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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.0 Condition 12-11.30.12November 30,2012 Kathy Eastley, AICP Senior Planner Garfield County Building and Planning 108 8th Street, #401 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Dear Kathy, Resolution 2012-15 Condition 12 (dated 2/21/12) outlines the requirement for an Emergency Management Plan to include evacuation information, safety issues and any existing or proposed mitigation measures, and medical emergency plan for Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. Since the Resolution, we have worked closely with Ron Biggers, Glenwood Springs Deputy Fire Marshal to develop a plan in order meet the requirements. We have consulted with the following professionals to assist with the research, analysis and development of the Emergency Management Plan: Deputy Fire Marshal, Ron Biggers; Life Safety and Fire Protection Engineer, Deborah Shaner (Shaner Life Safety); Wild Fire Management, Chris White (Anchor Point); Amusement Park Consultant, John Pierce (Comspeq Consulting, Inc.); underground specialist, Rick Baptista, (Blackwing); and Park Owner, Steve Beckley (Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park). We have also conducted extensive fire mitigation through clear cutting the Southwest hillside. I have attached the analysis and the Emergency Management Plan which satisfies the requirement as outlined by Resolution 2012-15. However, we are only able to provide the Emergency Management Plan in DRAFT form at this time. We expect to have this plan in its final form by the end of December 31,2012. Please review and let me know if this is acceptable to you. Nancy Heard Operations Manager Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park 51000 Two Rivers Plaza Road Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Phone (970) 379-9704 Owner: Steve Beckley Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Emergency Management Plan Operations Manager: Nancy Heard Authority Having Jurisdiction: Glenwood Spring Fire Department Report Prepared by: Deborah Shaner, P.E. Date: 11/28/12 (DRAFT) General Information Park Description Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is a amusement park and extensive cave system located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The park is accessed by a 4,300-foot Gondola ride which takes visitors to the top of Iron Mountain. The Park includes a variety of attractions which include: • Cavern/Cave Tour • Alpine Coaster • Roller Coaster • Zip Line • Giant Swing • Visitor Center with Restaurant • Child play areas • 3-D Theater • Laser Tag The Visitor Center is approximately 14,500 square feet and consists of 3 levels (Lower, Main, Upper). This building is the main structure located at the park and houses a variety of uses including: • Tram Station • Restaurant/Kitchen • Laser Tag • Theater • Offices • Gift Shop The Maintenance Shop is located at the gate entrance off of Transfer Trail. This building is approximately 1800 square feet and houses storage, general maintenance equipment and tools. There are two fuel tanks outside of this building. Other buildings/structures are very small and are used for storage and/or to house small attractions (i.e. photo booth, concession stand, ticket counter). Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is open year round. During the high season, approximately 1000 people per day visit the park. In low season, numbers drop substantially. The park employs approximately 100 people. Basis of Emergency Plan This emergency plan is intended to present general procedures and protocols for emergency response, provide an overview of equipment, features and life safety systems and present recommendations for improvements. The basis of the report assumes certain emergency conditions. Potential emergency events that can be expected at the park include: • Forest Fire • Facility Fire • Tram Derailment (procedures are already in place) • Medical Emergency • Weather Emergency A supplemental report has been prepared by Anchor Point which includes a "Time Until Fire Arrival" Study. This is attached as an Appendix. The information contained in this report provides a basis for the time expected between the start of a wildfire in nearby areas and the time it would take to reach. This timeline provides a basis for making a decision to evacuate or defend in place. Access There are two main access routes to the park, the Gondola and Transfer Trail. The gondola ride is approximately 12 minutes and is a leisurely ride from the Base Station/Ticket Counter to the Upper Tram Deck at the entrance to the park. The Gondola is a fairly unreliable evacuat'lon route and/or access route in the event of an emergency response situation. Though it is on emergency power, the ride is slow and can be stop and go depending on conditions. In addition, in