HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 4/16/2013 - Memorandum From Tom Demint, Fire Chief, Re: Open Burning Ban Authority, Ordinance 64, 2013 - Agenda Item #24[Type text]
MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor and City Council Members
From: Tom DeMint, Fire Chief
Bob Poncelow, Fire Marshal
Re: Open Burning Ban Authority, Ordinance 64, 2013
Date: April 16, 2013
Based on discussion at the Leadership Team meeting on Monday, April 15, PFA would like to
offer the following additional information about the proposed ordinance.
1. Please clarify the criteria for declaration of a burn ban.
Criteria to be used for determining the need for a burn ban will include a combination of
factors that point to critically high fire danger:
a. Wildland fuel moisture levels in areas adjacent to the city limits—This daily
analysis of the moisture levels in potential fire fuels guides PFA in evaluating the
potential for serious wild fire. This includes the moisture levels in potential fuels
including “10-hour fuel moisture” (small shrubs and grasses) and “1000-hour fuel
moisture” (trees and larger fuels). If this key criterion is at a Level 9 over a
sustained time period (indicating critically high fire danger), other criteria for
imposing a possible ban on open burning would also be evaluated. Moisture levels
include the following:
Level 10-hour fuel
moisture
1000-hour fuel
moisture
1 > 6% > 11%
5 ≤ 6% ≤ 11%
9 ≤ 4% ≤ 8%
b. Long- and short-term weather forecasts including temperatures, wind speeds
and humidity levels as measured by local reporting stations (PFA Redstone
Canyon Station, CSU Main Campus, and Chrisman Field weather stations) as well
as the National Weather Service;
Agenda
Item #24
April 16, 2013
Page 2
c. Level of available firefighting resources from local, regional and national
agencies;
d. Energy Release Components—This measure of available energy (BTU’s) per
square foot near the flaming front of any currently burning wildfire. This
measurement of fuel “build up” is an index of the potential for fire intensity should
a fire approach the city limits;
e. State, County and other local fire bans in place or anticipated;
f. Significant recent or on-going nearby or regional fires; and
g. Atmospheric conditions and degraded air quality
The City Manager, Fire Chief, Fire Marshal and other fire personnel will evaluate these
factors in combination to evaluate whether a serious fire hazard exists within the city
limits of Fort Collins.
2. What is the difference between a Stage I and Stage II Burn Restriction?
The limitations imposed in a Stage I Burn Ban would include:
• Prohibit discarding of smoking materials
• Prohibit welding/torches in outdoor areas
• Spark arrestors required on equipment
• Prohibit pest control using flammable gas or liquids
The limitations imposed in a Stage II Burn Ban would include prohibiting:
• All Stage 1 restrictions PLUS
• Prohibit charcoal grills and campfires
• Prohibit fires in fire pits or outdoor fireplaces when the fuel is not liquid or gas
A Stage I Burn Ban would be considered when most of the criteria point to a critical risk
of fire within the city limits. A Stage II Burn Ban would be considered when all or nearly
all of the criteria are at a critical level.
If City Council Members would like to consider an alternative to the two tiered fire ban,
the Ordinance could be modified between First and Second Reading to contain only one
level of burn ban. This amendment might be considered if Council believes that it would
be a clearer message to the community to have only one level of ban.
1
Amending the Code of the City of Fort
Collins to Authorize the City Manager
to Ban Open Burning in the City
Ordinance 064, 2013
April 16, 2013
Agenda Item # 24
2
OPEN BURNING
Open Burning is:
• Campfires
• Warming fires
• Lighting of fused
explosives,
fireworks or model
rockets
• Agriculture fires
• Burning of trash or
debris
3
OPEN BURNING
Open Burning is not:
• Fires in gas or liquid
fueled appliances
• Wood burning appliances
in buildings
• Charcoal grills at private
residences
• Commercial, permitted
fireworks displays
• Burning of irrigation
ditches
4
OPEN BURNING RESTRICTIONS
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Current weather conditions
Short and long-term weather forecasts
Recent weather trends such as
temperature, wind, and humidity recovery
Fire Danger based on local conditions
PFA Redstone Canyon Station
CSU Main Campus
Chrisman Field Weather Stations
5
OPEN BURNING RESTRICTIONS
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Availability of resources locally, regionally,
and nationally
State, County and other local fire bans in
place or anticipated
Significant recent or on-going fires
Atmospheric conditions and degraded air
quality
6
STAGE 1 FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Stage 1 Restrictions
• Discarding of smoking
materials
• Welding/Torches in
outdoor areas
• Spark arrestors required
on equipment
• Pest control using
flammable gas or liquids
Allowed under Stage 1
• Liquid or gas fueled
appliances
• Commercial firework
displays
• Fire department training or
fire control
• Permanent fire pits/grates
at picnic/camping sites
• Commercial cooking or
smoking appliances
7
STAGE 2 FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Stage 2 Restrictions
• All Stage 1 restrictions
• Charcoal grills and
campfires
• Fires in fire pits or
outdoor fireplaces when
the fuel is not liquid or
gas
Allowed under Stage 2
• Fires in liquid or gas
fueled fire pits or outdoor
fireplaces
• Fireplaces or wood
stoves inside of buildings
• Fire department training
or fire control
• Commercial cooking or
smoking appliances with
approval
8
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• City Manager notifies
Council within 24
hours that restrictions
are enacted/lifted
• Restrictions lifted by
the City Manager
when conditions
warrant
• Restrictions enforced
by Law Enforcement
and the Poudre Fire
Authority