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Flagstaff
Interface Treatment Prescription
Results
in the Wildland/Urban Interface
Designating
Trees for Removal
Simple
guidelines, issued by the project manager either verbally
or in writing to the crew, have worked well. Where possible, a cutter selection method is preferred. If necessary, a sample cut can be designated
and reviewed by the thinning crew.
Where
designating trees with paint is necessary, a cut-tree
mark, as opposed to a leave-tree mark is preferred. Marking cut-trees eliminates the long term
appearance of a leave-tree mark.
However, one method being considered in areas
scheduled for follow-up underburning involves placing
only one paint mark on the leave tree as close to the
ground as possible so that the scorch from the underburn
will hide or eliminate the paint.
When
designating trees for removal, personnel must be aware
of fire behavior alignments such as prevailing wind
direction, shading, slope, fuel arrangement and continuity,
and potential fireline locations. Careful consideration also needs to be given
to the type of fuel model conversion that may result
from treatment. Converting a stand from a FBPS Fuel Model 9
to a FBPS Fuel Model 2 (open pine stand with grass understory)
may be more appropriate directly adjacent to a control
feature such as a road, trail or natural barrier.
Cutting
Techniques
The
type of mechanized operation should be given serious
consideration when cutting in the interface.
A traditional harvesting operation may not be
suitable in some areas, while in others it may be the
preferred method. Although we use traditional timber-harvesting equipment under certain
conditions, we typically utilize a "micro" harvesting
approach. Trees are cut either using hand-crews with
power saws or by a Bobcat shear.
Wood is moved by an All-Terrain-Vehicle (ATV)
with a trailer. This is not as disturbing to area residents
as would be the case with larger equipment, and it allows
curious people to readily approach our crews to learn
about the operation, something we encourage.
In addition, smaller equipment reduces soil compaction
and disturbance, minimizing the amount of soil exposed
for noxious weed and other exotic plant establishment,
as well as soil erosion.
Restricting
hours of operation in response to local conditions is
another consideration.
For example, if an operation is immediately adjacent
to homes or a neighborhood, we typically restrict activity
to those hours when most people are not home.
Stumps
should be cut as low to the ground and as level as possible.
This not only improves post-treatment visual
quality, but facilitates wood removal and subsequent
fire management needs by allowing easier access.
As
much as possible of the required slash treatment should
be completed daily.
Leaving untreated slash - even for a few days
- invites criticism from concerned residents in the
area.
Utilization
To
the maximum extent possible, wood produced from thinning
operations should be removed and utilized. Occassionally, some material may be left on-site as wildlife cover.
Although current commercial markets are slim
for many of the products we produce, we have had a great
deal of success by designating accessible areas as free-use
wood areas. Each fall, the Flagstaff Fire Department's
free wood Saturdays typically draw 200+ people who will
remove 100 cords of firewood in half a day.
To facilitate removal, firewood must be cut into
2 to 3 foot lengths, and poles into 10 foot lengths
(Figure 4).
Figure 4. Firewood on Mars Hill was removed by the public
on a designated free wood collection day.
Photo by Paul Summerfelt FFD
Access
through neighborhoods for wood removal needs to be discussed
with adjacent homeowners during the initial planning
stages, not after cutting is underway.
Without
a market for these products, or in areas where removal
is not practical, the project manager must carefully
consider the size and number of the trees designated
for cutting on any one site. More than one cutting cycle may be required
so as to not overload the ability to treat the resulting
slash in a timely manner.
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