SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 3 ⎯ Affected Environment3.3.3.3 Fort CarsonFire Management AreasManagement of wildland fires protects and enhances natural resources on FTC. Fire is suppressed orcontrolled where necessary for safety and for protecting high-value resources. Prescribed fires accomplishpredefined resource management objectives (DECAM 2002a) including:• Reducing the fuel load contributed by excessive understory vegetation, thereby preventing largerand less easily controlled wildfires;• Creating buffer zones in and around live-fire training areas to reduce the risk of fire from trainingactivities;• Manipulating the composition of existing plant communities;• Enhancing or creating specific wildlife habitats; and• Controlling noxious weeds.Fires occurring in impact areas will have a let-burn suppression strategy. Roads, firebreaks, or naturalbarriers will be sufficient to contain the fire. Safety considerations should be given to all areas within0.5 mile of impact areas. These areas may also impose safety hazards to firefighters due to live, unexplodedordnance or incendiaries within or adjacent to these areas.Approximately 72 miles of firebreaks encompass FTC. They are maintained by removing the vegetation3 to 4 times annually. This practice has resulted in fugitive dust and soil erosion problems, aswell as an increased maintenance cost. There are numerous eroded areas along firebreaks that haveresulted from the removal of vegetation.Fire History and Firefighting ResourcesThe FTC Fire Department provides DECAM wildland fire personnel annual fire shelter and Standardsof Survival Training. In addition, DECAM wildland fire personnel annually attend at least one courseoffered by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. The DECAM provides training to Fire Departmentpersonnel on chainsaw safety and use. Both departments work together to keep abreast of currenttechniques, training, and equipment.The DECAM coordinates and consults with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, federal andstate agencies, universities, DPW, the FTC Fire Department, local land owners, or any other agencyor organization that will have concerns or input. Applicable permits, such as an air quality burningpermit or Section 404 permit, will be acquired prior to any fire management activity. FTC has cooperativeagreements with the Colorado Springs Fire Department, El Paso County, and the USFS toprovide mutual aid for the suppression of wildland fires on the installation and surrounding area.The Directorate of Emergency Services operates the FTC Fire Department, and includes the PCMS.FTC maintains mutual aid agreements with several cities in the area (e.g., Colorado Springs Fire Departmentand El Paso County) as well as a mutual firefighting assistance agreement with the NorthAmerican Aerospace Defense Command. These mutual aid agreements include both FTC and PCMS.Directorate of Plans, Training, and Mobilization (DPTM), and DECAM personnel provide assistancewith wildland fire suppression.February 2008 3–148 2/25th SBCT Final EIS