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FIRELINE PRODUCTION TABLES

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Sustained Line Production Rates of 20-Person Crews in Feet per Hour*

Fire Behavior Fuel Model Type I
Direct		 Type I
Indirect		 Type II & II IA***
Direct		 Type II & II IA***
Indirect
1 Short Grass
2 Open Timber
   Grass		 1,122
(792–1,386)**

 627
(508–746)

 627
(174–660)

 285
(174–380)
4 Chaparral

 436
(330–528)		 330
(178–482)		 449
(80–640)		 272
(178–376)
5 Brush

 1,089
(924–1,254)		 323
(244–403)		 471
(304–682)		 277
(178–376)
6 Dormant Brush
   Hardwood Slash		 1,089
(924–1,254)		 323
(244–403)		 471
(304–682)		 277
(178–376)
8  Closed Timber
     Litter
9  Hardwood Litter
10 Timber Litter&
     Understory

 693
(594–792)




 455
(396–515)




 447
(370–448)




 378
(255–452)

*Based on San Dimas Technology & Development Center, Tech Tip – 1151-1805P, Fireline Production Rates, 2011. No data was collected in fuel models 3, 7, and 11 – 13.

**Numbers in parentheses are expected ranges of line production.

***IA = Initial Attack

Sustained Line Production Rates of 20-Person Crews in Feet per Hour*

Fire Behavior Fuel Model Crew
Type 1		 Crew
Type 2
7 Southern Rough 264 132
11 Logging Slash, Light 990 594
12 Logging Slash, Medium 462 264
13 Logging Slash, Heavy 330 198

*Based on various sources from pre-1980.

Sustained Line Production Rates of 20-Person Crews in Chains per Hour*

Fire Behavior Fuel Model Type 1
Direct		 Type I
Indirect		 Type II & II IA***
Direct		 Type II & II IA***
Indirect
1 Short Grass
2 Open Timber
    Grass
3 Tall Grass		 17
(12—21)**


 9.5
(7.7—11.3)


 10.0
(5.0—15.0)


 4.2
(2.7—5.7)
4 Chaparral

 6.6
(5—8)		 5
(2.7—7.3)		 7.0
(6.2—7.9)		 4.2
(2.7—5.7)
5 Brush

 16.5
(14—19)		 4.9
(3.7—6.1)		 7.0
(6.2—7.9)		 4.2
(2.7—5.7)
6 Dormant Brush
   Hardwood Slash		 16.5
(14—19)		 4.9
(3.7—6.1)		 7.0
(6.2—7.9)		 4.2
(2.7—5.7)
8  Closed Timber
     Litter
9  Hardwood Litter
10 Timber Litter &
     Understory		 10.5
(9—12)



 6.9
(6.0—7.8)



 7.0
(6.2—7.9)



 4.2
(2.7—5.7)

*Based on San Dimas Technology & Development Center, Tech Tip — 1151—1805P, Fireline Production Rates, 2011.

**Numbers in parentheses are expected ranges of line production.

***IA = Initial Attack

Sustained Line Production Rates of 20-Person Crews in Chains per Hour*

Fire Behavior Fuel Model Crew
Type I		 Crew
Type II
7 Southern Rough 4 2
11 Logging Slash, Light 15 9
12 Logging Slash, Medium 7 4
13 Logging Slash, Heavy 5 3

*Based on various sources from pre-1980.

Line Production Rates for Initial Action by Hand Crews in Chains per Person per Hour

Fire Behavior Fuel Model Specific Conditions Construction Rate
(in chains per person per hour)
1 Short Grass

 Grass
Tundra		 4.0
1.0
2 Open Timber/Grass
    Understory
All
3.0
3 Tall Grass All 0.7
4 Chaparral

 Chaparral
High Pocosin		 0.4
0.7
5 Brush All 0.7
6 Dormant Brush/Hardwood
    Slash		 Black Spruce
Others		 0.7
1.0
7 Southern Rough All 0.7
8 Closed Timber Litter

 Conifers
Hardwoods		 2.0
10.0
9 Hardwood Litter

 Conifers
Hardwoods		 2.0
8.0
10 Timber (Litter & Understory) All 1.0
11 Logging Slash, Light) All 1.0
12 Logging Slash, Medium All 1.0
13 Logging Slash, Heavy All 0.4

Note: These rates are to be used for estimating initial action productivity only. Do not use these rates to estimate sustained line construction, burnout, and holding productivity. Initial action may consist of scratch line construction and hotspotting.

    Chains Per Crew Hour
    Number of Persons in Crew
Fire Behavior Fuel Model Specific Conditions 1 2 3 4 5+
1 Short Grass

 Grass
Tundra		 6
2		 12
8		 24
15		 35
24		 40
30
2 Open Timber/Grass
   Understory		 All

 3

 7

 15

 21

 25
3 Tall Grass All 2 5 10 14 16
4 Chaparral

 Chaparral
High Pocosin		 2
2		 3
4		 8
10		 15
15		 20
18
5 Brush (minimum 2 ft tall) All 3 6 12 16 20
6 Dormant Brush/Hardwood
   Slash		 Black Spruce
Others		 3
3		 6
6		 10
12		 16
16		 20
20
7 Southern Rough All 2 5 12 16 20
8 Closed Timber Litter

 Conifers
Hardwoods		 3
10		 8
30		 15
40		 20
50		 24
60
9 Hardwood Litter

 Conifers
Hardwoods		 3
8		 7
25		 12
40		 18
50		 22
60
10 Timber (Litter&
     Understory)		 All 3 8 12 16 20
11 Logging Slash, Light All 3 8 12 16 20
12 Logging Slash, Medium All 3 5 10 16 20
13 Logging Slash, Heavy All 2 4 8 15 20

Note: These rates are to be used for estimating initial action productivity only. Do not use these rates to estimate sustained line construction, burnout, and holding productivity. Initial action may consist of scratch line construction and hotspotting.

