WARDEN and DEPUTY WARDEN TRAINING

1
WARDEN and DEPUTY WARDEN TRAINING

• LAW OVERVIEW and WARDEN / DEPUTY WARDEN
  RESPONSIBILITIES

2
TRAINING OBJECTIVES

• Review Roles and Responsibilities of Wardens and
  Deputy Wardens
• Review the process for issuing permits and
  handling illegal fires
• Review fire safety, weather and equipment
• This training is set up in Question/Answer form
  and requires group interaction

3
FIRE STATISTICS

• TEN YEAR AVERAGE 2002 2011
• IN THE PAST TEN YEARS.

WHICH COUNTY HAD THE MOST FIRES?
HILLSBOROUGH 790 FIRES
WHICH COUNTY BURNED THE MOST ACREAGE?
HILLSBOROUGH ROCKINGHAM 275 ACRES
WHICH COUNTY HAD THE MOST ACREAGE BURNED IN ONE
YEAR?
COOS 104 ACRES IN 2006 GRAFTON 78 ACRES IN
2004 HILLSBOROUGH 75 ACRES IN 2006
4
FIRE STATISTICS

• TEN YEAR AVERAGE 2002 2011
• IN THE PAST TEN YEARS.

WHAT WAS THE NUMBER 1 CAUSE OF FIRES?

• DEBRIS BURNING 176 FIRES PER YEAR
• MISCELLANEOUS 134 / YR.
• CAMPFIRES 29 / YR.
• SMOKING 28 / YR.
• CHILDREN 17 / YR.
• ARSON 11 / YR.
• LIGHTNING 7 / YR.
• EQUIPMENT 6 / YR.
• RAILROADS 2 / YR.

5
FOREST FIRE WARDEN

• The Wardens job has four main duties
• NAME TWO...

FIRE PREVENTION
FIRE PREPAREDNESS
FIRE SUPPRESSION
FIRE REPORTS BILLS
6
FOREST FIRE DEPUTY WARDEN

• The Deputy Wardens job has four main duties
• NAME TWO...

FIRE PREVENTION
FIRE PREPAREDNESS
FIRE SUPPRESSION
RECORDS
7
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
?
Driving down the road and this catches your eye

• The picture shows a fire, this is a snapshot in
  time that does not show the entire situation.
• Are there any problems?
• What laws or rules are in violation?
• From what you can see, What would you do?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS ON NEXT SLIDE
8
WHAT DID YOU DO?
?

• SUGGESTED ANSWER
• Stop and investigate
• If individual is around, ask for permit
• Have Fire Department Respond to extinguish fire
• Advise Forest Ranger of situation

9
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• PREVENTION

NAME TWO PREVENTION ITEMS THE WARDEN IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR.

• Requiring Issuing Fire Permits
• Enforcing Forest Fire Laws
• Following up on all known violations
• Educating the public posting law posters,
  direct contact etc
• Informing the Forest Ranger of active timber
  sales, slash violations and potential fire
  situations

10
WHY WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TIMBER HARVESTS

• FOREST RANGERS INSPECT TIMBER HARVEST OPERATIONS
  FOR
• Proper filing of intent to cut form
• Posting of certificate or Posting of copy of
  intent signed by assessing officials
• Verification of volumes on report of wood cut
• Basal Area
• Wetlands
• Slash
• Contract Deceptive Forestry
• Trespass

IF A TIMBER HARVEST DOES NOT HAVE AN INTENT TO
CUT OR CERTIFICATE POSTED LET US KNOW
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RSA 227-J10CARE OF SLASH AND MILL RESIDUE

• SLASH DEFINED Branches, bark, tops, chunks,
  tops, cull logs, uprooted stumps, and broken and
  uprooted brush and trees left on the ground after
  logging or other cutting operations.

12
RSA 227-J10CARE OF SLASH AND MILL RESIDUE

• Forest Rangers inspect timber harvest operations
  to ensure compliance with the slash law.
• Specific requirements are displayed on this
  diagram.

