Section 1565.50  Conducting Prescribed Burns

a)         In order to ensure the safety of personnel and the public, a certified prescribed burn manager shall be present at the scene of all prescribed burns except where the landowner is conducting prescribed burning on his or her own lands or on the lands of another with the landowner's permission as authorized by Illinois law.

b)         The certified prescribed burn manager shall obtain guidance from the National Weather Service (NWS) in identifying Fire Weather Watch and Red Flag Warning conditions available through the regional NWS offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency. The determination by NWS of Fire Weather Watch and Red Flag Warning conditions for a designated area will require that the certified prescribed burn manager and other personnel exercise elevated caution during those conditions.

c)         The certified prescribed burn manager is responsible for reviewing and implementing the burn prescription, reviewing it with the burn personnel and the timely completion of the prescribed burn report. The certified prescribed burn manager shall discuss emergency procedures and plans with burn personnel and modify procedures and contingency plans if necessary. 

d)         In the case of an escaped fire, the certified prescribed burn manager or his or her designee shall assess burn personnel status, contact outside agencies if necessary, and share information (e.g., aerial photos, burn prescription, resources available and access routes) with other agencies at the scene.  A certified prescribed burn manager shall serve as Incident Commander and remain in command until command is transferred to another qualified person. The certified prescribed burn manager may serve in a Unified Command or relinquish Incident Command authority to other firefighting authorities at his or her discretion. 

e)         When a person is conducting prescribed burning on his or her own lands or on lands of another with the landowner's permission, the person shall have a written burn prescription, make the notifications described in Section 1565.40, and conduct the burn as described in Section 1565.50(b) and (c).

f)         Where applicable, persons shall follow guidance from the Illinois EPA concerning Illinois' Smoke Management Plan (SMP), including avoiding prescribed burns on "Air Pollution Action Days" as defined in the SMP or in consultation with the Illinois EPA.