Felling Dangerous trees, whilst on fire.

[Yeahman]

I'm a member of a bush fire brigade, recently I’ve had to fell some good sized trees on the fire ground. All were dead and parts of them on fire. One was hollow and had a tripod for a trunk, i was able to reach above the cavity and put a scarf in on good wood. Prior to felling I assessed them as I would a normal tree. Everything went well, and i gained some good experience.

Just wondering if any body else has had similar experiences, or can suggest some hazards to watch for that I might not have thought of.

Thanks.

 

[smokechase II]

tree stuff

One thing that can occassionally work for the fire Faller is to use a 15' long pole as a pry bar. If your tripod snag was close to coming over, put that lever in and pop the weakest support. Caution on the pry bar being used as a squashing device by the tree, Get well clear of the pole too as it comes over.

Best results are usually with a piece of heavy equipment. Wrap a choker and pull it over.

The trick of using another tree to knock the problem snag is often a bad idea. One new reason that is well understood by the fire community is that it will add to the ladder fuels. General rule is to try and avoid that technique.

A thread we had last winter/spring has some thoughts:
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=32861&highlight=face+tree+fire

An interesting site at least for the photos:
http://www.nwtimberfallers.com/

 

[Ekka]

I've never done it but would like to try it.

I remember seeing a picture once of a firestorm where in the middle was a lake etc and the deer were in there whilst the pines around it and going up the valley sides were on fire.

It was a pretty good pic but I cannot find it anymore.

Anyone got ideas?

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Stop, drop, and roll, once you're not on fire, then resume cutting the tree.

 

[xtremetrees]

Poision ivy will put you on fire.

 

[smokechase II]

change of web site

There is a new location for the NW fallers:

http://www.nwtimberfallers.com/

sorry.

 

[clearance]

Stop, drop, and roll, once you're not on fire, then resume cutting the tree.

Thats pretty good.

 

[pbtree]

Stop, drop, and roll, once you're not on fire, then resume cutting the tree.

:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Rspike]

I've never done it but would like to try it.

I remember seeing a picture once of a firestorm where in the middle was a lake etc and the deer were in there whilst the pines around it and going up the valley sides were on fire.

It was a pretty good pic but I cannot find it anymore.

Anyone got ideas?

look about right ...............

 

[Ekka]

Yeah, that's it, awesome shot.

I saved it.

Thank you very much, that's made my day. New desktop.

 

[Rspike]

it was easy for me to find because it happens to be my desktop this week.

 

[Urbicide]

That is one awesome picture. It's so beautiful and deadly at the same time. Thanks for posting it.

 

[smokechase II]

elk fire photo

The guy that took the elk photo e-mailed it and there was no attempt to market it. That was in Montana in 2000 and since then it has been all over the net.
Not sure if he could have sold a photo taken while on the job, anyway.
John said it was much hotter there than the picture conveys. That hillside had just burned.

 

[TackleTree]

Wow! What an awesome pic. Thanx for sharing