13
WE ALSO NEED HELP WITH THE FIREWOOD QUARANTINE

• Effective July 2011
• Anyone transporting firewood into
  New Hampshire needs a
  Compliance Agreement
• Firewood dealers need to contact Forests Lands
  for a compliance agreement
• Homeowners can get one online
• Quarantine is to stop the spread of invasive
  insects
• Let us know about out of state firewood dealers
  in your area

14
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Backyard fire with Category III Permit to burn
brush
?

• The picture shows a fire, this is a snapshot in
  time that does not show the entire situation.
• Are there any problems?
• What laws or rules are in violation?
• From what you can see, What would you do?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS ON NEXT SLIDE
15
WHAT DID YOU DO?
?

• SUGGESTED ANSWER
• Stop and investigate
• If individual is around, ask for permit
• Have Fire Department Respond to extinguish fire
• If the violation is small and the individual is
  cooperative, you may issue a Written Warning (if
  you are authorized by your Warden).
• Advise Forest Ranger of situation

16
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• PREVENTION

NAME TWO PREVENTION ITEMS THE DEPUTY WARDEN IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR.

• Check on all burning noticed. If a required
  permit has not been obtained, order the fire
  extinguished and inform the Warden
• Assist the Warden with educating the public
• Inform the Warden of potential fire situations

17
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• FIRE PREPAREDNESS

WHICH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A REQUIREMENT
UNDER YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION?

• Attend Warden Association Meetings,
  but you are encouraged to.
• Association Meetings are a great place for
  Wardens and Deputies from different towns in the
  area to share information and ideas. Forest
  Rangers attend the meetings to give updates on
  fire activity and opportunities statewide, such
  as grants and upcoming training. It is important
  for Wardens and Deputies to attend these meetings.

• Attend forest fire training
• Preplanning forest fire hazards
• Know the fire hazards in your town, as well as
  sources of water, roads and trails
• Obtaining suppression tools and equipment and
  maintaining them

• Attend Warden Association Meetings

18
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• FIRE SUPPRESSION

WHO IS IN COMMAND OF THE FIRE SCENE IF THE WARDEN
IS NOT PRESENT?

• When arriving as the first official on scene, a
  Deputy Warden will assume command.
• The Warden will assume command from the Deputy
  Warden when they arrive on scene.
• The Warden and Fire Chief should work in unified
  command.
• The Forest Ranger will join unified command when
  on scene.
• It is best to establish command protocols before
  an incident occurs.

19
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
?
Friday, late morning. Toned by Dispatch for a
smoke investigation and you find

• The picture shows a fire, this is a snapshot in
  time that does not show the entire situation.
• Are there any problems?
• What laws or rules are in violation?
• From what you can see, What would you do?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS ON NEXT SLIDE
20
WHAT DID YOU DO?
?

• SUGGESTED ANSWER
• Stop and investigate
• If individual is around, ask for permit
• Have Fire Department Respond to extinguish fire
• Advise Forest Ranger of situation

21
FOREST FIRE DEPUTY WARDEN

• What Records are Deputy Wardens responsible for?

• Names of personnel assigned to them
• Time of assigned personnel
• Any Fire Information they have area of origin,
  suppression actions, witnesses, responsible
  party, etc

22
FIRE REPORTING

• The Warden shall prepare a full and accurate fire
  report and send it to the district Forest Ranger
  within ? hours of a fire.

48 Hours The BLUE portion of the Fire Bill meets
this requirement, if a Fire Bill is not going to
be submitted, the Warden needs to call or email
the Ranger
23
FIRE REPORTING
Maintaining accurate records and reporting them
nationally is very important to us. We provide
this information to towns working on Community
Wildfire Protection Plans and use it when
awarding VFA Grants. What is the minimum
information the Warden needs to provide their
Ranger with for EVERY fire in their town?

• Date of Fire
• Location
• Size
• Cause (name of person responsible)
• Type (Wildfire or Non-permit/illegal fire)

When you are not filling out a Fire Bill
You can call or EMAIL the
information to your Ranger It is important
that we get it.
24
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
?
You drive this road every day to work, Monday
morning you see this

• The picture shows a fire, this is a snapshot in
  time that does not show the entire situation.
• Are there any problems?
• What laws or rules are in violation?
• From what you can see, What would you do?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS ON NEXT SLIDE
25
WHAT DID YOU DO?
?

