3.6 Unusual Circumstances. The AHJ shall determine that difficult terrain, danger of
erosion, or other unusual circumstances could require additional
safeguards.
17.3.7 Fire Roads, Firebreaks, and
Emergency Access.
17.3.7.1 The provisions of 17.3.9, NFPA 1141,
Standard for Fire Protection in Planned
Building Groups, and NFPA 1144,
Standard for Protection of Life and
Property from Wildfire, shall be used to determine the design, clearances,
and provisions for emergency access (ingress and egress).
17.3.7.2 Unauthorized vehicles shall not be driven upon fire roads or
firebreaks. Vehicles shall not be parked in a manner that obstructs the
entrance to a fire road or firebreak.
17.3.7.3 Radio and television aerials, guy wires, and other
obstructions shall not be installed or maintained on fire roads or firebreaks
unless the vertical clearance is sufficient to allow the movement of fire and
emergency apparatus.