Section 1565.20  Certified Prescribed Burn Manager

a)         A certified prescribed burn manager performs the following activities:

1)         writes and/or approves burn prescriptions as described in Section 1565.30;

2)         serves as the direct supervisor of the burn personnel at the scene of a prescribed burn and is responsible for implementing a burn prescription as described in Section 1565.40; and

3)         supervises and trains an apprentice prescribed burn manager as described in Section 1565.20(c). 

b)         To become a certified prescribed burn manager, a person must complete the following requirements and have a valid Illinois Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Certificate issued by the Department pursuant to Section 1565.70.

1)         Successfully complete:

A)        the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group Wildland Fire Training Courses or equivalents:

i)          Basic Incident Command System (I-100);

ii)         Fire Fighter Training (S-130); and

iii)        Wildland Fire Behavior (S-190); or

B)        a specialized Illinois Prescribed Burning Manager Course that incorporates pertinent information in the courses listed in subsection (b)(1)(A), along with information on prescribed burning in Illinois that has been approved by the Board;

2)         Participate in five prescribed burns that will be documented on a form provided by the Department and known as the Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Application;

3)         Successfully complete two prescribed burns as an apprentice prescribed burn manager under the supervision of a certified prescribed burn manager;

4)         Submit the following to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Attention: Prescribed Burn Manager Certification, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield IL 62702-1271:

A)        A Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Application (the "Application" described in (b)(2) above);

B)        A $50 fee (State of Illinois employees are exempt from the fee); and

C)        Copies of all course certificates and relevant prescribed burn prescriptions, training and burn logs, signed Prescribed Fire Burn Manager Apprentice Task Book, and prescribed burn report forms or an affidavit described in Section 1565.20(d) for the burns required in Section 1565.20(b)(3) documenting the experience and apprenticeship.

c)         To become an apprentice, a person must apply to the Department in writing and be accepted by a certified prescribed burn manager who will agree to supervise the training in conducting the burn.  An apprentice prescribed burn manager shall assume the functions of a certified prescribed burn manager during a burn under the direct supervision of a certified prescribed burn manager. An apprentice shall sign the prescribed burn report as the "apprentice prescribed burn manager" and note his or her experience on the Application. The certified prescribed burn manager supervising the apprentice shall also provide an evaluation of the performance of the apprentice and certify the successful completion of the burn by the apprentice on the Prescribed Fire Burn Manager Apprentice Task Book. 

d)         Prior to December 31, 2015, persons who have submitted an affidavit along with their Application attesting to their participation in at least seven burns, including at least five at which they have served as the prescribed burn manager prior to November 1, 2009, shall be considered to have completed the apprenticeship and experience requirements.

e)         Persons who hold certifications from other states whose training meets or exceeds the requirements of this Part can receive an Illinois Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Certificate by submitting an Application, proof of certification in another state and the $50 fee to: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Attention:  Prescribed Burn Manager Certification, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield IL 62702-1271.

f)         Persons who have received the certification as a Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 or Type 2, known as RXB1 or RXB2 respectively, under the NIIMS Wildland Fire Qualification System, can receive an Illinois Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Certificate by submitting an Application, proof of the RXB1 or RXB2 certification and the $50 fee to:  Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Attention: Prescribed Burn Manager Certification, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield IL 62702-1271.

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 13241, effective June 22, 2018)