Mt. Hopkins Fire Response Plan 2020 - MMT Observatory

Mt. Hopkins Fire Response

Plan 2020

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Mt. Hopkins Fire Response Plan

Nogales Ranger District Coronado National Forest

Table of Contents and Signature Page

Table of Contents and Signature page………………………………Page 1

Objectives and fire reporting………………………………………. Telephone numbers and agency contacts……………………………Page 3 Trigger Points, Initial Response Orders, Communications and Hazards……………………………………………………………… Pages 4-5 Evacuation Strategy: Functions and Responsibilities of Law Enforcement...……….………Page 6 Tasks and responsibilities……….……………………………………Page 7 Road Reference Markers……………………………………………..Page 8 Maps (Facilities, Topography, Aerial)………………………….........Pages 9-11 Approved by: _______________________________________ Date_______________ JAMES D. COPELAND Nogales District Ranger

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Mt Hopkins Fire Action Plan 2020

It is imperative that dispatchers at TIFC (Tucson Interagency Fire Center), and SWCC (Southwest Coordinating Center), and other responding agencies realize that the potential for loss of life and/or property from a significant wildfire on Mt. Hopkins could be very high due to long response times, narrow roads, indefensible structures, no safety zones, and the possibility of ingress/egress being cut off by an advancing fire. The purpose of this plan is to provide guidance during the initial response stages of a fire. Objectives

• Provide initial response and evacuation guidelines for the Mt. Hopkins Observatory site if a wildfire should occur.

• Minimize loss of life and property. • Determine the need for an Incident Management Team. • Make hazards known

Fire Reporting: If you are using a phone in an observatory or other facility on top of Mt. Hopkins you must dial “9” first 911 (Goes through Pima County Dispatch) 9-911 from Observatory phone (Goes through UofA Dispatch) Coronado National Forest Fire Dispatch… (520) 202-2710 or 1-800-549-0661 From Observatory phone 9-202-2710 or 9-1-800-549-0661 Nogales Ranger District Office… (520) 281-2296 or 520-281-2296 from Obs. phone Hours Mon – Fri …8:00am – 4:30pm (520) 761-6000 or 520-761-6000 from Obs. phone Tubac Fire Department…………… (520) 398-2255 or 9-398-2255 from Obs. phone Elephant Head Fire Department…… (520) 404-6623 Fire Station

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Contacts Forest Service Contacts District Ranger- James Copeland………………. (520) 334-0034 cellular (928) 245-0926 Personal Cell District Fire Management Officer Darrel Howell……………………………….. (520) 559-0746 cellular Assistant Fire Management Officer Ian Morgan ………………………………. (520) 604-9612 cellular Madera Canyon Area Manager Marvin Bradsher………………………………… (336) 583-0580 cellular Coronado N.F. Public affairs Heidi Schewel………………………………… (520) 2374860 Cellular Director of Emergency management Ray Sayre (520) 375-8000 Smithsonian contacts Main Office * Josh Martin………………………… (520) 879-4402 Pascal Fortin…………………………………... (520) 879-4419, 520-288-2311 (c) Telescope numbers at night…………………… (520) 879-4570 MMT (520) 879-4516 /60-inch Telescope (520)-879-4517 / 48" Telescope (520)-879-4435 /VERITAS Evacuation Group (contact if the need for evacuation arises) Forest Service Law Enforcement Dispatch – 1-800-637-9152 Forest Service Law Enforcement (Captain, Cheri Bowen) – (520) 388-8430 Forest Service Law Enforcement (Nogales RD, Charles Emerson) (520) 269-1153) Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department – (520) 761-7869 Arizona Department of Public Safety – (520) 746-4500 Pima County Emergency Services – (520) 798-3919 Santa Cruz County Emergency Services – (520) 287-6321, (520) 375-8000 Smithsonian Contacts – see above Red Cross (For evacuee family notification) – Need to be ordered by EMS Dormitory Fire Alarms Important: No daytime staff is available on Mt. Hopkins on weekends and holidays.

Scientists sleep in the dorms from sunrise to approximately 1600. To alert dorm sleepers, contact the FLWO (Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory) personnel who will use the remote dialer to trigger the fire alarms in the Ridge and Summit dorms.

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Pascal Fortin 520-879-4419, 520-288-2311 (c) Tom Gerl 520-879-4411, 520-665-8455 (c) Management Action Points

• If a fire starts and cuts off ingress/egress to Mt. Hopkins, make contact immediately with Smithsonian to direct personnel in the Mt. Hopkins vicinity to evacuate immediately if possible.