• SUGGESTED ANSWER
• Check with Warden, Deputies and Fire Department
  to see if anyone knows about the incident
• Find out who the landowner is, Warden and/or Fire
  Chief should obtain preliminary information
• Notify Forest Ranger of situation

26
How many days after a fire do you have to submit
the bill?
FIRE REPORTING

• 60 days

27
TRUE or FALSE You can suspend a Fire Permit and
order a fire to be extinguished if you determine
the smoke to be causing a nuisance.
The definition of nuisance smoke was through
DES. They have removed this definition from
their rules therefore, smoke from a fire can no
longer be defined as a nuisance.
FALSE
28
TRUE or FALSE When mutual aid departments respond
to your town for a fire, their firefighters go on
your Fire Bill.

• The process for Fire Bills is the same for every
  fire, every time, for every town.
• ALWAYS
• Fill out Fire Bill for YOUR firefighters
• YOUR town pays YOUR firefighters
• Send Fire Bill to your Forest Ranger
• If it was a fire with mutual aid, the Ranger will
  organize all of the bills for delivery to the
  town which had the fire.

FALSE
29
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CAMPGROUNDS Before receiving a
seasonal permit, campgrounds must meet four
additional requirements for site preparation.
Name two of the four additional requirements.

• Be on an area cleaned to mineral soil at least 8
  feet across
• Have at least 6 inches of sand or gravel under
  the fire for any fire built on the ground
• Have no limbs or other burnable material to a
  height of 10 feet above the fire area
• Have a ring of fire resistive material
  constructed so it cannot be moved from the
  mineral soil area.

30
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
?
Saturday, early evening. PD responds to a noise
complaint, they call you because there is a fire
as well. When you arrive you find that the owner
has a category I permit. PD asks if you can
suspend the permit.

• The picture shows a fire, this is a snapshot in
  time that does not show the entire situation.
• Are there any problems?
• What laws or rules are in violation?
• From what you can see, What would you do?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS ON NEXT SLIDE
31
WHAT DID YOU DO?
?

• SUGGESTED ANSWER
• Look over area for any violations
• If there are any violations, illegal material
  etc suspend the permit
• If there are no violations, you cannot suspend
  the permit

32
ISSUING AGENTS
Where do Issuing Agents get their authority to
write fire permits?

• STATUTE RSA 227-G4,IX
  directs the Commissioner
  of DRED to create rules regarding the issuance of
  burning permits.
• RULE RES 5601.03
  (a) Except as
  provided in this section, no person other than a
  forest fire warden shall issue fire permits.
• The director shall authorize others to issue fire
  permits after recommendation by the forest fire
  warden.

The A.G.s Office has determined that this covers
the appointment of Issuing Agents.
33
CATEGORY IV PERMITS
Res 5601.05 The Forest Ranger Warden must sign
the Category IV Permit. If the Warden is not
available, a person authorized to issue permits,
may sign along with the Forest Ranger.
Who has the authority to issue a Category IV
Permit?
Steven Sherman
Maynard Farr
Monroe
34
CATEGORY IV PERMITS

• Category IV Permits are commonly issued to
• Transfer Stations
• Land Clearing Companies
• This is allowed because
• Individuals are usually not working after 500pm
• Equipment is on site to control a fire
• Other means of disposal would be difficult

Who are Category IV Permits commonly issued
to? Why?
35
CATEGORY IV PERMITS
Res 5601.05 Category IV Permits are not different
than any other permit, the only material allowed
to be burned is Clean, untreated wood or brush
less than 5 inches in diameter and meets
applicable air resource regulations.
Clean, untreated wood or brush, no greater than 5
inches in diameter
What materials can be burned with a Category IV
(Commercial) burn permit?
36
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Neighbor Complaint. A contractor has made this
pile and the neighbor thinks it may be burned soon
?

• The picture shows a fire, this is a snapshot in
  time that does not show the entire situation.
• Are there any problems?
• What laws or rules are in violation?
• From what you can see, What would you do?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS ON NEXT SLIDE
37
WHAT DID YOU DO?
?

