Introduction
Fuel reduction has become a major issue on forested lands throughout the United States. Years of fire suppression have increased fuel loading and tree density in many locations. Timber lands (including areas in the urban interface) that were once healthy now may be overgrown, more susceptible to fire, insects, and disease and in need of thinning (figure 1). Small, overcrowded timber stands often are uneconomical to harvest. Steep slopes and environmentally sensitive areas compound the problems (figure 2).
Figure 1—Fuel reduction projects can save homes in the urban interface.
Figure 2 —Kaiser Spyder removing material from steep slope site on the
Helena National forest in Montana. The cable extending from the machine
is attached to an anchor point higher on the hill as a safety measure due
to steepness of site.
With any fuel reduction project, safety and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) concerns must be addressed. Those concerns are outside the scope of this guide.
