WILDLIFE TREE OR HAZARD TREE? Coast Range Contracting Ltd.

OVERVIEW What is a wildlife tree? What is a dangerous tree? Safety alert Wind speed indicators Potential hazards Dangerous outcomes Firefighting

WHAT IS A WILDLIFE TREE?? A wildlife tree is any standing dead or live tree with special characteristics that provide valuable habitat for wildlife.

How to ID a Wildlife Tree - spike, - fork or broken tops, - cavities, - loose bark, -large platform limbs and brooms. Habitat features provide opportunities for wildlife to use the tree for feeding, nesting, shelter, over wintering or hibernation, and perching.

WHAT IS A DANGEROUS TREE? A dangerous tree is defined as a tree that is a hazard to a worker due to: (a) Its location or lean (b) Its physical damage (c) Overhead conditions (d) Deterioration of its limbs, stem or root system (e) Any combination of the conditions in (a) to (d)

POTENTIAL HAZARDS Conks or mushrooms – assume that heart rot conks are dangerous indicators of advanced internal decay. Mushrooms on the lower bole or roots of the tree might indicate root disease. Dead limbs – consider the size of the dead limbs (e.g.10 cm for most species) and height above the ground. These are particularly dangerous where there are signs of weakness (e.g. visual sign of decay, cracking, sloughing or hanging).

Witches’ brooms – consider large brooms (1 meter in bulk size) on weak, dead limbs Root damage or leaning tree – if more than 25% of the major support roots are lifted/rotten

Hazard top – dead tops and secondary tops are particularly dangerous where there are visual signs of weakness (e.g., splits, cavities, shrubs growing out of forks, conks, signs of advanced rot). Snags with weak tops are also dangerous where 20% of the tree height is an unstable top. Thick sloughing bark Split trunk – deep cracks with internal decay indicates serious weakness where tree could fail.

Hazard Top Split Trunk

WIND INCREASING THE RISK Wind increases the risk of being struck by a hazard tree or a limb from a tree. When winds present a hazard, stay two tree lengths from trees or the tree line. Recognize wind hazards as well as dangerous or hazard trees

WIND SPEED INDICATORS Low (<10 km/hr): Leaves and small twigs in constant motion speed; wind extends light flag Moderate (10-20km/hr, gusts >30km/hr): Small trees sway, maps/paper difficult to hold still. High (>20km/hr, gusts >40km/hr): Whole trees in motion, clouds moving rapidly, rain blowing sideways.

If unknown, assume wind is high, always be conservative in judgement Windspeed ALWAYS increases with elevation (mountain top winds higher than valley bottom winds).

SAFETY ALERT Fatality - 2015-07-05 - Faller On July 5th while falling a tree, a manual tree faller was struck by a second tree and fatally injured. He was working for the BC Wildfire Service near Sechelt.

WHEN A TREE FAILS IN THE FOREST: Click the box below to view US Forest Service video on tree falls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9UzFS0jUiQ

TIPS FOR FIREFIGHTERS Follow good firefighting practices like LACES to help manage wildfire hazards: Lookout A lookout person will let firefighters know of any changes in the weather or site conditions. Lookouts can help danger tree fallers spot overhead hazards before the falling work begins. Anchor Always start at an established anchor point like a road. Working from a safe anchor position will help keep you from getting in the middle of a dangerous situation. Communications Have radio communications with your team. Be able to react immediately when a lookout warns of a new hazard. Evacuation Route Establish and practice using an escape route before you need it. Safety Zone The escape route should take you to a safe zone that is large enough to protect you and your crew from falling trees or from an unexpected fire blow up.

RESOURCES: BCFSC safety alert US Forest Service Photos found on the internet unable to be sourced For more information, contact the BCFSC, Forest Service wildfire branch and WSBC.