Understanding Fine Fuels

Understanding the impact of fine fuels on wildfire risk

Learn what fine fuels are, how they increase wildfire risk and what you can do to protect your land.

When it comes to rangeland wildfire prevention, it’s important to be able to identify risks. One of the biggest risks you can help mitigate as a rancher or weed director is making sure you keep fine fuels to a minimum. We can help you understand the basics to help keep your local rangelands safe.

1. What are fine fuels?

Fine fuels are grasses, twigs, leaves or needles that may ignite readily and are rapidly consumed by fire when they’re dry. While technically they are defined by weight and diameter, the term is generally used when describing any natural and easily flammable fuel.

Usually, fine fuels are plants that germinate early, mature early and are very shallow rooted. Some common species of vegetation that are considered fine fuels include cheatgrass, medusahead and ventenata.

2. How do fine fuels increase risk and contribute to the spread of wildfires?

Fine fuels burn hot and burn fast. This combines to create specific weather patterns from the change in temperature and pressure, creating wind that can spread flame and embers that can catch other areas on fire. In short, fine fuels are prone to burning through an area very, very quickly.

Unfortunately, long periods of drought compound the problem. Cheatgrass, medusahead, ventenata and other fine fuels often steal the moisture from the land from more native and productive grasses. Then, when they dry out, you’re left with fields full of fine fuels that are not only wildfire tinder waiting to ignite but also are less suitable for grazing cattle.

3. How can I manage fine fuels from annual grass invasions?

Often, ranchers will try to graze cattle on fine fuel sources early in the season before they dry out. However, since they dry out quickly by nature, this is only a short-term solution. Weed directors may manually remove and clear out fine fuels as another solution, although it can be time-intensive with no guarantee they won’t grow back. While these solutions will have to be repeated year after year, they can provide breaks in fine fuels and help prevent wildfires from spreading.

A more long-term solution is a chemical treatment like long-lasting Rejuvra^® herbicide. Rejuvra can eliminate common fine fuel sources like cheatgrass for up to four years, helping to provide long-term protection from wildfire risks.

Understanding, identifying and eliminating the fine fuels on your land is vitally important when minimizing your wildfire risk. For more information, check out wildfire education organizations like the National Wildfire Coordinating Group or Office of Wildland Fire.

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