Review of Fuel Treatment Effectiveness in Forests and Rangelands and a Case Study From the 2007 Megafires in Central Idaho USA

Authors

Andrew T. Hudak, Rocky Mountain Research StationFollow
Ian Rickert, Sawtooth Interagency Hotshot Crew
Penelope Morgan, University of IdahoFollow
Eva Strand, University of IdahoFollow
Sarah A. Lewis, Rocky Mountain Research StationFollow
Pete Robichaud, USFS Rocky Mountain Research StationFollow
Chad Hoffman, University of IdahoFollow
Zachary A. Holden, U.S. Department of AgricultureFollow

Date of this Version

2011

Citation

USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-252. 2011.

Abstract

This report provides managers with the current state of knowledge regarding the effectiveness of fuel treatments for mitigating severe wildfire effects. A literature review examines the effectiveness of fuel treatments that had been previously applied and were subsequently burned through by wildfire in forests and rangelands. A case study focuses on WUI fuel treatments that were burned in the 2007 East Zone and Cascade megafires in central Idaho. Both the literature review and case study results support a manager consensus that forest thinning followed by some form of slash removal is most effective for reducing subsequent wildfire severity.