Title page 1

Contents 3

Summary 2

Overview 5

Concepts and Terminology 5

Hazardous Fuels and Fire Behavior 7

Fire Regimes: Fire over Time and Space 10

Fire on Non-Forested Lands 11

Fuels Mitigation Approaches 12

Fire as a Fuels Mitigation Approach 12

Prescribed Fires and Use of Wildland Fire 12

Cultural Burning 14

Benefits and Risks of Use of Wildland Fire 15

Mechanical Treatments 17

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mechanical Treatments 18

Biological and Chemical Approaches 19

Targeted Grazing 19

Herbicide Application 22

Fuel Breaks and Firebreaks 23

Maintenance 25

Federal Role and National Policies 25

Federal Role in Hazardous Fuels Mitigation 25

The Healthy Forests Restoration Act 26

Collaboration with Nonfederal Groups 27

Federal Support for Hazardous Fuels Management on Nonfederal Lands 27

Issues for Congress 28

Authorizations and Programs 28

Pace and Scale of Implementation 28

Tracking and Accountability 29

Appendix A. Fire Regime Classifications 32

Appendix B. Hazardous Fuels Mitigation Introduced Legislation in the 119th Congress 35

Author Information 39

Disclaimer 39

Table 1. Elements of Hazardous Fuels 6

Table A-1. Fire Regime Classifications 32

Table A-2. Fire Regime Condition Class 33

Table B-1. Hazardous Fuels Mitigation Bills in the 119th Congress 35