N.M. Admin. Code § 19.20.5.9

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 20, October 22, 2024

Section 19.20.5.9 - REQUIREMENTS FOR PILE BURN MANAGER CERTIFICATION

A. Individuals shall successfully complete the following requirements before applying for pile burn manager certification, unless receiving waivers or reciprocity pursuant to Subsections B or C of 19.20.5.9 NMAC. Individuals shall successfully complete the requirement in Paragraph (2) of Subsection A of 19.20.5.9 NMAC, before applying for pile burn manager certification if receiving a partial waiver pursuant to Subsection D of 19.20.5.9 NMAC.

(1) Prior to beginning the proficiency requirement in Paragraph (3) of Subsection A of 19.20.5.9 NMAC, individuals may complete the NWCG S-110 basic wildland fire orientation (15 minutes online) or other substitute orientation approved by the division. Any supplemental materials, such as videos the division may develop, or substitute orientation, will be made available and posted on the division's website.

(2) Individuals shall complete (passing score of seventy percent or better) the nine-element course, which may be an online or in-person training course.

(3) Individuals shall successfully complete the proficiency requirement, which consists of burning experience in the role of pile burn manager, which shall include demonstration of general knowledge of fire behavior, weather, holding, fire techniques, control lines, smoke management, firing devices, tools and equipment. Successful demonstration of those elements shall be documented in a division approved proficiency workbook. The burning experience must be documented in the proficiency workbook by

(a) a pile burn manager certified pursuant to 19.20.5.9 NMAC;

(b) division personnel; or

(c) an individual with at least NWCG prescribed burn boss type 3 qualifications.

B. Upon satisfactory review of their qualification documents by the committee, the division may grant pile burn manager certification by waiver to individuals with the following qualifications:

(1) NWCG qualifications for single resource boss or above that are current or have lapsed within the past five years; or

(2) a nationally recognized structural firefighter I in accordance with national fire protection association (NFPA) 1001 with wildland fire training or experience that includes at least S-190 wildland fire behavior or NFPA equivalencies; and

(3) completion (passing score of seventy percent or better) of the following modules from the nine-element course specified in Subsection A of 19.20.5.11 NMAC: legal requirements, smoke management and permitting.

C. Reciprocity.

(1) The division may conduct a review of another state's certified prescribed burn manager program and post a list of states that the division grants reciprocity for pile burn manager certification on the division's website. Applicants from a state for which the division has granted reciprocity shall provide proof of a current certification in a reciprocity state. Applicants from a state for which the division has granted reciprocity shall complete (passing score of seventy percent or better) the following modules from the nine-element course specified in Subsection A of 19.20.5.11 NMAC: legal requirements, smoke management and permitting.

(2) The committee shall determine whether an applicant who is not certified in a state on the reciprocity list qualifies for reciprocity based on proof of certification in that other state and successful completion of course work, field experience, proficiency requirements or other requirements that state requires for certification. An applicant for reciprocity of pile burn manager certification issued in another state not on the reciprocity list shall

(a) complete (passing score of seventy percent or better) the nine-element course;

(b) provide proof of certification in the other state; and

(c) provide proof of successful completion of the course work, field experience, proficiency requirements or other requirements that state requires for certification.

D. An individual who has prior prescribed burn manager experience, but who is not certified in another state as a prescribed burn manager, who does not possess NWCG qualifications for single resource boss or above that are current or have lapsed within the past five years or who is not qualified as a nationally recognized structural firefighter I in accordance with national fire protection association (NFPA) 1001 with wildland fire training or experience that includes at least S-190 wildland fire behavior or NFPA equivalencies, may apply for a waiver of the proficiency requirement in Paragraph (3) of Subsection A of 19.20.5.9 NMAC.

(1) An applicant shall provide a letter or other written documentation from a pile or broadcast burn manager certified pursuant to 19.20.5 NMAC, an individual with at least NWCG prescribed burn boss type 3 qualifications or a certified prescribed burn manager from another state on the division reciprocity list attesting they have observed the applicant conducting pile burns as a pile burn manager and the applicant has satisfactorily conducted pile burns as a pile burn manager and demonstrated the proficiency requirement in Paragraph (3) of Subsection A of 19.20.5.9 NMAC.

(2) The committee shall review the documentation of the applicant's prescribed burn manager experience to determine if the applicant meets the proficiency requirement in Paragraph (3) of Subsection A of 19.20.5.9 NMAC. If the committee determines the applicant's prior experience meets the proficiency requirement in Paragraph (3) of Subsection A of 19.20.5.9 NMAC, the division shall waive the proficiency requirement in Paragraph (3) of Subsection A of 19.20.5.9 NMAC and the requirements in Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of 19.20.5.9 NMAC. Applicants seeking a partial waiver under Subsection D of 19.20.5.9 NMAC shall complete (passing score of seventy percent or better) the nine-element course.

E. The renewal of pile burn manager certification is required every five years with completion of a division approved refresher course (not to exceed eight hours) that is available online. Certified pile burn managers shall provide documentation they have taken the refresher course to the division. If they fail to take the refresher course or to provide proof to the division, the division shall suspend their certification and provide written notification.

F. To obtain recertification after the division has suspended their certification, individuals shall take a refresher course and conduct at least one day of supervised burning by a pile or broadcast burn manager certified pursuant to 19.20.5 NMAC, division personnel or an individual with at least NWCG prescribed burn boss type 3 qualifications. Individuals seeking recertification shall provide documentation the individual has completed both requirements to the division.

N.M. Admin. Code § 19.20.5.9

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11, June 13, 2023, eff. 6/13/2023