Treesearch
Wildfire speed bumps: The latest science on fuel breaks
| Authors: | Olga Helmy, Erin J. Belval, Jesse D. Young, Christopher D. O'Connor |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | Science Bulletins and Newsletters |
| Station: | Rocky Mountain Research Station |
| Source: | Science You Can Use In 5 Minutes, September 2026. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station |
Download (PDF 1.15 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/81184.pdf
Abstract
Fuel breaks are linear strips of land along which vegetation is cleared or thinned - constructed along ridgelines, roads, and other strategic places - to give firefighters a safer, higher chance to slow or steer a fire. Often described as “speed bumps” for wildfires, fuel breaks rarely stop fire spread on their own, but they do give crews critical anchor points for building fireline, setting backfires, or safely applying water and retardant. They have been used since the 1960s across many landscapes.