poor weather conditions including high wind, lightning and storms, the Gondola will be shut down, as travel is not safe. Note that tram derailment procedures are already in place. The tram power is backed up with a diesel generator. Transfer Trail is the only access road into the park. This road is dirt/gravel and originates at the base of the Gondola. The road (from the main turnoff) is approximately 2.5 miles and takes 10-12 minutes to drive using a comfortable pace. The road is well maintained year round. The facility has buses available to transport passengers down the mountain in the event that the tram is shut down or unusable. All emergency access (Le. fire department, ambulance) uses Transfer Trail to enter the park. In addition to motorized access, Boy Scout Trail does provide pedestrian access. Though the park is accessible on foot, this trail is steep and not maintained year round. It is not recommended as a path of egress or emergency access. Emergency Plan Information Emergency Response Overview Glenwood Cavern's Management is developing emergency response procedures. There will be two main options in the event on an emergency, 1) Evacuation or 2) Defend in Place. Evacuation would be preferred, but will only occur if it is safe to do so in an allotted amount of time. Evacuation may be by Gondola, Transfer Trail or a combination of both. Defend in place will consist of moving occupants to a shelter paint and waiting out any emergency condition. Assumptions Several assumptions have been made in determining emergency response procedures. 1) Glenwood Springs Fire Department will respond via Transfer Trail in the event of a Park Fire. 2) Glenwood Springs Fire Department will not respond to the park in the event of a Wildfire that threatens the integrity of Transfer Trail. 3) Water supply will be available to the Fire Department at all times. 4) Patrons will follow staff direction. Those that do not and attempt to self evacuate will not be the responsibility of staff. S) Per the Anchor Point report, a wildfire could reach the park within 30 minutes. This number is being used as the worst case timeline for decision making. Emergency Assembly Point The Main Plaza area will be designated at the Emergency Assembly Point. In the event of an emergency, trained staff will be available at this area to direct patrons on emergency procedures. Mass notification audible directions will direct visitors to this area in most cases. Designated Emergency Personnel Glenwood Caverns management has designated certain personnel as emergency response personnel during an event. The Incident Commander will be the main point of contact and will direct communication with authorities, patrons and other staff. Designated staff will be responsible for performing equipment/attraction shutdown, directing patrons to evacuation routes and sweeping specific areas (zones). Each zone will be secured during emergency procedures by Zone Commanders, who will report directly to the Incident Commander. Emergency Equipment/Communications Several systems are in place to assist with operations during an emergency. These include: 1. Radios: This is the most important system for staff communication and must be reliable and operational at all times. Staff will be well trained in radio communication and procedures will be in place to ensure effective communication. 2. Fire Alarm System: This is present in the Visitor's Center and provides both an automatic and manual means for contacting the fire department. 3. Weather Stations: These computer workstations provide detailed weather information and can assist staff by providing valuable information on incoming weather conditions. Emergency Shelter Point The cave is proposed to be the emergency shelter point in the event that park evacuation is not possible. The cave can accommodate up to 1500 people comfortably. The year round temperature is 52 degrees F. Several improvements are noted in the Recommendations Section of the report. If evacuation is deemed impossible or dangerous or if there is simply not enough time to evacuate, patrons and staff will be directed to the cave for shelter. The cave is well ventilated and provides a safe place to wait out weather related or wildfire type emergencies. It will take approximately 20 minutes to evacuate all patrons into the cave. Life Safety Systems: Description of park features which facilitate effective emergency response Fire Alarm The Visitor's Center is equipped with a fire alarm system which is up to date and well maintained. It provides a manual and automatic means for contacting the fire department. Mass Notification A sitewide paging/speaker system is provided. This system is absolutely key in effective communication to visitors. Refer to the recommendations sections for proposed improvements. Fire Sprinklers The Visitor's Center is fully sprinklered. A fire department connection