May 2009

Table 4-3. Fire Danger Rating System for NSWG TARs outside of SHOBA.

Fire Danger Rating Caution to Be Exercised Necessary Precautions
In all cases, the initial response will be to take immediate action to suppress the fire (if deemed safe) and call the Fire Department. Federal Fire and the Range Safety Officer/Safety Observer will jointly decide if it is safe for the exercise to continue or be postponed until after an incident. The road from just south of the dunes to approximately Marine Terrace Canyon or about 3100 yards (range of tracers used) from TAR 10 must remain passable for access for firefighting and function as a firebreak. The use of retardant sprayed from a ground rig may be necessary as containment lines along existing trails. For TAR 17, the unpaved road to Seal Cove along the LMU boundary should remain passable by two-wheel drive emergency vehicles to the canyon directly east of Eel Point. A gate should be installed at that location. Beyond this point, the road should remain passable by 4-wheel drive emergency vehicles. Emergency personnel should have access through the ordnance magazine area as necessary for fire suppression. Standby quick-attack fire apparatus location will be approved by the Wildland Fire Coordinator, who will coordinate with the Range Safety Officer/Safety Observer and with SCORE. Scheduling of quick-attack to be coordinated with SCORE.
LOW <4 mph 20-ft wind speed> 11-12% 1-hr FFM Use normal caution during military training exercises. Fires may start easily, but will have low rate of spread and fire intensity, i.e. less than 30 acres of spread per hour. Care should be taken; however, any type of ammunition can be used within a designated TAR during this condition. Consistent with NALFSCIINST 5560.4D, smoking is not permitted in vehicles or in any designated TAR.
MODERATE 4-5 mph 20-ft wind speed 11-12% 1-hr FFM Use extra caution. Fires may start very easily. Fires are expected to have moderate rate of spread and fire intensity, i.e. less than 100 acres of spread per hour. All Low Fire Danger Precautions are in effect. This condition is the beginning of a fire ignition concern. Standby fire truck and quick action by wildland fire trained and qualified cadre members is essential to minimize any fire spread during this or higher condition. Whenever any type of incendiary ordnance is in use within a designated TAR, a fully equipped fire truck, with a minimum of 300 gallons of water, and staffed with 3 wildland fire certified personnel shall be placed in the vicinity where the training is taking place and available to take initial action. The decision about where to place the standby fire engine will be that of the Range Safety Officer/Safety Observer, but there must be line-of-sight visibility and the ability to be pumping water within 10 minutes of an ignition report. The use of pyrotechnics, demolitions and other heat/flame producing devices within that TAR will be limited as much as possible to night-time activity, a cleared area or areas previously burned over. Training exercises using white phosphorous, illumination and tracer heat/flame producing ordnance devices may be conducted in the early morning (before 0800 hours) or late evening (after 1900 hours) when relative humidity is at its highest. One cadre member shall be equipped for and trained in the proper technique in taking on-site wildland fire weather. Weather recordings will be taken every two hours during any training exercise using heat producing ordnance or devices, and restrictions added if the Fire Danger Rating increases. The only exception is when the on-site night-time weather recordings indicate that Fire Weather conditions have reduced to LOW.
HIGH 6-8-mph 20-ft. wind speed 9-10% 1-hr FFM Use extra caution. Fires are expected to have high rate-of-spread and fire intensity. More than 100 acres of spread per hour in grassland. All Moderate Fire Danger Precautions are in effect. Restrictions on the use of pyrotechnics, demolitions, illumination, heat/flame producing devices (including tracers), and white phosphorous will be in place for all TARS during the period of 0800 to 1900 hours. However, these restrictions do not apply to night-time (1900 to 0800 hours) training activities, in cleared areas or previously burned areas. The only exception is when the on-site night-time weather recordings indicate a reduction in Fire Weather condition to MODERATE.
VERY HIGH 9-10 mph 20-ft wind speed 5-8% 1-hr FFM Extra protection caution. Fires will start easily and spread rapidly. Fires are expected to exceed 100 acres in one hour and burn very hot. Fires will be hard to contain at designated roads and fuel treatment areas without aerial suppression assets or 2 wildland fire engine companies. All High Fire Danger Precautions are in place. Firing of all types of non-heat producing ammunition will be permitted at all times within a designated TAR. If an ignition occurs, training will cease and firefighting will be designated as the "highest priority" mission.
EXTREME >10 mph 20-ft wind speed <5% 1-hr FFM Use extreme caution and allow only essential and high cost military training operations to continue under these conditions. Fires will spread at extreme rates of sped and by long distance spotting. Fires will burn at unacceptable intensities All Very High Fire Danger Precautions are in place. If already on standby for other training missions, the helicopter, pilot and crew on ready fire alert at the SCI Auxiliary Landing Field will be summoned for suppression support.
* NALFSCIINST 5560.4D defines remote areas as anywhere except Wilson Cove, Airfield, West Cove Beach and paved roadways, which includes the unpaved portion of SCI Ridge Road south of VC-3 to Stone Gate. No smoking between the plane and the terminal at the Airfield.