CDF Burns Blackline in Preparation for Controlled Burn at the Western Site / BlacklineW02
Philippe S. Cohen
June 1, 2001
Creating a black line along the perimeter of the western site on June 1
After Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve's Leonard Robinson flail mowed the perimeter of the 2 sites to be burned, the California Department of Forestry came out on June 1 to create a black line perimeter around the 2 burn sites. This effort was designed to create a fire break between the site to be burned and adjacent land. As these images show, this effort involved burning fuel along the mowed perimeter by using a drip torch and controlling the fire as the fuel is blackened by use of hose, water or retardant, and hand tools. You can see this quite vividly in image #31.
The pre-existing road that also acted as a fire break, burned poorly and was blackened only in spots. This was due to the very low fuel loads in the road bed.
Originally we intended to complete the blacklining along the eastern site as well, but had to suspend activities as wind speeds began to increase and change direction.