Just resting a hot chainsaw on the grass can start a fire in the wrong conditions. Add a bit of wind and the situation can quickly get out of control.
the east. In 2022, for example, there were over 20,000 wildfires in the west that burned almost 6 million acres. In the east, there were 48,000 fires that burned just under 2 million acres — meaning preventative action is neces- sary everywhere. Thomas Swetnam, University of Arizo- na Regents Professor of Dendrochro- nology at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research , added that changing weath- er patterns further exacerbate the risk of highly intense wildfires today, partic- ularly in the Southwest. “The droughts that we’re seeing in re- cent decades are the worst droughts in over 1,000 years in terms of tempera- ture and drought and lack of mois- ture,” he explained. “And the forests have changed. Without those frequent surface fires, the forests have become denser. More trees and more fuels have accumulated. Add hot droughts to that and we’re getting conflagra- tions on a scale and an intensity of burning that hasn’t been witnessed in written history.” All of this tells us that even in regions not typically associated with wildfires, changing climate patterns, and urban sprawl into wildland areas are creating new risk zones. Fire safety is no lon-
ger a regional concern — it is a national one. As a result, taking proactive steps in tree care is not just good for busi- ness; it could save lives. RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT FIRE- PRONE CONDITIONS One of the best ways to mitigate fire risk is to train your crew to recognize warning signs and act accordingly be- fore the threat becomes a reality. Make it part of your routine to assess fire risk each day before mobilizing and outline the day’s protocol as a result. Accord-
ing to Harvey, this starts with a job site analysis (JSA). “Our biggest thing here is dried grass. Grass fires are what we call ‘light flashy fuels,’ and they move like light- ning,” he stated. “Chainsaws are prob- ably our next highest ignition source. They get super hot, and then if you were to set it down on the grass, you could start a fire just by the grass hit- ting your muffler.” Knowing when to pause a job due to weather or environmental conditions is
If conditions are particularly dry or windy, it may be necessary to delay work or implement additional precau- tions like onsite water tanks, fire extinguishers, or wetting down the work area.
10 | Summer 2025 ArborTIMES ™
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