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Fuel Treatment Making a Difference. Steve Harbert Tim Rich. Burn Boss Refresher February 2009. How can Fuel Treatments “Make a Difference”?. Ecosystem Restoration Protection. Why here, why now?. Why be Effective?. Available FS and BLM land in PNW: 20.7 MM acres
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Burn Boss Refresher 2009 Fuel Treatment Making a Difference Steve Harbert Tim Rich Burn Boss Refresher February 2009
Burn Boss Refresher 2009 How can Fuel Treatments “Make a Difference”? • Ecosystem Restoration • Protection Why here, why now?
Burn Boss Refresher 2009 Why be Effective? Available FS and BLM land in PNW: 20.7 MM acres 2008 Accomplishment / % of available: 130 M acres = 0.6 % In 15 years, % of available treated: 9% (6%/decade) Wildfire Acres/year 309 M Acres
Burn Boss Refresher 2009 Principles of Stand Level Fuel Treatments Surface fuels Ladder fuels Canopy fuels Leave large trees
Burn Boss Refresher 2009 Treatment Strategies Fuel Breaks DFPZ Extensive vs. Intensive SPOTS
Burn Boss Refresher 2009 SPOTS
Burn Boss Refresher 2009 An Assessment of Fuel Treatments on Selected Fires in the Pacific Northwest A report to Fire Directors Ken Snell and Carl Gossard USDA Forest Service, Region 6; Oregon State BLM October 2007
Three Fires, Three Strategies Burn Boss Refresher 2009 • Monument Fire – Umatilla NF • GW Fire – Deschutes NF • Egley Fire – Burns Fire Zone
GW Fire Results Burn Boss Refresher 2009
Burn Boss Refresher 2009 Egley Complex
Burn Boss Refresher 2009 July 6th to July 22nd
Egley Complex Assessment Burn Boss Refresher 2009 • 42% of assessment area had treatments • High severity areas were statistically different • Post-fire photographic evidence supports the fuels treatment effectiveness conclusion. • In some treatment areas weather overpowered the veg/fuels treatment. • Newer treatments were more effective.
Egley Prescriptions Burn Boss Refresher 2009 • Underburning (3869 acres) • Marginally significant • Commercial Harvest (17990 acres) • Wide variety, and significant • Pre-commercial thin and piling (~16940 acres) • Very significant • Changed Rx intensity
Egley - 220 spur Burn Boss Refresher 2009 Treated area south of 220 spur Untreated area south of 220 spur
Egley - BARC Severity Burn Boss Refresher 2009
Egley – Treatment Age Burn Boss Refresher 2009
Fuels Program Validation Burn Boss Refresher 2009 When the fuels specialist asks… “Where will you have your next big fire, and where are you going to treat?” Do you have an answer? Develop a strategy, articulate, monitor.
RecommendationsA fuels strategy Burn Boss Refresher 2009 • The Burn Boss should know the fuels and vegetation strategy; • Has a responsibility during burn plan preparation to help craft specific burn plan objectives: • Implements the burn plan to help achieve the overall strategy.
RecommendationsSuppression Effectiveness Burn Boss Refresher 2009 • Enhancing suppression effectiveness should be part of the fuels/veg strategy. • Treatment location • Use past treatment data in developing wildfire strategies. • Treatments should become an integral part of WFSA/WFDSS development. • Treatment maps should be a part of the briefing package given to Incident Management Teams.
RecommendationsLeave some tracks Burn Boss Refresher 2009 • Map treatments • Data in GIS is best • Planned vs. implemented • When • Maintenance program • Suppression • There is a formal monitoring process • Part of post burn activities
Questions? Burn Boss Refresher 2009 • Treatment Effectiveness Report: • http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/fireuse/success/success-stories.html • Angora Fire Report: • http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angorafuelsassessment/ • Remote Sensing Application Center (BARC, BAER & MTBS): • http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/rsac/baer/barc.html • Lessons Learned Center: • http://www.wildfirelessons.net/Home.aspx