Shaded Fuel Break

A shaded fuel break consists of removing or modifying the vegetation in the understory of a wooded or forested area while retaining a large portion of the canopy. These projects will focus on removing light flashy fuels like grass, shrubs, invasive species like broom, and lower limbs of trees to reduce ladder fuels and create vertical spacing between the ground and the tree crowns. Reducing the continuity of vegetation from the ground to the canopy to help keep wildfire. Small trees may be removed as well to create horizontal spacing between larger tree trunks and open growing space for larger trees. Shaded fuel breaks will be seen primarily in the defensible space zone that extends 100’-150’ from homes or infrastructure into open space areas. Shaded fuel break work occurs year-round.