Practice Training Fires for Firefighter Suppression and Technique Factsheet

Fire Districts may have on occasion the need to conduct practice fires for training purposes using structures on the Colville Reservation. This fact sheet provides information and the process for obtaining permission to do so.

The permission process results from the need to provide a means for notification to protect human health and conform to the Clean Air Act and the Federal Air Rules for Reservations. Compliance and penalties will apply to practice fires conducted without prior permission. The responsible person for the fire protection agency determines how to conduct the practice fire and the skills that will be taught during the event.

Several tasks and conditions must be met before permission will be granted. These involve the protection of human health and compliance with Tribal and Federal codes.

Substances that must be removed before conducting a fire include: Asbestos containing material (see side bar); batteries, stored chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, paints, glues, sealer, tares, solvents, household cleaners, or photographic reagents; stored linoleum, plastics, rubber, tires, insulted wire; or hazardous wastes. The responsible party for the fire protection service must certify these materials are not present.

Practice fires should only be ignited when favorable weather conditions are present. These include conditions that foster column formation for smoke, no inversion present or any condition that keeps emissions at ground level.

Information needed to issue permission to conduct a practice fire

  1. Name of Fire Protection Service
  2. Authority of person requesting permission, name and title
  3. Mailing address
  4. Email
  5. Phone number
  6. Date(s) of the training
  7. Physical location(s) of the training (street address and parcel number), with location map
  8. Contact information for the responsible party on the day of the training fire (e.g. cell phone number)
  9. Proof of property owner permission
  10. Objectives of practice fire
  11. Asbestos NESHAPS form
  12. CTCR waste disposal plan for site cleanup and debris disposal
  13. A statement that the requestor has read and understands the open burning requirements in 40 CFR Part 49, Section 131 or CTCR factsheet.

Asbestos

Asbestos and asbestos containing material must be removed from the structure prior to permission being granted for use as a training fire. The fire protection service must provide proof that asbestos or asbestos containing material have been surveyed for and abated if present. Documentation of the survey and abatement report must be furnished to the Air Quality Program.

A Notification of Demolition and Renovation form must accompany the asbestos survey and abatement reports. This form can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/region10/pdf/asbestos/demolition-renovation-notification-form_fillable.pdf.

Example of Asbestos containing materials:

  • Asbestos shingle siding
  • Old floor tiles and linoleum-type floor sheeting
  • Old tar paper
  • Old drywall/wallboard
  • Old composition roofing
  • Vermiculite insulation
  • Pipe insulation
  • Some knob and tube wiring
  • “Popcorn” textured ceilings
  • Wall and ceiling insulation

Asbestos is not destroyed by fire, only the binding material is. Exposure to asbestos increases the risks of lung disease. Symptoms may take many years to develop following exposure.

Burn Bans

Practice fires cannot be conducted when an outdoor burn ban, air stagnation advisory, air pollution alert, air pollution warning, or air pollution emergency has been implemented by the Air Quality Program. Contact the Air Quality Program to verify these are not in place.

Training Practice Fire Fact Sheet PDF

 
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