is provided on the exterior of the bUilding. Water Supply The park is equipped with a 70,000 gallon tank used for everyday domestic water use as well as firefighting water. Approximate park water usage is 1000 gallons per day in the winter and up to 5000 gallons per day in the summer. The tank fills through pumped water which is brought up through piping installed on the Gondola track. Filling rate is 30 gallons per minute. The tank is attached to a hydrant, centrally located in the Main Plaza area. This is dedicated for firefighting and is adjacent to the fire truck staging area. Refer to NFPA 1142 analysis for demonstration of water supply adequacy. Weather Monitoring The park is equipped with advanced weather monitoring stations located at the top and bottom of Gondola. These computer stations provide detailed information on incoming storms, wind speed, lighting presence, precipitation and temperature. This information is extremely useful in foreseeing weather related events and preparing staff for proper response. Recommendations Staff Training Basic emergency response training for staff is recommended, particularly for those who will assume roles during an emergency. Types of training include: • Basic First Aid • Emergency Fire Responder • CPR • Basic Wildfire Training Site Improvements A second fire hydrant located near the maintenance building at the gate entrance from Transfer Trail has been requested by the Glenwood Springs Fire Department. This is a sound request and an excellent recommendation for improving fire department response. Currently, the only water source for the fire department at the park is the hydrant located in the main plaza area. This is an excellent location and provides central access to most buildings and attractions. However, the fire department is required to drive through part of the park to access it. Depending on the location of the fire or hazard, the hydrant could be inaccessible. A hydrant closer to the entrance could ensure better access to the water supply. A water level monitor is recommended for the water supply tank to ensure an adequate water supply for firefighting is provided at all times. Some fire fuel mitigation has been completed in the areas surrounding the park. It is recommended that this continues and is an ongoing process. Additional mitigation is recommended along the roadside of Transfer Trail. Fire breaks could be created at all property lines to isolate the owner's land from adjacent properties. This requires complete removal of brush, trees and other fuel along the property line. A recommended fire break is 20 feet. Communication with Authorities Consider integrating radios with fire department and emergency response personnel for both medical and fire type events. Signage Emergency signage needs substantial improvement. There are several options for achieving this. Obvious signage noting "Evacuation Route" could be installed along the path of egress. If the aesthetics of the park environment are of concern, consider an alternative method of signage. Discreet labels (in the form of arrows, leaves, paw prints, etc) could mark routes. Mass notification announcements will alert patrons and instruct them to follow the paths of evacuation. Backup Power Provide backup power for the following systems: • Radios • Paging/mass notification • Alpine Coaster return line • Weather station information Mass Notification The existing paging system is ideal in concept, but is poorly executed in its existing state. There are multiple dead spots in the pedestrian path areas specifically between attractions. In addition, intelligibility is poor in most areas. The paging system is extremely important in executing an effective, safe, timely evacuation/emergency response procedure. Therefore, it is recommended that a contractor who specializes in mass notification and intelligibility be contacted to provide a proposal to upgrade the system. The mass notification system should have the following features: 1) Intelligibility to all park visitors within the public path areas 2) Backup power supply through batteries or generator 3) Ability for multiple prerecorded messages to accommodate a variety of emergency responses including park evacuation, movement to shelter point, weather advisories, staff communication and general public communication. Mass notification system could also include visual displays. TV screens throughout the park could serve a dual purpose of notifying patrons of daily park events and specials and could transform to notification of instructions in the event of an emergency. Shelter Point Improvements The cave is certainly capable of containing the maximum number of expected park attendees. However, there are a few recommended improvements to ensure ultimate comfort and safety of guests. Effective, safe people movement within the cave and its access points is key to executing timely