Costs of alternative fuel reduction treatments: Research Brief

This study compares the costs of prescribed fire and thinning treatments while putting treatment costs in the context of treatment effectiveness.

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Photo examples of fuel treatment alternatives from the Sierra Nevada

Mechanical + Burn

Stand treated with mechanical commercial harvest followed by low-cost maintenance burn. The revenue from the harvest offset any costs from the low-cost, winter burn.

Mechanical + Burn + Salvage

Stand after multiple treatments: One commercial harvest + mastication, then mastication, burn, and salvage. The revenue from the commercial harvest and the salvage offset some of the mastication and burn costs.

Burn only

This stand has been treated with 3 prescribed burns and no commercial harvests.

Mechanical Only

This stand only had mechanical treatments that consisted of two commercial thins and two mastications. This stand was the most net revenue.

Hartsough, B.R., Abrams, S., Barbour, R.J., Drews, E.S., McIver, J.D., Moghaddas, J.J., Schwilk, D.W., Stephens, S.L. 2008. The economics of alternative fuel reduction treatments in western United States dry forests: Financial and policy implications from the National Fire and Fire Surrogate Study. Forest policy and Economics 10: 344-354. DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2008.02.001