Behavior and short-term effects of fire in masticated fuel beds

Mastication may moderate fire behavior by reducing fuel bed depth, but high loadings of surface fuels can still result in substantial mortality of residual trees when burned. Even so, it is possible to reduce masticated fuel loads using prescribed fire. In this study, the high soil moisture levels at the time of the burns limited heat penetration into the soil. Under these conditions, the major cause of initial mortality appeared to be due to crown scorch, which can be mitigated by adjusting firing techniques, and burning when air temperature is low.