Shaded Fuelbreak

The Basque-It Shaded Fuelbreak was constructed with Force Account (USFS) crews on National Forest land within the Carman Valley watershed.  The hand crews treated overstocked stands of eastside Jeffrey pine that were in a high fire hazard condition.  The project was implemented in accordance with the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Act and assisted in completing a fire defense zone around the community of Calpine.

Approximately 150 acres of suppressed trees were removed from the understory using chainsaws.  The trees removed were limbed and their boles were made available for public fuelwood gathering.  The slash generated by the project was hand piled, added to previously-downed trees, and the piles later burned.  Today, the stand is much healthier, consisting of an overall larger stand diameter at approximately 120 stems per acre.  This treatment allows the remaining trees more access to sunlight and limited nutrients and water from the soil.

In addition to the thinning of suppressed trees, ladder fuels (ground fuels) up to 12” in diameter at breast height were removed and a few larger trees that were diseased or had a low live crown ratio.  This further increased the fire resistance of the stand.  The treatment achieved:

• Reduction of the severity of future wildfires in the area by decreasing surface and ladder fuels and by providing for firefighter safety during fire suppression activities;

• Commencement of the process of restoring fire to its natural role in the ecology of the Carman Valley and increased future opportunities to utilize fire as a management tool; and,

• Improvement of stand health, vigor and resistance to fire, insects and disease.

Fuelbreak Location – around McPherrin Camp