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Fire

Reduce Forest Fuels With Air Curtain Destructors

Thinning for wildland fire mitigation and forest health is critical to fire and fuels management. Although prescribed fires and burn piles have been the traditional methods of removing the excess fuel and vegetation, the San Dimas Technology and Development Center (SDTDC) has evaluated the use of air curtain destructors.

The tech tip, The Use of Air Curtain Destructors for Fuel Reduction and Disposal (0551–1303P–SDTDC), provides information on this alternative method of removing excess fuel.

Air curtain destructors are self-contained burning chambers. High-velocity air is blown across the top of the chamber:

• Increasing the amount of oxygen available for combustion
• Raising burning temperatures inside the unit
• Contributing to more complete combustion
• Reducing emissions and smoke

For additional information about air curtain destructors, contact Sue Zahn, project leader (phone: 909–599–1267, ext. 226; e-mail: szahn@fs.fed.us).

An informational video is available. If you are interested in obtaining copies of the video, please send an e-mail message to Janie Ybarra (jybarra@fs.fed.us) or Sue Zahn (szahn@fs.fed.us).

To order the tech tip, contact Robin Schnepp, SDTDC publications (phone: 909–599–1267, ext. 235; e-mail: rschnepp@fs.fed.us).

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