• If a fire starts anywhere mid-slope on Mt Hopkins, all personnel on the mountain should

evacuate immediately. • If the road to Mt. Hopkins is even remotely threatened DO NOT send ground resources

up the road. The road is very long, narrow, flanked by heavy concentrations of fuel and steep slopes. There are no safety zones along the route, or on the mountain.

Initial Response: INITIAL RESOURCE ORDERS: *Note: There is a gate at kilometer 13 on the mountain road. The combination is: #1701; if the combination does not work, the gate can be pushed open manually. The combination 1352 will open other locks and doors around the facility. Upon Report of Fire (Order when there is a confirmed fire): Duty officer, E-321, E-622 Make contact with Pascal Fortin (other person in charge) to coordinate Evacuation & accountability over all observatory employees. Mr. Pascal Fortin needs to be brought in for Unified Command: Below are a list of resources to consider Tubac Fire Department Elephant Head Fire Department Forest Engine 622 (Nogales) Forest Engine 321 (Nogales) FMO and/or AFMO (Nogales) District Ranger (Nogales) Air Attack (Tucson) Helicopter (Tucson) Law Enforcement (traffic control, road blocks) Upon confirmation of a significant fire (consider ordering) Type 3 Incident Commander Logistics Safety Officer Public Information Officer Misc. Overhead

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Type 2 Incident Management Team (takes time to mobilize, ICT3/District Ranger, and Forest Supervisor will determine need) Helicopters (depending on location, use the most effective size aircraft) Air Tankers (depending on location, use the most effective size aircraft) Air Attack COMMUNICATION: Responding units will communicate through their own dispatch until able to establish contact with the Incident Commander on “VFIRE21” Frequency 154.280 or SEZ Fire Net. RX-172.2750 & TX 168.1500 Frequencies used are as follows: Tactical Channel -154.280 “VFIRE21” or assigned tactical frequency Command Channel will be the SEZ Fire Net Simplex- Rx 172.275 Tx 172.275 Repeater-Rx 172.275 Tx 168.150 Tx Tone 114.8. Air to Ground (41) 167.4750 (56)168.66250 (32)166.9625 INITIAL RESPONSE INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE: Incident Commander (I/C): This will be the first qualified IC on the scene. IC roles may change to an ICT3 upon the determination that the fire will exceed the ability of the initial attack resources. The ICT3 will then make the determination of what kind of overhead structure that is needed. If the fire exceeds the capabilities of the ICT3, a Type 1 or Type 2 Incident Management Team will be ordered through the SEZ with the concurrence of the District Ranger, Forest Supervisor, and Forest FMO. Staging area for responding resources will be at the Smithsonian base camp (Lat. N 31° 40’ 29.6 / Long. 110° 57’ 04.0). Line Officer contact: Due to the sensitive nature of the observatory site, the District Ranger will closely monitor all suppression actions and be prepared to assist with/update risk and complexity analysis as conditions change. District Ranger will inform and advise Forest FMO and Forest Supervisor as conditions change. INITIAL STRATEGY: Due to the complexity, terrain and slopes on the observatory site, air resources will be the primary and initial resource. The consideration of all standard fire orders, eighteen watch outs, and LCES (Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones) are extremely important. Suppression action should take place after all personnel are adequately briefed in these areas and defined safety considerations are in place. Initial attack will be aggressive with a heavy use of resources with the intent that the fire can be kept small.

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Water storage tanks -- Water storage tanks are located at the residence site (just above the gate), the heliport, and the Aspen Grove. There are gasoline-powered water pumps at these tanks. These pumps can be used to fill engines or fill dip tanks for helicopters. The boxes covering the pumps are padlocked. Use the building lock combination (1352) to unlock padlocks. HAZARDS:

• Poor and lengthy ingress/egress • Few turn-arounds • Steep slopes • Heavy fuels concentrations • Narrow roads • No Safety zones • 6000 gal. diesel tank and generator day tank at Ridge • Fuel truck (50 gal. diesel) occasionally near Ridge Maintenance building • Fuel, solvents, and high pressure gas cylinders in telescope buildings and Summit and

Ridge Maintenance buildings • Propane tanks on gas grilles at Ridge Dorm and Common Building. Large tank at

