FSH 5109.18 - WILDLAND FIRE PREVENTION HANDBOOK
                    WO AMENDMENT 5109.18-99-1
                      EFFECTIVE 06/10/1999

        CHAPTER 40 - WILDLAND FIRE PREVENTION ENGINEERING

40.2 - Objective.  To reduce wildland fire risks, hazards, 
ignitions, and losses through the development, use, and 
communications about fire prevention standards, procedures, 
mechanical devices, and technology.

40.3 - Policy.  Forest Service fire prevention activities may use 
wildland fire prevention engineering as an effective approach 
toward reducing numbers of human-caused fires.

40.31 - Identification of Wildland Fire Prevention Engineering 
Needs.  Through an assessment process that carefully focuses on 
risks and uses supporting historical fire occurrence data (ch. 10),
determine solutions to fire problems that include education 
solutions, engineering solutions, law enforcement solutions, or 
any combination of these approaches.

Consider the following:

   1.  The problem (risk, historical fire occurrence, cause).

   2.  Surrounding environment or landscape (hazards, values).

   3.  Past efforts at solving these problems.

   4.  Cost effectiveness.

   5.  Public relations and social factors.

Precedent should not necessarily be a determining factor in 
utilizing any particular solution.

40.32 - Law Enforcement.  (FSM 5300, FSH 5309.11).  Enforcement 
of fire prevention standards and laws is a solution to fire 
problems, but should be considered as the last option due to its 
character.  Use other wildland fire prevention techniques first 
that emphasize voluntary compliance.  Such voluntary compliance 
can normally be achieved through education and administrative 
measures.  Law enforcement techniques are a useful tool when 
other efforts fail or in cases of repeated, willful, or negligent 
violations.  Coordinate criminal or civil actions as needed with 
law enforcement and investigations personnel.

40.5 - Definitions.  

   Fire Prevention Engineering.  The process of reducing risks, 
hazards, ignitions, and losses by shielding the fuel from the 
heat sources or removing ignition sources from fuels.

41 - TECHNOLOGY SOURCES.  Many fire prevention solutions are 
engineered on-site.  Technological fire prevention solutions and 
support are available from:

   1.  Agency fire prevention personnel.

   2.  Other cooperating Federal and State agencies.

   3.  USDA Forest Service, San Dimas Technology and Development 
Center, San Dimas, CA.

   4.  USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Fire Sciences 
Laboratory, Missoula MT.

   5.  USDA Forest Service, Forest Fire Laboratory, Riverside, CA.

   6.  USDA Forest Service, Missoula Technology and Development 
Center, Missoula, MT.

   7.  National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, 
P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, MA 02269-9101.

42 - APPLICATION OF DEVELOPED TECHNOLOGY.  Construct or retrofit 
Forest Service facilities and equipment to meet all current 
engineering standards and State and local laws and regulations 
for prevention of and protection from wildland fires. 

Ensure that Forest Service personnel with assigned duties in fire 
prevention have the necessary knowledge, training, and experience 
about available technology involving wildland fire prevention 
engineering.

42.1 - Inspections.  Conduct inspections according to the 
frequency set forth in the unit's wildland fire prevention action 
plans (ch. 10).  Inspections should include:

   1.  Structure and improvement hazard reduction.

   2.  Chimney screens and other spark sources of residential 
and special use structures.

   3.  Mechanical equipment used in wildland areas.

   4.  Powerline clearances and hazard trees.

   5.  Railroad locomotives and/or rights of way.

   6.  Industrial and construction project sites.
   
42.2 - Spark Arrestors.  Forest Service personnel should be 
knowledgeable of approved spark arrestors for mechanical 
equipment and follow the approval process used by the San Dimas 
Technology and Development Center to ensure proper types and 
usage of spark arrestors for mechanical equipment.

42.3 - Fire Precautions.  Forest Service fire prevention 
personnel should be knowledgeable about: 

   1.  Residential hazard clearing distances. 

   2.  Residential fire residue disposal methods.

   3.  Vegetation waste disposal.

   4.  Chimney spark arrestors.

   5.  Landscape and construction specifications for more 
survivable structures.

   6.  Location of suppression water sources and delivery 
options.

42.4 - Hazard Management.  Use the manipulation and reduction of 
hazardous fuels as another means of fire prevention to reduce the 
chances of loss from catastrophic wildland fire.  After an 
assessment process shows a significant need to apply fuels 
management techniques to a particular area, use some of the 
following methods:

   1.  Prescribed burning in areas of heavy fuel accumulation.

   2.  Manually reducing or rearranging fuels to create buffer 
zones, fuel breaks, and fire breaks, and to interrupt fuel 
continuity both vertically and horizontally.

   3.  Using approved herbicides to retard unwanted growth. 

   4.  Creating greenbelts of live and high moisture content 
fuels surrounding an area needing protection.

   5.  Applying colorless retardant on fuels in high-risk areas.