• SUGGESTED ANSWER
• There is no violation of the permit law at this
  point, so you are limited in what you can do
• Use as an educational opportunity and talk with
  the contractor about the permit laws
• Keep an eye on the pile

38
FIRE PERMIT

• What is wrong with this Fire Permit?

Res 5601.04 Category I fires can be burned
anytime of day
39
DOCUMENTED
VIOLATIONS
How many DOCUMENTED violations must a person have
before you can deny them a permit?
3rd Offense, 3 years after 2nd Offense
2nd Offense, 2 years later
7 years from 1st Offense
1st Offense
Permits DENIED for 2 Years
7 Years
3 within a 7 year period
40
FIRE PERMIT

• What additional information would you ask for
  before issuing this permit?

Res 5601.01 RSA 227-L17
The Permittee is
not the Landowner and must have Written
Permission from the Landowner
41
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
1300 Hours, Saturday. Individual has a Category
III permit. It has been raining all morning, but
the sun is now coming out.
?

• The picture shows a fire, this is a snapshot in
  time that does not show the entire situation.
• Are there any problems?
• What laws or rules are in violation?
• From what you can see, What would you do?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS ON NEXT SLIDE
42
WHAT DID YOU DO?
?

• SUGGESTED ANSWER
• Stop and investigate
• If individual is around, ask for permit
• Since this fire is in the middle of the day and
  it is no longer raining, it will need to be
  extinguished if the individual is able to do so,
  have them put the fire out, otherwise have the
  Fire Department Respond to extinguish fire
• You can issue a Written Warning to document the
  violation
• Advise Forest Ranger of the fire

43
FIRE PERMITS

• How far must snow be extending from the base of a
  fire to be considered adequate snow cover
• 100
• Feet

100
FROZEN PRECIPITATION
FROZEN PRECIPITATION
100
100
100
FROZEN PRECIPITATION
FROZEN PRECIPITATION
44
FIRE PERMIT

• What is wrong with this Fire Permit?

Res 5601.04 (a)(5)
Category III fires should not be issued for long
periods of time because it is not possible to
predict favorable weather conditions to prevent
the spread or escape of the fire
45
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Monday morning, no one on site
?

• The picture shows a fire, this is a snapshot in
  time that does not show the entire situation.
• Are there any problems?
• What laws or rules are in violation?
• From what you can see, What would you do?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS ON NEXT SLIDE
46
WHAT DID YOU DO?
?

• SUGGESTED ANSWER
• Stop and investigate, take photographs (cell
  phones work well for this)
• If individual returns, ask for permit
• Have Fire Department Respond to extinguish fire
• Advise Forest Ranger of situation

47
FIRE BEHAVIOR
What factor influences fire spread more than any
other?

• A. Fire Behavior
• B. Wind
• C. Topography
• D. Relative Humidity

WIND
48
Why are Category II and III fires only allowed to
be burned between 500 pm and
900 am?
As the day progresses from morning to afternoon
the environment changes and makes fire control
more difficult. The temperature increases in the
afternoon and the surface fuels on the ground are
pre-heated. The relative humidity decreases in
the afternoon and small fuels such as grasses,
leaves and twigs dry out. Winds pick up allowing
sparks and embers to travel away from the fire,
making control more difficult.
49
L.C.E.S

• LCES is the minimum level of hazard control that
  must be in place before making the decision to
  engage a fire.

L LOOKOUTS C What does C stand for? E ESCAPE
ROUTES S SAFETY ZONES
L LOOKOUTS C COMMUNICATIONS E ESCAPE
ROUTES S SAFETY ZONES
50
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
?
You notice this pile Sunday afternoon

• The picture shows a fire, this is a snapshot in
  time that does not show the entire situation.
• Are there any problems?
• What laws or rules are in violation?
• From what you can see, What would you do?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS ON NEXT SLIDE
51
WHAT DID YOU DO?
?

