Item 2: Ordinance on West Eugene Wetlands Burn Ban Exemption

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Controlled ecological burns are conducted only under the authority of an approved burn plan (as described above), which identifies specific parameters under which the burn may be accomplished. Elements of the plan include: i. The identification of the resource/ecological fire objectives. ii. The prescription "window" under which the burn can be accomplished, which includes temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction and the conditions of the fuel to be consumed. iii. A communications plan. iv. A notification plan (for emergency services and interagency information). v. An ignition and holding plan, which defines specifically how the area will be ignited and what resources will be used to suppress the fire along the perimeter. vi. An equipment and staffing plan which defines specifically the amount of staff that will be needed, the amount and type of equipment that will be used in the ignition and holding actions. vii. A contingency plan, identifying the amount and type of resources that will be on site, in addition to ignition and holding resources, in event an escapement occurs. Prior to ignition, all required permits will be obtained and all jurisdictional interagency fire departments will be notified of the proposed burn. Immediately after the burn, aggressive mop-up is implemented to extinguish all smoldering embers, and if necessary, an infrared scan of the area will occur to detect any latent heat. All of the personnel that are utilized on the ecological burns have received extensive training in the use and application of fire in wild land and urban interface situations. In addition, ecological burns provide agencies with a unique controlled opportunity to train staff in wildland fire fighting techniques and to become familiar with fire fighting equipment operation. In all cases a fire break is established around a planned burn. This may consist of an existing road, trail, or a mowed line which will be used as a holding line with proper water/foam support. The ecological burn area is evaluated well in advance to ascertain the location of the fire lines, holding areas, water sources and values at risk. A thorough safety briefing for all participants is conducted prior to ignition. By conducting the briefing, all personnel are informed of the sequence of events that will occur as the burn progresses and radio frequencies are verified. All weather parameters that are required by the appropriate agencies are verified. This is accomplished by launching helium balloons to verify transport wind direction and by obtaining the meteorological conditions at the site. The weather conditions are documented each fifteen minutes throughout the duration of the burn. In the event traffic control is required professional, certified flaggers will be used, required ODOT permits will be obtained and proper signing per OSHA regulations will be instituted. The Burn Boss has access to a cellular phone at the burn site and numerous interagency radio frequencies are at the discretion of the Burn Boss to use.