Fuels and Prescribed Burning

Idaho's Fuels From Grass to Trees

Very diverse vegetation grows throughout Idaho. From the ponderosa pine in Idaho’s forests to the crested wheat grass in Idaho’s rangelands, firefighters must be familiar with Idaho’s plants. Why? Because fire behavior (how the fire burns) depends on the fuel (vegetation) it is consuming. Firefighters can use their knowledge of Idaho’s fuels to determine best practices for fire suppression and to maintain firefighter safety.

Fuel is a critical leg in the fire triangle. Without it, fire cannot burn. Firefighters remove fuels by creating fire line around fires. Firefighters can utilize heavy equipment, such as dozers, to create a fire line by using the dozer to clear a wide swath of vegetation around the fire. When the flames reach the fire line, they go out because there is no more fuel to burn. Firefighters also use chainsaws and tools to create fire line, especially in steep, mountainous terrain where dozers cannot go.