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VILLAGE OF RUIDOSO SEVERITY AND FIRE PREVENTION PLAN
The National Fire Danger Rating System will be used as a decision making tool to provide guidance for management of fire restrictions within the Village of Ruidoso during the fire season each year. Fire restrictions within the Village will be imposed through VOR ordinance or declaration.
Proper use of NFDRS requires careful and consistent weather information. The NFDRS Fuel Model G (grass and brush) will predict the NFDRS adjective ratings for the current and next day during fire season. The Smokey Bear RAWS station (Station Number 292203) will be the source of the weather data to be used in this prediction.
A five-class adjective class rating will be used for management actions pertaining to public user groups. In 1974, the US Forest Service, Interior Agencies and States agreed to use this system to achieve consistency in fire danger rating. The adjective rating is calculated in Weather Information Management System (WIMS) and is displayed as a matrix of the calculated staffing level according to the actual and predicted Energy Release Component (ERC).
Energy Release Component is based on the estimated potential available energy released per unit area in the flaming front of a fire. This measure can fluctuate from day to day, although less than Burning Index (BI) caused by changes in moisture content of various fuel classes, including the 1000-hour time lag fuels, and is affected by wind. It is derived from the predictions of (1) the rate of heat released per unit area during flaming combustion and (2) the duration of flaming.
Every attempt will be made to coordinate daily staffing levels with the U.S. Forest Service, the County of Lincoln, Lincoln National Forest Smokey Bear Ranger District, the City of Ruidoso Downs and the Mescalero Agency. For purposes of such coordination, the break points of approved staffing plans with these cities/agencies have been adhered to during the development of this plan and the same RAWS unit and weather data are being used for the daily analysis.
In the table presented below, required actions by both the Ruidoso Fire Department and the Village of Ruidoso are specified in detail in accordance with each adjective level. It will be the responsibility of the Ruidoso Fire Marshall, or specifically assigned fire prevention personnel within the Ruidoso Fire Department, to keep the correct ratings posted daily within the Village and on the Chamber of Commerce web site. There will be no further interpretation of this plan by the Fire Marshall but rather this plan will be strictly adhered to. The Fire Marshall, working closely with the Assistant Fire Chief, Operations and the Chief of Police, Ruidoso will be responsible for strict enforcement of the plan by the public.
STAFFING CLASS and FIRE RESTRICTIONS |
CLASSES I-III, ERC 0-80: FIRE DANGER NORMAL (LOW, MODERATE, or HIGH ADJECTIVE)
Departmental Actions: Normal fire suppression staffing and/or activities authorized. A normal tour of duty exists for fire personnel.
VOR Actions: LEVEL I FIRE RESTRICTIONS in place
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CLASS IV, ERC 81-88: FIRE DANGER VERY HIGH
Departmental Actions: Fire Department personnel will dress in wildland uniforms. Normal staffing is authorized.
Project work for engine personnel will be authorized only if it may occur in conjunction with wildland engines and gear properly positioned. No prescribed burning will be authorized.
VOR Actions: LEVEL II FIRE RESTRICTIONS in place.
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CLASS V, ERC 89 AND ABOVE: FIRE DANGER EXTREME
Departmental Actions: Full station staffing is required seven days per week (no vacancies). A response period of 30 seconds will be maintained and no off station project work by engine crews will be authorized. Fire patrols and increased Departmental visibility in high risk fire areas may be ordered by Assistant Fire Chief, Operations. The Fire Chief and/or an ICT3 will be required to be on call at all times. A “black-out” period for taking leave or leaving town during off periods may be instituted by the Assistant Fire Chief, Operations. No Open Fire permits will be issued by Fire Marshall. The Fire Department, working in close cooperation with the Forestry Department and Village Manager, may work to close remote sections of the Village and to prohibit use of mechanized equipment/contract work that can produce sparks. No prescribed burning will be authorized within the VOR.
VOR Actions: LEVEL III Fire Restrictions in place.
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Notes:
Each fire class restriction will include the provisions of the previous, lesser fire class unless specifically stated. The change of classes and the implementation of VOR actions must receive prior approval of Village Manager before being instituted.
Fire Class Levels must be maintained for a minimum of ten days consecutively before a change to a higher level will be authorized. Levels will remain at a set level for ten days consecutively before they will be authorized to be lowered. Lower levels of fire restriction must display the appropriate ERC for ten days, or the ERC must drop by 10 percentage points or more (which ever comes first) before the restriction level will be lowered.
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