Use of Mulchers for Fire Line Construction

Use of Mulchers for Fire Line Use of Mulchers for Fire Line ConstructionConstruction

Rory ThompsonRory ThompsonResearcherResearcher

Wildfire Fires Operations Research CentreWildfire Fires Operations Research CentreFERIC Western DivisionFERIC Western Division

The purpose of this presentation is to compare and explore the use of Mulchers and Dozers on the fire line.

Both machines are in fire line toolbox however they provide us with a different product.

Traditional Building of fire line being done by dozers

D6N 145 HPBlade Width 3.2 meterLGP PSI 4.8

D7G200 HPBlade Width 3.2 Meters

Pro’s of using Dozers on fire line

Two Dozers(D-6,D-7) can build between 1,500 to 10,000 meters of line on the average in a 10 hour day depending on resistance to control (Light fuels to Heavy fuels).Continuity in crown and ground fuels is broken. Bare mineral soil exposed.Dozer line provides access,can build stream crossing and escape routes for men and equipment.Able to work in big timberAbility to build a safety zone quickly during an emergency

Con’s of using Dozers on Fire LineThe high cost of fire line reclamationFires starting in the debris piles. If the fire jumps the line the resistance to control is high for ground crews to put the fires out in the debris pile.Compaction of soils making it hard for vegetation to get established. Erosion of soils on slopes creating possible siltation in streams.Debris piles could be a barrier to large animal movements if left after a fire. Requires a semi-truck to haul to site.

Reclamation work being done by a dozer

Types of Mulchers

GT 13 Medium Duty125 HPMulching blade width 2.0 meters13,000lbs

GT 18 medium duty190 HPMulching head width 2.2 metersWeight: 19,900 lbs

GT Heavy Duty225 HPMulching head width 2.2 meters

CM475 Mulcher400 HPMulching head Width 2.75 meters

GT 50 Super Duty550 HPMulching head width 2.75 m34,000 lbs

C600 Bull600 HpMulching head Width 2.75 meters

Mulchers current use in fire protection

Thinning

Debris Disposal

Mulchers have the potential to be used for making fire line

This is an example of a fire break using a mulcher, this was done along the Wild Horse Kinky road. Timings showed that is would take 4 hours/km. For one mulcher(400hp).

Pro’s of using Mulchers to build fire line

One mulcher can build approximately 5,450 meters of line (5 meter width) on the average in a 10 hour day depending on resistance to control (Based on timings in Light fuels to Heavy fuels).No large piles of debris to deal with during or after the fireDoes not tear up root system, no or little erosion problemsCan tow on a goose neck trailer with a pick-up truckLow ground pressure 2-3.5 psi. No or little reclamation required after the fireFaster re-growth of vegetation on disturbed sitesWeight of the smaller/medium mulchers show that they could be air lifted into remote areas with heavy helicopters to build fire line. Up to 9090 kg (20,000 lbs).

Cons of using Mulchers for building fire lines

May take longer to built line to ensure there are no excessive bungee sticks that may pose as a safety hazard to the line workers.Slow in large timberFire Crews can not work within 200 meters due to flying debris Mulchers have never been used to build fire line on an active fire in Alberta.

SummaryBoth the dozers and mulchers have a place on the fire line.The dozers have been used in the past and have proven to be an effective tool for building fire line.Mulchers used as a thinning and fire break tool has shown us that it does have the capabilities for building fire line on active fires.Mulchers should be tested as a possible fire line construction tool working with dozers on active fires. Mulchers could be used with a hand burning crew as opposed to a ground crew building fire line.