Municipal Fire Ban on Open Air Burning. Factors for Consideration

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1 Municipal Fire Ban on Open Air Burning Factors for Consideration May

2 PREFACE The Municipal Fire Ban on Open Air Burning - Factors for Consideration package consists of: 1. Factors for Consideration document 2. Two Appendices IFR / OFR Map Forest Fire Weather Index System Summary The Factors for Consideration document contains general areas of information that can be used when considering institution of a Municipal Open Air Fire Ban. The Inside Fire Region (IFR) / Outside Fire Region (OFR) Map delineates the area where the Forest Fire Protection Act applies and where it does not apply in Ontario. The Forest Fire Weather Index System Summary provides summary information on the various Forest Fire Weather Indices. The Indice Indicator describes what forest fuels the Fire Indice represents. The Key Values indicate key indices values that can assist in determining the relative Fire Potential in your municipality. 2

3 Municipal Fire Ban on Open Air Burning - Factors for Consideration Background Controlling open air burning through a municipal fire ban requires a number of factors to be considered. A fire ban is one of the tools a municipality has to reduce the potential of person caused fires. Based on a number of inquiries by municipal fire services, a need was identified to compile a listing of various factors that can be taken into consideration to implement and revoke a municipal fire ban. Some municipalities may have additional factors they consider. Restricted Fire Zone / Municipal Fire Ban Delineation In terms of open air fire bans, there are two versions. The first is a Restricted Fire Zone instituted under the Forest Fires Prevention Act (FFPA), and the second is a Municipal Fire Ban instituted through a municipal bylaw. A Restricted Fire Zone can only be applied in the area where the FFPA is applicable, which is referred to as Inside Fire Region (map attached Outside Fire Region and Fire Region Boundary). A municipal fire ban can be implemented in a municipality that controls open air burning. Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Restricted Fire Zone Factors To institute a Restricted Fire Zone, the MNR completes an analysis considering a combination of the following factors: Forecasted weather Percentage of the Fire Region receptive to lightning Percentage of the Fire Region in extreme indices Number of municipal fire bans in place Level of woods industry modifications in place Predicted fire starts (lightning) which will affect resources The impact of a Restricted Fire Zone Municipal Fire Ban - General Areas for Consideration As no two municipalities are the same; i.e., landbase, urban/rural population base, forested area, open air burning bylaws and practices, open air fire occurrence potential; there are six general areas that municipalities could consider when instituting/revoking a municipal fire ban. current and forecasted weather fire behaviour fire occurrence resource availability time of year 3

4 adjacent fire bans Current and Forecasted Weather Current and forecasted weather should both be considered when instituting/revoking a municipal fire ban. This is important from both the impact of weather on fire occurrence and fire behaviour and the amount of work needed to institute a municipal fire ban. What has the past weather been, i.e., rain amounts, temperatures What are the current weather conditions What is the forecasted weather What impact will short and long-range weather forecast have on fire indices and fire potential? Sources for weather forecasting include MNR Extranet site ( Canadian Forest Service ( Environment Canada The Weather Network Smog Alert and Warning Current and forecasted on the Ministry of the Environment website Fire Behaviour Current and predicted fire behaviour should be considered. This is linked to both the forecasted Fire Weather Indices and the forecasted Forest Fire Behaviour of any wildfire that occurs. Fire Weather Index FWI overall fire danger (intensity) FFMC ease of ignition ISI fire spread rate BUI available fuel Forest Fire Behaviour What type of fire can be expected in common fuels within the municipality Fuel receptiveness based on the time of year Spring cured grass, hardwood stands (before leaves develop) Summer conifer stands Fall conifer stands, grass (once cured), hardwood stands (after leaf drop) (A summary sheet with information on the Fire Weather Index System is attached.) Fire Occurrence Another determining factor in instituting/revoking a municipal fire ban is knowing when person caused fires usually occur. Unless there are unusual circumstances, commonly there is a trend to open air fire occurrence. As well, current fire occurrences should be reviewed including those in surrounding municipalities. 4

5 Historical information Records indicating traditional fire occurrence for periods of time Current fire occurrence Were there a number of open air fires occurring in the last few days? is the number increasing What was the fire cause? (this could help focus short term fire prevention efforts) Ignition type and potential, is there an increase due to the time of year? (outdoor clean-up, camping, hunters) Are surrounding municipalities active with open air fires? Resource Availability When a municipal fire ban is being considered, it is likely that any open air fires occurring have demonstrated active fire behaviour requiring a commitment of firefighting resources. A consideration is the availability of firefighting resources to action a wildfire should one occur (holidays, weekends, training) Time of Year The time of year influences fuel types, amount of available fuel and the type of fire. Spring Time Grass fuels are cured = ease of ignition Summer Medium and coarse fuels have chance to dry = increased fire intensity / prolonged time to action Summer drought conditions can cure fine fuels Fall Fine fuels cure, leaf fall can be susceptible to fire before cooler fall conditions and rains Adjacent Fire Bans Although local situations may be different, consideration should be given to fire bans that other municipalities may have in place. A review of both adjacent municipalities and/or those with mutual aid agreements should be completed, i.e., do they have a fire ban in place? Are they discussing the requirement for a fire ban? 5

