21
Dec

As you prune and cut down trees for fire mitigation, you end up with a lot of slash to deal with. You need to get rid of this slash, otherwise it becomes fuel for fire78s to spread. In fact, you could increase the risk of a fire spreading faster than just leaving the branches on the trees! Fires spread by burning up fuel on the forest floor first.

Hauling the Slash

There are a few ways to deal with slash, and the first is hauling. You will pick up the debris and get rid of it, usually in a small pickup truck. Many counties will even have free collection sites that you can take it to, although some are only open during certain times of the year. A commercial landfill is open all-year round and will have an option for the natural material.

You may even find companies that want your slash, so you haul it over to them. Some branches and trunks can be used for other items. It’s a great way to recycle.

Chipping Away at the Slash

If you’re close to a road, you may find that chipping is the best option. It is what it sounds like: you’re using a chipping machine to grind down the natural material. You can buy or rent home chipping machines to do the work for you, or you can usually go to your local fire department to use their chipper at a per-hour rate, which means you support the local firehouse while protecting against wildfires.

You’ll quickly break down all the material. Yes, it will sit on the soil, but it’s close enough to the soil that it doesn’t create many fire risks. You will usually need to haul larger sections away, but you can turn the wood chips into fertilizer.

You’ll want to think about the type of branches you’re chipping. Avoid chipping logs that can be used for firewood. Why not have them yourself or arrange from someone to pick them up?

Scattering the Slash

There are times that scattering is the only option. This is commonly needed if you’re doing the work on trees at the bottom of a big hill and hauling them back up isn’t an option.

You need to drag the branches to open areas so that they don’t become a risk for dense forest floors. You’ll also need to cut them into smaller pieces to be able to spread them out at a distance. Keep everything as close to the ground as possible. It’s not the safest option, but sometimes the only one.

Why Open Burning Is a Bad Idea

Open burning is often mentioned as a way to deal with slash, but you want to avoid this. It’s very difficult to get the conditions just right, even though it does mean the nutrients from the slash will go back into the ground. The problem is you run the risk of spreading a fire if the conditions aren’t right.

You need at least 6ins of snow on the ground, good air quality, and a favorable weather forecast in Colorado for open burning. What are the chances of getting that right?

Opting for an Air Curtain Burner

What about an air curtain burner? This is becoming more and more popular. It’s pretty much a portable firebox with a fan to stoke the flames. The BurnBoss air curtain is one of the brands to look out for.

One of the benefits is that there’s no bottom. The remains of the wood will land in the soil, adding the nutrients back in. The downside is the cost. It can be around $50,000 to buy and you will need a fire crew on hand.