movement of patrons into the shelter. Lighting: Emergency lighting within the cave needs improvement. During normal cave operation, the existing lighting is sufficient and understandable considering the circumstances. During tours, movement is slow, deliberate and guided. However, stairs and footing is irregular and fast people movement would be difficult, particularly with the conditions often observed in an emergency condition. Additional emergency lighting is recommended to be used only in the event of an Emergency Response. Door Holders: The cave is accessed by two separate entrances, upper and lower. At the lower entrance, a corridor must be traveled in order to access the cave. There are two sets of double doors which are cumbersome in the event of a substantial number of people entering for shelter. It is recommended that door hold open hardware be installed so the doors can be propped open during evacuation into the cave. Comfort Items: The demographic of park patrons varies. During an emergency condition, park visitors could be susceptible to altitude sickness, anxiety, slow mobility, dehydration, heat stroke or hypothermia depending on the season. Weather related emergencies could cause patrons to enter the cave wet and cold or overheated. To lessen the risk of patrons succumbing to issues during an emergency condition it is recommended that the following be stored in the cave: Water Food (i.e. granola bars, protein bars) Blankets First Aid Kit Towels Flashlights Visitor Information Park Visitors do not need to have complete knowledge of emergency procedures prior to visiting the park. However, effective communication with them during an evacuation is important for success. Providing basic emergency information on park maps or main directories could be useful. Simple information such as, "In the event of an emergency, staff will direct your evacuation. Please meet in Main Plaza area for information". Also, verbiage could be added to the Activities Waiver indicating that visitors are responsible for following staff direction in the event of an emergency. Failure to do so puts them at risk. Appendices Appendix #1: Drawings/Diagrams Appendix #2: Photos Appendix #3: Estimation of evacuation time (or time to achieve movement of guests into safe shelter within the park) Appendix #4: NFPA 1142 Analysis Appendix #5: Fire Department Interview Notes Appendix #6: AnchorPoint Report Appendix #2: Photos View from Viewing Platform near Giant Swing. Foot access is not recommended. People on one available cave platform/gathering area Stair access to shelter points within cave Typical cave lighting, another shelter area within cave Large platform in cave, recommended as staging area for distributing supplies Cave shelter point access. Recommend door hold open devices during evacuation to assist in effective people movement. Corridor access to shelter point Exterior access point to cave Main Plaza to be designated as Emergency Assembly Point. I· ic walkway, well maintained for people movement. Bus queue for vehicle evacuation. Transfer Trail road access. Alternate view of Transfer Trail Maintenance Building. Another typical public walkway. Tram loading area. Gondola track Appendix #5: Fire Department Interview Notes On November 8, 2012, an interview was conducted with Ron Biggers with the Glenwood Springs Fire Department to review fire department response protocols. Notes from the interview are as follows: The fire department will respond with a water tender truck, a standard fire engine or a pumper truck. Aerial or ladder trucks will not respond. The water tender will provide 1800 gallons of water. The pump can provide 1250 gpm at pressure. Fire department response will be via Transfer Trail. The fire department has access to 4 wheel drive vehicles. A second hydrant location has been requested by the fire department. The fire department is concerned that adequate water supply is not provided. Refer to the NFPA 1142 analysis for water supply data. The existing fire department connection on the Main Building is obstructed by fencing and other objects. Fire departments requests clearing of area around fire department connection. Fire department requests that integrity of fire truck turnaround be maintained. During development of staff training options, consider Basic Wildfire Training and Emergency Responder training. If a bunker is provided, the fire department suggests storage of basic firefighting equipment including high rise packs, hose packs, tools (axe, shovel). Extra fire extinguishers are also recommended. Initial response will be from Station #1. Firefighters will be ready in 1-2 minutes. Trip up transfer trail is +/-15-20 minutes. Consider dry standpipes for future park expansion. Consider utilizing a multiuse ATV for evacuation, emergency response and equip it with a backboard stretcher. APPENDIX A: METHODOLOGY The Time Until Fire