Mt. Hood National Forest

Fire and Aviation

Northwest Interagency Coordination Center | National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)

Industrial Fire Protection Level System (IFPL)

The Forest Service uses a four-level industrial regulation system to help prevent wildfires by regulating work activities in the forest. This includes personal use firewood cutting.

The Mt. Hood NF is divided into 4 IFPL units to which levels are assigned.

Industrial Fire Precaution Levels are defined as follows:

I. Closed Season - Fire Precaution requirements are in effect. A Fire Watch/Security is required at this and all higher levels unless otherwise waived.

II. Partial Hootowl - The following may operate only between the hours of 8 P.M. and 1 P.M. local time:

• power saws except at loading sites;
• cable yarding;
• blasting;
• welding or cutting of metal.

III. Partial Shutdown - The following are prohibited except as indicated:

• cable yarding - except that gravity operated logging systems employing non-motorized carriages may operate between 8 P.M. and 1 P.M. when all blocks and moving lines are suspended 10 feet above the ground except the line between the carriage and the chokers.
• power saws - except power saws may be used at loading sites and on tractor/skidder operations between the hours of 8 P.M. and 1 P.M. local time;
• In addition, the following are permitted to operate between the hours of 8 P.M. and 1 P.M. local time:
  • Tractor, skidder, feller-buncher, forwarder, or shovel logging operations where tractors, skidders, or other equipment with a blade capable of constructing fireline are immediately available to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start;
  • mechanized loading or hauling of any product or material;
  • blasting;
  • welding or cutting of metal;
  • any other spark emitting operation not specifically mentioned.

IV. General Shutdown - All operations are prohibited.

NOTE: Where hauling involves transit through more than one shutdown/regulated use areas, the precaution level at the woods loading site shall govern the level of haul restriction, unless otherwise prohibited by other than the industrial precaution level system.

The IFPL system does not apply on lands protected by ODF east of the summit of the Cascades.

The following definitions shall apply to these industrial fire precaution levels:

Loading sites: A place where any product or material (including, but not limited to logs, firewood, slash, soil, rock, poles, etc.) is placed in or upon a truck or other vehicle.
Cable yarding systems: A yarding system employing cables, and winches in a fixed position.
Low hazard area: Any area where the responsible agency representative (BIA, BLM, FWS, NPS, ODF, USFS, WDNR) determines the combination of elements reduces the probability of fire starting and/or spreading.
Closed season (Fire precautionary period): That season of the year when a fire hazard exists as declared by the responsible agency official.

Waivers, written in advance, may be used for any and all activities. Activities for which waivers may be issued include, but are not limited to:

• mechanized loading and hauling.
• road maintenance such as sprinkling, graveling, grading and paving.
• cable yarding using gravity systems or suspended lines and blocks, or other yarding systems where extra prevention measures will significantly reduce the risk of fire.
• power saws at loading sites or in felling and bucking where extra prevention measures will significantly reduce the risk of fire.
• maintenance of equipment (other than metal cutting and welding) or improvements such as structures, fences, and powerlines.

Clackamas County Community Wildfire Protection Plan

137 pages (22.5 mb - Adobe pdf format)

The mission of the Clackamas County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CCWPP) is to provide a consolidated reference documenting wildfire hazards, prevention and response efforts, and resource-sharing information for all participating local, state, and federal fire agencies. The CCWPP improves upon historical fire planning efforts by providing a more localized and accurate approach for determining wildfire hazards and implementing best practices for wildfire protection in balance with sustainable ecological management and economic activities throughout Clackamas County.