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Kittitas County Law Enforcement Services, Washington State <br />BLM-WA Spokane District Office <br />PURCHASE ORDER NO. 140L4319P0094 <br />Page 14 of 26 <br />BLM FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR WASHINGTON, Dee 2013 <br />This outline covers the fire protection requirements of a contractor or private party who performs service or <br />construction contracts on BLM land. In Washington State, the BLM, US Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, <br />and Washington State Department of Natural Resources all use the same four -level industrial regulation system. <br />This system, which helps prevent wildfires by regulating work in the woods, is known as the Industrial Fire <br />Precaution Level (IFPL) system. <br />Information available at: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/fire/index.php <br />For areas outside this link (generally the Columbia Basin) call the local BLM office. Spokane 509-536-1200 <br />Wenatchee 509-665-2100. <br />1. CLOSED FIRE SEASON <br />The closed fire season means that fire season has been declared. The BLM works with their neighboring agencies <br />when declaring this issuing public notices through the newspapers and radio when fire season will be closed for their <br />individual districts. Closed fire season depends upon the drying of forest fuels, rainfall, and time of year. During <br />the closed fire season, the following requirements must be met: <br />a. Fire tools must be on site; <br />b. Fire extinguisher must be in all vehicles; <br />c. Chainsaws must have a .023 -inch mesh screen installed in the exhaust; <br />d. Only unmodified saws are to be used in the forest; <br />e. Approved spark arresters must be on all internal combustion engines; <br />f. Watchman service must be provided for 3 hrs after shutdown of power equipment for the day; <br />g. No smoking is permitted while working or traveling through any operations area in the forest; <br />h. No use of explosives is permitted unless approved by the BLM representative; <br />i. Permits to burn are required unless waived by a BLM representative. <br />j . Permits to operate power -driven machinery shall be obtained by the Contractor prior to commencing <br />operations unless waived by a representative of the State Forester. <br />2. FIRE PRECAUTION LEVELS <br />There are 4 fire precaution levels that begin with level 1 at the start of the closed fire season and can go through <br />level 4 if conditions warrant. The fire precaution levels restrict certain forest operations as the fire danger increases. <br />It is the responsibility of the individual operating on forest/range land to know the precaution level for the day and <br />take the correct fire precautions. There are no precaution levels prior to the closed fire season. Each fire precaution <br />level requires adherence to the restrictions applicable to all lower levels in addition to the limits placed by that level. <br />At any time the local Fire Management Officer, reserves the right to shut down any and all operations regardless of <br />the precaution level. <br />Level I: Closed Fire Season: Fire equipment and firewatch service is required. <br />Level II: Partial Hootowl: Limits certain activities between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. <br />Level III: Partial Shutdown: Prohibits some activities altogether and limits other activities between the hours of 8 <br />p.m. and 1 p.m. <br />Level IV: General Shutdown: All operations prohibited. <br />