Arrival'" (TUFA), developed by Anchor Point, is designed to predict the time it would take a fire to spread to the NEAREST edge of a value-at-risk (road and facilities/tram, in this case), regardless of where the ignition occurs. This analysis is based on rate of spread prediction from FlamMap (see below). The analysis takes into account the possibility that the quickest route between an ignition and a value at risk may not be a straight line. It is, however, the fastest based on rate of spread predictions over the various potential paths between the values at risk and every cell on the map. This method may represent an overestimation of arrival times (quicker than actual) due to assumptions inherent in the modeling software. This over-estimation is an effort to err on the side of caution when pre-planning for potentially life-threatening situations. The FlamMap fire mapping and analysis system (Finney 2006; Stratton 2006) is a PCbased program that describes potential fire behavior for constant environmental conditions (weather and fuel moisture). Fire behavior is calculated for each pixel within the landscape independently, so FlamMap does not calculate dynamic fire spread across a landscape. Potential fire behavior calculations include surface fire spread (Rothermel 1972), crown fire initiation (Van Wagner 1977), and crown fire spread (Rothermel 199 1). Dead fuel moisture is calculated using the Nelson model (Nelson 2000) and FlamMap permits conditioning of dead fuels in each pixel based on slope, shading, elevation, aspect, and weather. Fire Family Plus is a comprehensive Windows-based program that analyzes and summarizes an integrated database of fire weather and fire occurrence. It combines the functionality of the programs PCFIRDAT, PC SEASON, FIRES, and CLIMATOLOGY. FFP+ can be used to calculate fire danger rating indices and components, summarize both fire and weather data, and offers options to jointly analyze fire and weather data. The program can display data, compute values, and statistically analyze data in graph or report form. For the TUFATM, Fire Family Plus was used to analyze climatological data used in FlamMap. Areas of concern in this study were selected based on potential evacuation scenarios. For the first TUFATM map, the access road to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park was used as the destination area for wildfire approach. For the second map, the Adventure Park facilities and the tram infrastructure were used. MODELING LIMITATIONS AND DISCUSSION All models have assumptions and limitations. Modeling results should always be used with caution and with as much understanding of the weaknesses as possible. Only trained individuals should interpret the outputs for best results. Weather conditions are extremely variable and all possible combinations cannot be accounted for. These outputs are best used for pre-planning and not as a stand-alone product for tactical planning. Whenever possible, fire behavior calculations should be 1 1 1 done with actual weather observations during the fire. The most current Energy Release Component (ERC) values should also be calculated and distributed during the fire season to be used as a guideline for fire behavior potential. Crown fire activity, rate of spread, fl ame length and time until fire arrival are derived from fire behavior predictions. A limitation ofFlamMap is that crown fire is not calcu lated for shrub models. The best method of determining the probability of crown fire in shrubs is to look at the flame length outputs and assume that if the fl ame length is greater than Y, the height of the plant, it will likely torch and/or crown. TUFATM maps account only for rates of spread associated wi th surface fire movement. A wildfire can move faster than the modeled rates if conditions are extreme enough for wide-spread spotting ahead of the flaming front. If such conditions are encountered, planning associated with TUFA ™ should be considered conservative. REFERENCE WEATHER USED IN THE POTENTIAL FIRE BEHAVIOR EVALUATION Climate and fuel moisture inputs for FlamMap were created by using data collected from a Remote Automated Weather Station (RA WS). The Storm King RAWS was used to capture the climate for the project. It is in proximity of the study area and would give a good representation of extreme weather scenarios. Latitude (dd.ddddd) 1139.57306° N 1 Longitude (dd.ddddd) 11107.4189° W 1 Elevation (feet) 118640 1 Table I. Storm Kmg RAWS (05 1508) mformahon. Extreme Weather Conditions 20 ft Wind Speed 15 from the west Herbaceous Fuel Moisture 31 Woody Fuel Moisture 61 I-hr Fuel Moisture 3 lO-hr Fuel Moisture 3 100-hr Fuel Moisture 5 Table 2. Input wmd and fuel mOIsture parameters Landscape File Layers A landscape file (.LCP) is a series of spatial layers that are required to run FlamMap. The following layers were downloaded from LAND FIRE Version 1.1.01: Elevation