Modifying Industrial Operations Protocol

This protocol provides direction to forest managers and industrial operators for the prevention and suppression of wildfires in forested areas where operations take place during the fire season.

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Modifying Industrial Operations Protocol (PDF, 2.5MO 25 pages)

Executive Summary

Introduction

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has the lead responsibility for wildfire prevention, suppression and management on Crown land in Ontario. This protocol provides direction to forest managers and industrial operators for the prevention and suppression of wildfires in forested areas where operations take place during the fire season, normally April 1-Oct. 31.

The main goals of the protocol are to: (i) ensure that industrial operations are conducted in a manner that best prevents wildfires from starting and, (ii) ensure that industrial operations are adequately trained and have appropriate equipment available so as to safely control and extinguish fires resulting from their operations.

The protocol uses a decision-making process strongly based on fire science to assess fuel hazard, fire danger and operational risk in determining appropriate industrial operation during times of high fire danger. The protocol applies to industrial activities occurring in or within 300m of forested areas within the Fire Regions of Ontario during the fire season.

Fire Prevention and Suppression

Planning

Fire prevention and preparedness plans should be prepared for industrial operation and include the following:

1. Contact information
2. Type of operations by risk category
3. Fire prevention planning
   - Fire prevention programs and initiatives
   - Fire prevention monitoring
4. Fire preparedness planning
   - Fire suppression training
   - Suppression equipment available
   - Actions to be taken when a fire is detected

Fire Suppression Equipment

All mechanical equipment operating in the forest are required to have a fire extinguisher on or within five metres of the machine. In addition, persons conducting industrial activities in the forest must have available fire suppression equipment, such as backpack pumps, pump and hose units, for suppressing wildfires started by the operation or that are discovered in the course of daily operations.

Fire Suppression Capabilities

Anyone working in the forest that is expected to use fire suppression equipment must be adequately trained to use that equipment. The protocol defines a standard for trained and capable operations. Operations that meet the trained and capable standard may qualify to work longer during higher fire danger periods, as they should be able to suppress any fires that may start. Operations that do not meet all of the criteria are “Limited Operators” with respect to the modifications that will apply to their operations.

Determining Operational Risk and Fire Danger

The general steps in the protocol for determining how and when operations should be modified by considering the fire danger and risk of ignition from the operations are as follows:

1. Determine Operational Risk:
   Certain industrial operations are more likely to create a source of ignition i.e. spark from heavy equipment. Common forest operations are categorized into the following four levels of operational risk: Low, Moderate, High and Very High. The level of operational risk is based on the potential for the operation to create a spark or other source of ignition, where the operation takes place, the presence of stones or bedrock and, forest fuels.
   
2. Determine if the forest is in Leaf On/Leaf Off condition:
   Classification of fuel hazard is affected by foliar moisture conditions of forest vegetation. The protocol refers to “Leaf Off” / “Leaf On” conditions at the trigger point where these conditions change.
   
3. Determine fuel group on the worksite using Fuel Group Decision Key:
   The classification of the forest into one of the general “fuel groups” based on certain stand characteristics provides an initial indication of the potential fire behaviour should a fire ignite. This protocol uses five fuel groups derived from the fuel types defined in the Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour Prediction System (FBP).
   
4. Determine the fire intensity code for next day for the appropriate fuel group and the closest weather station to the operation:
   This protocol uses a measure of fire intensity (fire intensity code) as the key indicator of rate of spread and difficulty of control in determining overall danger if a wildfire should start. The fire intensity code is derived from the fire intensity charts from the Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour Prediction System.
   
5. Cross Reference Operational Risk to Fire Intensity Code:
   The operational modifications required for industrial operations based on the risk of the operation, the daily reported fire intensity code for the fuel group at the work site and the workers' classification as trained and capable or limited operator. Operations may be curtailed for all or part of the next day or until the fire intensity code changes.

Compliance

When the fire prevention and preparedness plan forms part of a forest management plan or annual work schedule, compliance with this protocol will be enforced under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act with the exception, where appropriate, of items identified under the Forest Fires Prevention Act or Regulation 207/96.