Project Activity Levels (PALS)
What is PAL?
- Project Activity Level (PAL) is a decision support tool designed to help fire and timber resource managers establish the level of industrial precaution for the following day. This tool utilizes outputs from the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS).
Documentation
R5 PAL Direction
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R5 PAL Toolkit
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To obtain daily San Bernardino National Forest PAL Levels, call (909) 382-2997.
Project Activity Level Map PDF*
A.
Minimum Restriction
B.
1. A fire patrolperson is required for mechanical operations from cessation of operations until 2 hours after operations cease or sunset, which ever occurs first.
2. Tank truck or trailer shall be on or adjacent to each active landing.
3. When hot saw technology is being used, the tank truck or trailer (B2 above) may serve dual purpose as active landing tank truck provided it shall be kept readily available for use as follows:
a. Within one quarter mile of the operating hot saw technology; and
b. Within 10 minutes of the active landing; and
c. Effective communications exist between hot saw technology and active landing.
Otherwise, there shall be a tank truck or trailer at both the active landing and within one quarter mile of the operating hot saw technology.
C.
1. The following operations are prohibited from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM local time:
a. Blasting
2. Operations using hot saw technology are prohibited between 1:00 PM and sunset local time. Hot saw technology operations may continue if Contractor provides a portable fire suppression system capable of extinguishing a 20-foot by 20-foot wild land fire within five (5) minutes of discovery. The following equipment will meet the requirements above:
a. Compressed Air Foam System with minimum requirements of 20 gallons stored energy, 100 feet of 1 inch hose and adjustable 1 inch nozzle, minimum discharge range of 60 feet and 1 spare air cylinder; or
b. All terrain tank truck or equivalent capable of traveling throughout the cutting unit, containing not less than 300 gallons of water and complies with all tank truck requirements of Section 3. All terrain tank truck or equivalent may serve dual purpose as active landing tank truck provided:
1) Tank truck or equivalent shall be kept readily available to extinguish a fire within 5 minutes of discovery of the operating hot saw technology,
2) Tank truck or equivalent shall be no further than 10 minutes travel time to the active landing,
3) A 4-A:80-B:C extinguisher is maintained at the landing fire tool box and,
4) Effective communications exist between the hot saw technology, active landing and all terrain tank truck or equivalent. Otherwise there shall be a tank truck at the active landing and an all terrain tank truck or equivalent with the hot saw technology.
D.
1. The following restrictions apply:
a. No blasting after 10:00 AM
b. Welding or cutting of metal only by special permit
c. No Burning without a permit
2. The following activities may not operate after 1:00 PM local time unless fire patrolperson(s) walks all areas operated that day once per hour until sunset local time and has the capability of notifying the designated Forest Service Dispatch Center within fifteen (15) minutes of discovery of a fire:
a. Track-laying equipment
b. Chipping outside of landings and roadbeds
c. Equipment using Hot Saw Technology
d. Chainsaw operations outside of landings and roadbeds
e. Tree felling operations
f. Ripping roads and landings
g. Mastication
h. Cable-yarding employing motorized carriages.
Ev.
1. The following operations are prohibited:
a. Blasting
b. Welding or cutting metal
c. Burning
2. Following activities may operate when fire patrolperson walks from 9:00 AM until local sunset all areas once per hour that were mechanically operated that day.
A. Activities that may operate all day:
1. Hauling and loading of logs decked at approved landings.
2. Hauling and loading of chips piled at approved landings.
3. Equipment servicing at approved sites.
4. Roads: Dust abatement or rock aggregate installation (does not include pit or quarry development)
5. Chainsaw or stroke delimber operation associated with loading at approved landing sites.
B. All other Operations are permitted until 1:00 PM local time subject to the following:
1. When hot saw technology is being used a tractor or other equipment with blade capable of constructing fire line, shall be on standby and immediately available. Tractor will have effective communications with hot saw technology and be within one quarter mile of hot saw technology to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start.
E.
The following activities may operate subject to B1. and B2.
1. Hauling and loading of logs decked at approved landings.
2. Hauling and loading of chips piled at approved landings.
3. Equipment at approved sites may be serviced.
4 Roads: Dust abatement or rock aggregate installation (does not include pit development).
5. Chainsaw operation associated with loading at approved landings.
* The information shown for activity levels is general. Contractors should refer to their contract for more detailed information on what activities are allowed or prohibited for each activity level
