Monday's Internet Edition, May 12, 2008.
By Charles “Butch” Taylor
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How do I qualify for help from EPPBA on my prescribed burns?
This decision is basically a determination from the Chapter in which you belong. Each chapter has the flexibility to determine its own policy on who gets to burn and who doesn’t. Listed below are some of the items in the EPPBA guidelines that address this question:
1. Dues - $25.00 per rancher per years. (You must be a member of EPPBA before you can expect any help from EPPBA).
2. Fire Training education - Members should attend a burn school to learn the basics of prescribed fire and receive training on how to operate equipment. (The key word here is Should; whether this is enforced or not depends on the guidelines of the individual Chapters).
3. Fire plans - Prescribed burns will have burn plans prepared by the rancher and reviewed by EPPBA. (All chapters require a burn plan but how these burn plans are reviewed is determined by individual Chapter guidelines).
4. Personnel - A critical number of trained personnel will be determined for each burn. The number will depend on the size and complexity of the prescribed burn as described by the prescribed burn plan. (In general, the fire boss will make the final determination regarding the number of qualified people needed for a particular burn; however, individual chapters can revise this procedure).
5. Liability - Each rancher will be liable for fires conducted on their property. (Landowners should carry liability insurance but proof of insurance is not required before EPPBA will help with a burn).
6 Fire lines - Each landowner is responsible for preparing their own fire lines. Fireguards should be appropriate to the fire plan. (Procedures for fire line inspection varies depending on Chapter guidelines).
7. Equipment - Use of EPPBA equipment will be available to all association members. (Sharing of equipment between and among chapters is determined by individual chapter policy).
8. Fire boss - Each rancher will be the fire boss on their own property unless other arrangements are made.
9. Participation - Members are encouraged to help on as many burns as possible. participation provides members with fire-line experience, helps them become acquainted with other members with the same goals and objectives, and builds an experienced team. Participation is recorded for each burn. Exceptions are made for members not physically able to actively participate on burns. (The level of participation to qualify for help from EPPBA on a prescribed burn depends on individual Chapter guidelines. Some Chapters are very specific on their requirements. For example, some chapters have a minimum number of burns that one has to attend before they qualify for help from EPPBA).