DEVELOPMENT OF BRUSH-DISPOSAL POLICY 699 



Where there is space in which to 

 scatter windrows of brush and this 

 space is not needed for fire Hnes and 

 the windrows endanger live tiinljer, the 

 brush must be scattered. 



Where space does not permit scatter- 

 ing and the windrows have been placed 

 as far as possible from live trees over 

 six feet high, they may be left. 



In very dense stands, heavily cut, 

 where a large percentage of the brush 

 removed from around live timber must 

 be piled in heaps or windrows, the re- 

 duction of this excess brush by burn- 

 ing of the heaviest accumulations at a 

 proper season is a desirable measure 

 and may justify special instructions. 

 (See I.) 



STANDARD INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIRE LINES, NATIONAL FOREST 



Width 



The standard width of a fire line is 200 feet. Authority for reducing the width 

 of standard fire lines must be obtained from the district forester. 



Coiistnictioit 



On fire lines all brush resulting from logging must be piled and burned. Logs, 

 down timber, and dead tops, or other inflammable material whose presence would 

 tend to render the fire line ineffective, shall be burned, though logs and down tim- 

 ber, except tops, may be skidded off the fire line instead. 



The removal of ordinary forest litter from fire lines will not be required. 



The brush piles on fire lines must be placed at least 25 feet from trees over 10 

 inches in diameter and as far as possible from smaller trees. The piles should 

 be large and compact, except when small piles are required in order to avoid de- 

 struction of tree crowns in burning. 



Location and Extent 



Fire lines are intended to divide areas of slash into smaller blocks and to fur- 

 nish lines from which to back-fire. They will not of themselves stop fires. 



Wherever natural features or cover types are so located as to give lines from 

 which back-firing is practical, they will be used in place of constructed fire lines, 

 which need not be constructed along their edges. 



The plan of fire lines will be laid out to utilize all parks, grassland or meadows, 

 cultivated lands, barren or rocky ridge tops, and areas of aspen. On the other 

 hand, areas of dense reproduction of conifers, with low crowns, are to be classed 

 as a fire risk equal to slash and given the same protection. Fire lines will be 

 planned along edges of slash adjoining timber which is not to be cut immediately. 



Based on the above plan, the extent or mileage of fire lines actually to be con- 

 structed will be governed by the size and shape of the areas of continuous slash, 

 or its relation to reproduction and uncut timber. 