6 Graduated Municipal Restrictions As a fire prevention tool, a system of Graduated Fire Restrictions is worthy of consideration. The intent is to gradually reduce the number of permitted open air fires. Provision could also be made for commercial operations under an organized campground designation to reduce economic impacts. When the OMNR implements a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ), almost all open fires are not permitted. The exception is in organized campgrounds. An organized campground can have campfires during an RFZ if they abide by the following criteria. A municipality can make similar provisions. An example of a Graduated Fire Restriction is: First step - no concern issue burning permits, allow campfires Second step suspend issuance of new burning permits, campfires permitted Third step cancel all burning permits, campfires permitted in organized campgrounds Fourth step complete fire ban, campfires not permitted in organized campgrounds Organized Campground Definition: An organized campground offers camping facilities to the public on a temporary basis and meets all of the following criteria: 1. allows camping only in cabins and designated campsites, and all are accessible by motor vehicle as defined in the Highway Traffic Act. 2. does not allow campfires fires between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. 3. clearly posts the hours campfires will be allowed. 4. has printed information on safe campfires and provides it to all of its guests. 5. has adequate equipment to control and extinguish a fire that can be taken to any campsite or cabin within 10 minutes. 6. has, on site at all times, staff who are instructed in the location and use of the equipment. 7. has reliable two-way telecommunications equipment to allow it to obtain assistance if a fire escapes control. Campfire installation 1. The fire is contained in - i. an above ground fire grate or fireplace that is designed to burn wood safely and that cannot be moved to an unsafe location, or ii. a pit in the ground that has fireproof walls and is designed to burn wood safely. 2. The fire is at least three metres from any forest or woodland, and the area within the three metre radius is completely free of flammable material. 6

7 3. The space immediately above the fire installation is at least three metres from any overhanging vegetation. 4. The owner or operator of the campground expressly permits the fire to be set during a time when the campground is in a Restricted Fire Zone. Attachments: 1. IFR / OFR Map 2. Forest Fire Weather Index Summary 7

8 IFR/OFR Map 8

9 Forest Fire Weather Index System Summary afire Indice Indice Fuel Representation Indice Input Indice Indicator Key Values FFMC (Fine Fuel Moisture Code) surface litter and other cured fine fuels dead woody material <0.6 cm diameter previous day s calculated FFMC current 13:00 LDT weather measurements of: temperature relative humidity wind speed 24 hour rainfall a rain code is calculated if rain has occurred predict rate of spread since fine fuels contribute most to the rate of spread of a fire predict ease of ignition for intentional ignition and spot fires predict initial fire growth potential play a role in determining fire intensity <74 little chance of ignition 75 some surface fire spread, especially in open grass 80 continuous surface fire spread 90+ high probability of sustained spot fire ignition 92 extreme fire behaviour < 80 little change in people caused fires > 80 pronounced increase in starts DMC (Duff Moisture Code) loosely compacted duff to moderate depth, 5 to 10 cm in depth dead woody material from 0.6 to 5 cm diameter previous day s calculated DMC current 13:00 LDT weather observations of: temperature relative humidity 24 hour rainfall day length factor a rain code is calculated if rain has occurred the potential for lightning caused fires. Lightning fires may ignite if the DMC is greater than 20, however other factors will influence whether a fire will actually be detectable, such as: precipitation that occurred after the strike other weather conditions after the strike the strike fuel bed the DMC will also indicate the degree of fuel consumption in moderate duff layers and medium sized dead woody materials 20 lightning ignition possible 40 moderate fire intensity due to duff fuel availability 50 extreme fire behaviour 150 duff fuel has lost most of its available moisture DC (Drought Code) deep, compact, organic matter, 10 cm deep down to mineral soil dead woody material > 5 cm diameter previous day s calculated DC current 13:00 LDT weather observations of temperature 24 hour rainfall a day length factor, which is regulated by month of the year rain code is calculated if rain has occurred long term drought or moisture deficit throughout the fire season potential fuel consumption in the deep, organic layers or of large, dead, woody, surface materials mop up requirements for suppression operations since deep burning fires or fires burning in large fuels cause a greater time commitment for the crews to extinguish the fire 300 deep fuels are dry enough for some sustained burning, increasing the chance of holdover fire 500 persistent smouldering combustion of the deep, organic layers ISI (Initial Spread Index) calculated using FFMC and wind speed is a relative numerical rating of the relative spread potential at the peak burning period around 17:00 local daylight time, without taking into account fuel type or topography typically ranges from 1 to 30 changes throughout the burning period as FFMC and wind speed change 0 no fire spread 10 threshold for crowning in most conifer fuel types 20 extreme fire behaviour likely BUI (Build-up Index) calculated with a weighted combination of DMC and DC. depth of burn fuel consumption mop-up requirements a factor in determining fire intensity 30 deeper, heavier fuels involved in combustion 60 potential for mop up problems, safety concerns due to increased intensity and depth of burn 90 potential for fires to escape initial attack based on fire intensity due to available fuel FWI (Fire Weather Index) calculated using ISI and BUI. a numerical rating of potential fire intensity (heat energy) a relative indicator of expected fire behaviour a general indicator of fire danger 3 fire spreads 25 extreme fire behaviour 50 major wildfire disasters have occurred 9

HAZARD DESCRIPTION... 1 LOCATION AND HISTORICAL...

W I L D F I R E HAZARD DESCRIPTION... 1 LOCATION AND HISTORICAL... 1 SIGNIFICANT PAST EVENTS... 1 EXTENT... 2 PREVIOUS OCCURRENCES... 6 PROBABILITY OF FUTURE EVENTS... 7 VULNERABILITY AND IMPACT... 7 HAZARD