Aspect Slope Fuel-related variable were customized for the study area. Vegetation was mapped using aerial photography and the following variables were assigned to the resulting polygons: Fuel Model Canopy Cover Stand Height Crown Base Height Crown Bulk Density WInds Wind directions were chosen based on historic wind directions during the worst of the fire season (June, July and August). Daytime winds were found to be predominantly from the west during these months. Windspeed was analyzed using data from the Storm King RAWS as calculated in Fire Family Plus. Fuel Molstures Dead fuel moisture responds solely to ambient environmental conditions and is critical in determining fire potential. Dead fuel moistures are classed by time lag. A fuel's timelag is proportional to its diameter and is loosely defined as the time it takes a fuel particle to reach two-thirds of its progress toward equilibrium with its local environment. Dead fuels in the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) fall into four classes: 1, 10, 100, and 1000 hour2. Pre-conditioning of fuel moistures was calculated for this scenario. The models calculate separate dead fuel moistures for each landscape cell based on the topography and shading from forest canopy cover and clouds, as well as the recorded weather (precipitation, high and low temperatures and high and low relative humidity values) for the previous four days. The dead fuel moistures that have been calculated by the start date and time of the analysis are what are used to determine the outputs in fire behavior models. Live fuel moisture is the amount of water in a fuel, expressed as a percent of the oven-dry weight of that fuel. Fuel moisture between 300% and 30% is considered live. Anything below 30% is considered dead fuel. Fuel moistures can exceed 100% because the living cells can expand beyond their normal size to hold more water when available. I "LANDFIRE," 8 June 2011, <www.iandfire.goY> 2 U.S, National Fire Danger Rating System Overview: INT-GTR-367 -FIRES: Fire Infonnation Retrieval and Evaluation System -a Program for Fire Danger Rating Analysis Fuels Vegetation is converted into fuel models in order to run the calculations. Figure I is a map showing the fuel models present in the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park area. GRI is grass model I and represents short grass in the area. SH5 and SH7 are shrub models. SH5 is the model used to represent Pinyon-Juniper woodland while SH7 was used to represent Gambel Oak. TU I was used to represent both Aspen and riparian forest. TL3 was used to represent Douglas-Fir stands. Fuel Model Non-combustibre GR' . 5H5 o 0.75 . 5H7 . ,U' . TL3 N A Time Until Fire Arrival Study for the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park November 21,2012 AN[HORPOINT WILDLAND ARE SOLUTIONS © 2012 Anchor Point Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ANALYSIS AND RESULTS The Time Until Fire Arrival™ (TUFA), developed by Anchor Point, is designed to predict the time it would take a fire to spread to the NEAREST edge of a value-at-risk (road and facilities/tram, in this case), regardless of where the ignition occurs. This analysis is based on rate of spread prediction from FlamMap (see below). The analysis takes into account the possibility that the quickest route between an ignition and a value at risk may not be a straight line. It is, however, the fastest based on rate of spread predictions over the various potential paths between the values at risk and every cell on the map. This method may represent an overestimation of arrival times (quicker than actual) due to assumptions inherent in the modeling software. This over-estimation is an effort to err on the side of caution when pre-planning for potentially life-threatening situations. The values at risk chosen were the Glenwood Caverns Adventure park facilities with the Tram and the Transfer Trail road. The tram and road are the primary evacuation methods that are to be considered in case of wildfire. Specific analysis of every point potentially affected is not feasible, but general interpretations of the outputs are discussed below. There are three primary factors that dictate the behavior of a wildland fire: Fuels-The available vegetation (fuel) in the area. This area has two volatile fuel types that are known for their high rates of spread. Pinyon pine/Juniper stands will typically burn only when the wind is blowing steadily. When they burn it moves through the crowns of the trees and creates embers ahead of the main fire. Gamble Oak has similar characteristics, however does not generate as many embers. Both of these fuels have volatile oils that burn very hot and are difficult to extinguish. This vegetation is found mostly in the lower elevations on drier sites. The aspen and Douglas fir stands typically have very low fire behavior and low rates of spread. Aspen is usually