Qwest microwave repeater site. EVACUATION STRATEGY: If the road to Mt. Hopkins is even remotely threatened DO NOT send ground resources up the road. The road is very long, narrow, flanked by heavy fuel concentrations and steep slopes. There are no safety zones along the route, nor are there any safety zones anywhere on the mountain. If a fire starts anywhere below the observatory site, all personnel on the mountain should evacuate immediately. If people are unable to evacuate, a last resort option may be to use the Multi Mirror Telescope (MMT) building as refuge. Understand that the MMT is not a safety zone. It is unknown how safe the MMT will be in the event of an oncoming wildfire. If aerial evacuation is needed people may be flown from a Heli-port that is located on “The Ridge” (Lat. N 31° 41’05. 8 / W Long. 110° 52’41. 3) or at the IOTA site below the MMT at (N31º 41.5 W110º 55.1). Aerial evacuation will only be considered if helicopters are available and conditions allow them to land. It is important for the IC/Law Enforcement and staff from Smithsonian to have a coordinated effort in evacuation. This is because Smithsonian personnel have separate frequencies to communicate evacuation efforts with staff on Mt. Hopkins.

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Travel up Mt. Hopkins, and Smithsonian Internal Radio System Check in with Smithsonian base camp to get updates on vehicles going up and coming down the mountain to avoid collisions. To make certain of communication and traffic going up and down the Mt. Hopkins road, borrow a handheld radio from the Smithsonian base camp before proceeding up the Mountain. Functions and responsibilities of law enforcement:

• Supervise and regulate necessary evacuations. • Establish and maintain roadblocks at points strategic to the fire, i.e., limit access to

authorized personnel and equipment, direct and escort when needed. • Continue normal police functions. • Coordinate with other agencies. • Provide necessary information and recommendations to Incident Command staff.

Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Forest Service a. Assume authority for direction of fire suppression forces. b. Direct mobilization of field forces as required. c. Alert all departments and agencies involved of hazardous or potentially

hazardous conditions. d. Provide public information data to the news media.

2. Observatory a. Ensure that All Observatory staff and visitors are informed of the fire and

prepare for action or evacuation. It is possible that staff could be sleeping in several buildings on the mountain, unaware of advancing fire. All building and sleeping quarters must be checked for sleeping staff members. Observatory staff will follow all fire related direction provided by the Incident commander.

b. Assist the Forest Service in the location of water tanks or other facilities that may be required.

3. Sheriff’s Department a. Establish and identify joint command post for the management of the law

enforcement function. b. In coordination with the Forest Service, control personnel and vehicles

traffic in the area. c. Provide field direction and control of all forces, except fire suppression,

involved in the management of the emergency.

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Road Reference Markers Route to Whipple Observatory

The Observatory Road is marked with kilometer posts starting at the Base Camp and ending on the summit. These reference points can be used to identify locations on the road.

Distance

(km/miles) Altitude (meters/feet)

Location

0/0 1306/4285 Whipple Observatory Base Camp 1/0.6 1357/4450 Montosa Wash crossing 2/1.2 1145/4740 Amateur Astronomy Vista 3/1.9 1512/4960 No landmark 4/2.5 1595/5230 100’ before Rocky Point 5/3.1 1640/5380 800’ before top of Montosa 6/3.7 1713/5620 No landmark 7/4.3 1774/5820 300’ beyond Iron Springs 8/5.0 1846/6055 Bifurcation 9/5.6 1909/6260 100’ beyond Lobo Canyon 10/6.2 1979/6490 400’ before Jessie’s Mine 11/6.8 2040/6690 Directly across Toyota Canyon 12/7.5 2084/6835 No landmark 13/8.1 2171/7120 100 yd. before road gate 14/8.7 2183/7160 500’ beyond Lower Spring 15/9.3 2236/7335 100 yd. above Upper Spring 16/9.9 2302/7550 Road below Knoll 1 17/10.6 2384/7820 100 yd. past Ridge Dorm 18/11.2 2450/8035 Turn above Aspen Grove 19/11.8 2515/8250 Switchback below Bowl 20/12.4 2607/8550 Summit

Quick View Address 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd. Amado, AZ 85645

Size Occupancy Floors Name

Large Office 2 Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory Street View

Overhead View Key - Gathering Point

- Flammable Lockers/ Storage

- Electrical Room

- Cryogenics

- Compressed Gas

- UST (Fuel)

- Sprinklers

- Hydrant

Construction

Water Supply

Hydrant Sprinklers Fire Pump

Access High Hazards Contact: Pascal Fortin

Compressed Gas – Welding/ Cryogenics

(520)879-4419

Frame Hazards Underground Storage Tanks for fuel, multiple Flammable Chemical Lockers, Liquid Nitrogen Tank

