Fire Plan Home Page
METHODS OBJECTIVE SLOPE RIPARIAN NEAR HOME OTHER TREATMT CONTRACT PROS PROS CONS CONS CONS
ZONE* REQUIRED? COST/ACRE
MANUAL/MECHANICAL
Thinning vertical or horizontal fuel separation all maybe* OK usually $230-850 attractive-park-like low risk labor intensive small diameter only slash left to treat
Slashbuster: Thinning vertical or horizontal fuel separation <35%* no** no** maybe $200-500 cost-effective perform multiple tasks at one time-no slash for use on gentle slopes only can disturb soils can damage leave trees/spread noxious weeds
Pruning limb up trees to reduce ladder fuels all yes OK usually $50-250 attractive landscape effective very labor intensive creates slash
Slashing remove a veg type or size all maybe* yes usually $230-850 easy to describe labor intensive could end up a clearcut
Slashbuster: Slashing remove one veg type or size <35%* no** no** maybe $200-500 cost-effective perform multiple tasks at one time-no slash for use on gentle slopes only can disturb soils; spread noxious weeds can damage leave trees
Lopping & Scattering modify downed wood concentration all OK yes maybe $25-45 low cost few impacts on lands labor intensive not all fuel removed small diameter only
Fuel Pullback reduce fuel around protected items all yes OK usually $1.50-2.00/tree low cost effective labor intensive larger slash = many cuts
Crushing - dozer reduce depth of fuel bed to slow fire behavior <35% no no usually $50-68/hr easy & inexpensive possibly reduces fire's intensity does not prevent fires possible soil compaction not for use on large or green material
Slashbuster: Chipping reduce amount of downed wood <35%* no** no** maybe $575-1600 cost-effective perform multiple tasks at one time-no slash for use on gentle slopes only can disturb soils; spread noxious weeds can damage leave trees
Hand Piling pile dead and small material all maybe* no usually $250-1300 easy to do few impacts on lands slow work time consuming
Burn Handpiles consume piled slash all no** yes usually $25-140 easy to implement labor intensive leaves big black spots on the ground
Machine Piling pile small fuel to reduce spread of fire <35% no no usually $200-400 fast inexpensive possible soil compaction topsoil can be moved; spread noxious weeds not attractive
Machine Pile/Burn consume piled slash all no** yes usually $25-140 easy to implement labor intensive leaves big black spots on the ground
Raking reduce material under protected items all yes OK usually $40-120 can significantly protect large trees very labor intensive
PRESCRIBED FIRE
Underburn/Broadcast burn reduce/kill small diameter &  ground vegetation all no** no usually $60-400 accomplishes multiple tasks can mimic a natural regime risks if fire gets away from operator requires experienced personnel leave trees can be damaged
Fireline Construction create 1-3' ground fuel break all* no** OK usually $50/hr provides a ground barrier to fire labor intensive requires maintenance not completely effective
OTHER
Grazing reduce small ground fuel by grazing animals <60% no yes usually varies by job: fencing, water, access, etc. can be low-cost minimal labor if water & fencing in place may compact soils affects small diameter material only <3" fencing & water needed
Lomakatsi Natural Treatments analysis of area prior to treatment, considering all of the ecosystem before and after treatments all yes yes no $500-1600 attractive-park like site-specific consultations prior to treatments; protects resources labor-intensive can be a slow process
* beyond the first 50', either side of a stream or river
**See "Living in a Biocracy" guidelines of the Fire Plan on this - there is not a simple yes or no.