considered a natural fire break because it will not carry fire into the crowns and fire will creep through the understory. Douglas fir stands are cooler, moister and get less sun so they are not as likely to burn intensely except under drought conditions. If drought conditions exist they can burn intensely and transition to crown fire making suppression difficult. Most of the Douglas fir and Aspen is above the facility. Weather -The climatological conditions such as wind, temperature, relative humidity and fuel moistures that contribute to fire behavior. The weather scenario was derived from historical data sets filtered during the worst of the fire season (June, July and August). This provided the wind speed, direction and fuel moistures derived from temperature and humidity. The Glenwood Springs area has a history of fast moving wind driven fires in the summer. A wind of 15 mph from the west was used, as well as, accompanying live and dead fuel moisture profiles. A more complete explanation of the methodology and assumptions can be found in appendix A. Topography-Factors such as aspect, elevation and slope. Fuel moisutres wi ll vary by aspect and elevation. Steeper slopes will increase the rate of spread of a fire uphill and decrease downhill. The study area has very steep slopes surrounding it. Increases from 30% to 60% slope 2 can double the rate of spread of the fire. Some of the steepest slopes are to the south and south east of the facilities. Narrow canyons will also increase the rate of spread. It is important to interpret the TUFA results properly. When looking at time segments, it should be read as WITHIN that time frame. So if the fire was within the 1 hour time segment it means that it would take 1 hour or LESS. The wider the time segment bands the faster the rate of spread. The calculations are done as individual cells of fire. An actual fire would have more dynamic fire spread across a landscape and not always move directly from the ignition point to the value at risk. The model does not calculate embers, which could create fires ahead of the main fire. Park facilitieslTram An ignition from most points along Highway 6 and the Transfer Trail would impact the facility and Tram within 30 minutes. The combination of extremely steep slopes and very volatile vegetation create a very fast moving fire. This would not allow enough time to evacuate using the Tram. While the flames may not impact the Tram directly, the smoke would be very heavy and could create static charge in the lines. Smoke would also be a major concern on the facility itself. A fire west of Oasis Creek drainage would take 3 hours or more to impact the facility. The drainage would slow down a fire because of the riparian vegetation in the bottom. However, the narrower the drainage the more likely that embers could loft across it to the east. It would be possible to use the Tram to evacuate people until the fire reached the creek. It would be critical to monitor the fire and cease using the Tram once the fire reached Oasis Creek. A fire above the facility to the north as far as the mine still would not allow enough time for evacuation. The steep slopes and drainages all align towards the facility. 3 TUFA (Facilities and Tram) o Source _ 2.5 -3.0 _ 3.5 -4.0 ~ <0.5 _ 3.0-3.5 _ 4.0-4.5 00.5 -1.0 01.5 -2.0 . 4.5 -5.0 01.0-1.5 0 2.0-2.5 .>5.0 o 0.5 1 1~ Figure 1 TUFA ana lys is of park fac ilities and Tram N A 4 Tram Trail The results for the road are very similar to the facility analysis. An ignition from most points along Highway 6 would impact Transfer Trail within 30 minutes except for the most southeast area where it would be between 30-60 minutes. The same combination of extremely steep slopes and volatile vegetation create a very fast moving fire. It would not be feasible to use the road to evacuate when there is fire below. The combination of fire, smoke and heat would be too intense to survive in a vehicle. Smoke would be a major impact long before the fire reached the road. A fire west of Oasis Creek drainage would take 3 hours or more to reach the creek but once it crossed in the lower area it would impact the road within 30 minutes. It would be possible to use the road to evacuate people until the fire reached the creek. Again, it would be critical to monitor the fire and cease using the road once the fire reached Oasis Creek. TUFA (Road) o Source _ 2.5 -3.0 ~ <0.5 . 3.0-3.5 00.5-1.0 01.5-2.0 01.0-1.502.0-2.5 o 0.5 1 _ 3.5-4.0 _ 4.0-4.5 . 4.5-5.0 .>5.0 1.5 N A 5 In both cases, volatile fuels, steep slopes and drainage alignment are conducive to fire behavior that would be extreme around the values at risk. Fires to the far north would have less chance of impacting the area, as they would have to move downhill and are in fuels that are less volatile. Unless the fire is west of Oasis Creek it would not be recommended to evacuate the facility or use the road. 6