Radio Freq: 171.38750

Block/ Metal Gate Door

#1701 1352

Administrative Complex (838-010)

VERITAS Control Building (838-063)

T1

CTA (838-064) Pump House

(838-013)

T2

T4

T3

MMT Storage (838-012)

Helicopter Pad Elevation: 4186 Ft. 31.674726,-110.950594

Floor Plan Address

670 Mt. Hopkins Rd Floor(s) 2 Name

Adminstrative Complex (838-010) Overhead View w/ Equipment (1st Floor)

Overhead View w/ Equipment (2nd Floor)

Construction Water Supply: Sprinklers

Roof Shape Parapet

Pitched Metal Hazards: Flammable materials; Gasoline, oils, solvents. Acids in Mirror Lab Roof Materials Roof Access

Metal Ladder

Fact Form Address 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd, Amado, AZ, 85645 Size Occupancy Floors Name Large Office 2 Administrative Complex (838-010)

Construction Fire Load

Medium Water Supply Frame Walls Exterior Steel Brick Sprinklers

Roof Shape Walls Interior Pitched Sheet Rock/ Metal Stud Sq.Ft. GPM Hydrant Flow

Roof Material Length 500 Metal 102’

Parapet Roof Access Width Metal Ladder 192’ 8”

Hazards Access Flammable Materials; Gasoline, Oils, Solvents. Acids in Mirror Lab. Underground Storage Tanks (UST’s) Diesel 2,500 gal., Unleaded Gas 2,500 gal.

Gate Door Combo

#1701 1352 Radio Freq: 170.38750 Unit Contact

Pascal Fortin Special Considerations Office# If possible avoid spraying water on telescope mirrors. If power is interupted please do not re-energize without talking to Pascal Fortin or Michael Daniel.

879-4419 Cell# 288-2311

Electrical Isolation Main Building isolation located in the Electrical Room #117. VERITAS Building isolation on West Exterior.

Main Source UPS Source VERITAS Building

Suggested Strategies and Tactics

Author(s) Thomas Gerl Last Revision June-2018 Last Review June-2018

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Quick View Address 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd. Amado, AZ 85645

Size Occupancy Name

Various Various Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory Administrative Complex

Summit Overhead View Gathering Point

Construction

Water Supply N/A

Access High Hazards Contact: Pascal Fortin

Single Lane Dirt Road/ Remote Location

(520)879-4419

Frame Hazards Unannounced Public Drivers, Areas with no guard rails, single lane dirt road, Radio and Cell phones dead zones

Radio Freq: 171.38750

N/A Gate Door

#1701 1352

Bowl Dorm (838-052)

Common Building (838-051)

Support Shop (838-061)

MMT (838-060)

IRF (838-059)

IOTA (838-053)

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Floor Plan Address


Summit Dormitory (838-052) Street View

Overhead View w/ Equipment Electrical Isolation

Construction Water Supply: Sprinkler Roof Shape Parapet

Sloped N/A Hazards: Staff Sleeping, brush near bulding, Asbestos Roof Materials Roof Access

Metal Ladder

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Fact Form Address 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd, Amado, AZ, 85645 Size Occupancy Floors Name Small Dorm 2 Summit Dormitory (838-052)


Medium Water Supply Frame Walls Exterior Wood Wood Fire Riser from Summit Water Tank

Roof Shape Walls Interior Sloped Sheet Rock/ Wood Sq.Ft. GPM Hydrant Flow

Roof Material Length 200 Metal 115’

Parapet Roof Access Width N/A Ladder 20’

Hazards Access Staff Sleeping, brush near bulding, Asbestos

Gate Door Combo


Pascal Fortin Special Considerations Office# 879-4419

Cell# 288-2311

Electrical Isolation Disconnect located on the North side of the building by walkway.