• SUGGESTED ANSWER
• Stop and investigate, take pictures
• If individual is around, ask for permit
• Have Fire Department Respond to extinguish fire
• Advise Forest Ranger of situation so enforcement
  action can be taken

52
OFFICIAL WARNING
All Patrolmen, Wardens any DW authorized by the
Warden.
Who has the authority to issue Official Warnings?
RSA 227-G7, II
To document violations. After you turn them in
they are entered into the statewide database.
Why do you need to fill out Official Warnings?
53
OFFICIAL WARNING
What box would you check if an individual did not
have a permit?
X
54
Updated OFFICIAL WARNING
55
OFFICIAL WARNING
What box would you check if an individual had a
Category I permit, but was burning a brush pile?
X
56
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Landowner calls for a Seasonal Category I Permit,
you meet him to look over the site
?

• The picture shows a fire, this is a snapshot in
  time that does not show the entire situation.
• Are there any problems?
• What laws or rules are in violation?
• From what you can see, What would you do?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS ON NEXT SLIDE
57
WHAT DID YOU DO?
?

• SUGGESTED ANSWER
• Inspect the area for compliance with the rules
  for Cat. I Fires
• Is the pit under 2 feet in diameter and enclosed
  with fire resistive material?
• Is the pit 25 feet from a structure?
• If the permit is denied, you must advise the
  individual as to why the permit has been denied.

58
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE - PUMPS

• Which is the correct fuel mixture for Mark III
  Pumps?

161 201 241 501
201
http//gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/logistics/cache/policies
/mark3.htm
59
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE - MAPS
Which shows the closest profile of the mountains
on this map?
1
2
2
a
b
a
b
60
Wildfire Fighting Near High-Voltage Electric
Transmission Lines
100 FEET
FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS ? FEET BEYOND
THE OUTER MOST WIRE OF AN ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION
LINE REQUIRE NO UNUSUAL TACTICS
61
Wildfire Fighting Near High-Voltage Electric
Transmission Lines
Smoke, ash and incidental mist from fire fighting
operations can contaminate the insulators on
transmission structures. This contamination may
cause a short circuit to occur at the structure,
creating an electrical hazard. Maintain a
minimum radial distance of ? feet
between firefighters (and vehicles) and
transmission structures to protect fire fighting
personnel from this electrical hazard.
35 FEET
62
Wildfire Fighting Near High-Voltage Electric
Transmission Lines

• SOMETIMES, If you do, you must
• Abandon any DIRECT ATTACK
• Maintain the 100 foot distance between
  firefighters and heavy smoke passing through
  electric lines
• Maintain the 35 foot distance between
  firefighters and transmission structures

?
When in doubt, back off and change tactics.
ALWAYS PROVIDE FOR FIREFIGHTER SAFETY
CAN YOU CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE FIRE WHEN IT IS
UNDER THE TRANSMISSION LINES?
63
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
1630 Hours, Saturday. Individual has no permit
?

• The picture shows a fire, this is a snapshot in
  time that does not show the entire situation.
• Are there any problems?
• What laws or rules are in violation?
• From what you can see, What would you do?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS ON NEXT SLIDE
64
WHAT DID YOU DO?
?

• SUGGESTED ANSWER
• Advise the individual of the permit requirements
  and how they may obtain one
• If you are authorized to issue permits and you
  are satisfied that the area is safe, you may
  issue a permit
• If you are authorized, Issue a Written Warning to
  document the violation
• If it is almost 500 p.m. when you are done and
  you have issued a permit, you may consider
  letting the individual continue to burn the pile,
  otherwise the pile will need to be extinguished

65
Name 3 things found in the Wardens
Corner section of our website.
WARDENS CORNER

• Daily Fire Danger
• Current Events Grant opportunities, new
  equipment etc
• Fire Training PowerPoint presentations
• Appointment forms, Injury Report Forms etc
• Handouts for the public
• Law Posters
• Rate sheets and information for fire bills
• Smokey Bear sign Building Instructions
• Information on equipment maintenance
• Links to weather sites
• Much more

www.nhdfl.org
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www.nhdfl.org
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www.nhdfl.org
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www.nhdfl.org
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www.nhdfl.org
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www.nhdfl.org
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www.nhdfl.org
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www.nhdfl.org
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Its a Tough Job
THE END
www.nhdfl.org 271-2214
But somebody has to do it.