A fuel treatment reduces fire severity and increases suppression efficiency in a mixed conifer forest
Jason J. Moghaddas A B and Larry Craggs A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Plumas National Forest, Mt Hough Road, 39696 Highway 89, Quincy, CA 95971, USA.
B Corresponding author. Email: jmoghaddas@fs.fed.us
International Journal of Wildland Fire 16(6) 673-678 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF06066
Submitted: 18 May 2006 Accepted: 6 September 2007 Published: 17 December 2007
Abstract
Fuel treatments are being implemented on public and private lands across the western United States. Although scientists and managers have an understanding of how fuel treatments can modify potential fire behaviour under modelled conditions, there is limited information on how treatments perform under real wildfire conditions in Sierran mixed conifer forests. The Bell Fire started on 22 September 2005 on the Plumas National Forest, CA. This fire burned upslope into a 1-year old, 158-ha mechanical fuel treatment on private land. Prior to coming into contact with the fuel treatment, the main fire ignited spot fires 400 feet (122 metres) into the treated area. Overall, this fuel treatment resulted in: (1) increased penetration of retardant to surface fuels; (2) improved visual contact between fire crews and the Incident Commander; (3) safe access to the main fire; and (4) quick suppression of spot fires. This treatment was relatively small and isolated from other fuel treatments but resulted in decreased severity, suppression costs and post-fire rehabilitation needs, leading to cost savings for local public and private land managers.
Additional keywords: Plumas National Forest, thinning.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Paul Violett and the Soper-Wheeler Co. for allowing access to their land and records for the present study. Special thanks to Larry Craggs, Fire Management Officer, and Ryan Southwick, Dozer 2 Operator, both from the Mount Hough Ranger District on the Plumas National Forest. Their eyewitness experiences of this fire were essential in conveying the story of what happened as seen by the people who were there as it burned.
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