Main Source


Author(s) Thomas Gerl Last Revision Aug-2018 Last Review Aug-2018

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Floor Plan Address


IOTA (838-053) Street View


Construction Water Supply: N/A

Roof Shape Parapet

Sloped N/A Hazards: Combustible Material Storage Roof Materials Roof Access

Metal Ladder

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Fact Form Address 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd, Amado, AZ, 85645 Size Occupancy Floors Name Medium None 1 IOTA (838-053)


Medium Water Supply Frame Walls Exterior Steel Metal N/A

Roof Shape Walls Interior Flat Metal Sq.Ft. GPM Hydrant Flow

Roof Material Length N/A Metal 40’


Hazards Access Combustible material storage

Gate Door Combo



Cell# 288-2311

Electrical Isolation Main Breaker is in the basement area in the first panel

Main Source



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Floor Plan Address


Common Building (838-051) Street View


Construction Water Supply: N/A Roof Shape Parapet

Sloped N/A Hazards: Roof Materials Roof Access

Metal Ladder

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Fact Form Address 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd, Amado, AZ, 85645 Size Occupancy Floors Name S Shop 2 Common Building (838-051)


Medium Water Supply Frame Walls Exterior Steel Wood/ Block N/A

Roof Shape Walls Interior Sloped Sheet Rock/ Metal Stud Sq.Ft. GPM Hydrant Flow

Roof Material Length N/A ? 44’


Hazards Access Some combustable materials and flammable liquids

Gate Door Combo



Cell# 288-2311

Electrical Isolation Main Disconnect is located inside the Laundry Room

Main Source



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Floor Plan Address


MMT (838-060) Street View

Overhead View w/ Equipment First Floor


Roof Shape Parapet

Sloped N/A Hazards: Flammable Chemicals stored throghout. Expensive equipment located on second floor. Roof Materials Roof Access

Metal Ladder

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Floor Plan Address


MMT (838-060) Overhead View w/ Equipment Second Floor

Overhead View w/ Equipment Third Floor


Roof Shape Parapet

Sloped

N/A

Hazards: Flammable Chemicals stored throut. Expensive equipment located on second floor.

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Floor Plan Address


MMT (838-060) Overhead View w/ Equipment Fourth Floor

Overhead View w/ Equipment Pit (Basement)


Roof Shape Parapet

Sloped

N/A

Hazards: Flammable Chemicals stored throghout. Expensive equipment located on second floor.

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Fact Form Address 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd, Amado, AZ, 85645 Size Occupancy Floors Name S None 6 MMT] (838-060)


Medium Water Supply Frame Walls Exterior Steel Metal N/A

Roof Shape Walls Interior Sloped Metal Sq.Ft. GPM Hydrant Flow

Roof Material Length N/A Metal 50’


Hazards Access Flammable Chemicals stored throghout. Expensive equipment located on second floor.

Gate Door Combo



Cell# 288-2311

Electrical Isolation Main Disconnects are located outside by Support Shop and Emergency Power is located in the Pit

Main Source (Noisy) Emerg. Quiet Power in Building Main Quiet Power


Author(s) Thomas Gerl Last Revision Oct-2018 Last Review Oct-2018

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Floor Plan Address


Support Shop (838-061) Street View



Flat Metal Hazards: Several lead acid batteries. Roof Materials Roof Access

Metal Ladder

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Fact Form Address 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd, Amado, AZ, 85645 Size Occupancy Floors Name S None 1 Support Shop (838-061)


Medium Water Supply Frame Walls Exterior Metal Block N/A

Roof Shape Walls Interior Slope/ Flat Metal Sq.Ft. GPM Hydrant Flow

Roof Material Length N/A Membrane 22’

Parapet Roof Access Width Metal Ladder 8’

Hazards Access Large UPS on site. Several lead acid batteries.

Gate Door Combo



Cell# 288-2311

Electrical Isolation Main Disconnect is located outside West wall of Building Labeled H1 on panel NDPM-1

Main Source Secondary Power to UPS



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Floor Plan Address


IRF (838-059) Street View

Overhead View w/ Equipment


Flat Metal Hazards: Space is a Clean Room. Sensitive equipment may be inside. Roof Materials Roof Access

? Ladder

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Fact Form Address 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd, Amado, AZ, 85645 Size Occupancy Floors Name S Storage 1 IRF (838-059)


Medium Water Supply Frame Walls Exterior Metal Metal N/A

Roof Shape Walls Interior Flat Metal Sq.Ft. GPM Hydrant Flow

Roof Material Length N/A ? 35’

Parapet Roof Access Width Metal Ladder 40’

Hazards Access Sensitive Equipment in Space. Space is a Clean Room.

Gate Door Combo



Cell# 288-2311

Electrical Isolation Main Disconnects are located outside West wall of Shop and in the Shop UPS Room

Main Source (Noisy) Quiet Power Source



Mt. Hopkins Fire Response Plan 2020 - MMT Observatory

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