  Constructed Fireline (in chains)
Fuel Type Explosives Crew Hand Crew
Grass 360 360
Second-Growth Conifers 240 180
Light Slash 210 90
Heavy Slash 120 45

Note: This is based upon Washington State Department of Natural Resources experience.

Dozer Fireline Construction Rates (Single Pass) in Chains per Hour

Fire Behavior Fuel Model Up or Down Slope Slope Class
1
0—25%		 Slope Class
2
26—40%		 Slope Class
3
41—55%		 Slope Class
4
56—74%
Type III Dozer
1, 2		 Up
Down		 55—90
90—110		 30—55
90—110		 8—30
20—90		 0—8
0—20
3, 5, 8 Up
Down		 45—70
70—80		 25—45
65—80		 2—25
0—65		 0—2
0
4.00 Up
Down		 20—35
35—40		 10—20
25—40		 0—10
0—25		 0
0
6, 7, 9 Up
Down		 35—55
55—60		 15—35
40—60		 0—15
0—40		 0
0
11, 12 Up
Down		 15—25
25—30		 7—15
10—30		 0—7
0—10		 0
0
10, 13 Up
Down		 8—15
10—15		 3—8
5—10		 0—3
0—5		 0
0
Type II Dozer
1, 2		 Up
Down		 85—125
125—145		 60—85
130—145		 30—60
75—130		 0—30
0—75
3, 5, 8 Up
Down		 70—105
105—120		 45—70
105—120		 15—45
55—105		 0—15
0—55
4.00 Up
Down		 35—60
60—75		 20—35
65—76		 2—20
20—65		 0—2
0—20
6, 7, 9 Up
Down		 50—85
85—100		 30—50
85—100		 7—30
40—85		 0—7
0—40
11, 12 Up
Down		 25—40
40—55		 15—25
45—55		 1—15
0—45L		 0—1
0
10, 13 Up
Down		 10—20
20—25		 7—10
20—25		 0—7
0—20		 0
0
Type I Dozer
1, 2		 Up
Down		 100—140
140—155		 70—100
140—155		 35—70
85—140		 0—35
0—85
3, 5, 8 Up
Down		 75—110
110—130		 50—75
110—130		 20—50
55—110		 0—20
0—55
4.00 Up
Down		 45—70
70—80		 30—45
75—85		 8—30
25—75		 0—8
0—25
6, 7, 9 Up
Down		 65—95
95—110		 40—65
90—110		 15—40
50—90		 0—15
0—50
11, 12 Up
Down		 35—55
55—65		 20—35
55—65		 3—20
6—55L		 0—3
0—6
10, 13 Up
Down		 20—35
35—40		 9—20
30—40		 0—9
0—30		 0
0

Dozer Fireline Construction Rates (Single Pass) in Chains Per Hour (Continued)

Note: Production rates are not precise but vary with conditions. The higher rate can be
applied for situations involving:

  • Newer dozers (1975 and later)
  • Dozers in excellent operating condition
  • Most-qualified operators
  • Temperatures below 90 °F
  • Moist soil, few or no rocks
  • No lost time
  • Indirect fireline
  • Average fire behavior
  • Daylight operations
  • Less resistive vegetative types within each fire behavior fuel model
Dozer Horse Power Examples
Type I HEAVY
200 Minimum Horse Power 		D—8, D—7, JD—950
Type II MEDIUM
100 Minimum Horse Power		 D—5N, D—6N, JD—750
Type III LIGHT
50 Minimum Horse Power		 JD—450, JD—550, D—3, D—4

Minimum standards for personnel with dozers will differ depending on fuel type, terrain, and resource configuration. Dozer strike teams may use team leader in place of additional personnel per dozer. Fuel requiring burnout and terrain that requires scouting demands two personnel per dozer.

Tractor Plow Fireline Production Rates in Chains per Hour

Drag or Mounted Plow, Appropriate Blade, Level to Rolling Terrain

  Tractor Plow Type
    1 2 3 4 5 6
Fire Behavior Fuel Model   (165 HP)
D—7, JD—850 & Larger

 (140 HP)
D—6, JD—750, TD—15, Case 1450		 (120 HP)
D—5H, D—4H, Case 1150

 (90 HP)
D—4, JD—650, D—5C

 (70—80 HP)
JD—450, D—4C5C

 (70—80 HP)
JD—450, D—4C5C
1 240 240 240 200 180 80
2 180 180 180 140 120 80
3 180 180 180 120 100 70
4 80 80 60 40 20 0
5 160 160 160 100 80 40
6 120 120 100 60 40 20
7 160 160 160 120 100 60
8 180 180 180 120 100 70
9 180 180 180 120 100 70
10 100 100 80 50 40 20
  Mountainous terrain, 60% or less slope, front- and rear-mounted plow, downhill plowing
8 — — — 50 40 20
9 — — — 50 40 20
  Mountainous terrain, 60% or less slope, using ripper attachment, up/down slope fireline construction
1,2,3 20/30 10/30 0/30 — — —
4,6,12,13 10/20 5/10 0/5 — — —
5, 7 ,8—10, 11 12/25 8/15 0/10 — — —

— = Not applicable