North Lake Arrowhead Fuels Reduction

Southern California Hazardous Fuels Rehabilitation and Restoration

North Lake Arrowhead Fuels Reduction

San Bernardino National Forest

Overview of mortality before project.

In 2005, the San Bernardino National Forest completed a fuel break adjacent to the community of Lake Arrowhead in order to slow or stop the spread of a potential wildfire burning out of the Forest into the community. The fuel break is located on National Forest System land adjacent to the community. The project, which removed vegetation that was primarily beetle killed Ponderosa and Coulter Pine, was accomplished with funding earmarked by Congress in 2004 for hazardous fuels reduction.

Mortality removal in progress.

According to Forest Supervisor Gene Zimmerman,

"Our fuel reduction priorities are to remove mortality but also remove brush and thin the small diameter trees as well. We can't eliminate the possibility of major fires, but through our fuels work, we hope to change the characteristics of fire; to reduce it's intensity, provide safer areas for firefighters to fight the fire, and to provide greater protection around the private homes."

The potential for crown fires can be reduced by removing mortality but surface and brush fires are still a major problem in the wildland urban interface. By reducing these fuels along with the mortality, community survivability in a wildland fire is greatly increased.

View from house with adjacent mortality removed.

"I am pleased we have been able to provide some protection to the community," says Zimmerman. "However, we need to go farther to provide the community with a higher probability of surviving the next major fire."

Contact: Jon Regelbrugge 909-382-2727

Pacific Southwest Region

Southern California Hazardous Fuels Rehabilitation and Restoration

North Lake Arrowhead Fuels Reduction

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