Firebreaks are one of the simplest and cheapest fire protection you can provide your woodlands. Firebreaks, which are from 10-30 feet wide, are not designed to stop a raging, windblown crown fire. They are designed to prevent fires from getting large and out of control.

Firebreaks serve several important functions. First, they divide the timber tract into compartments. This compartmentalization of the woodlands serves the same purpose as the compartments in a battleship; that is to contain the fire to as small an acreage and the least amount of fuel as possible before firefighters arrive.

Accessibility is also important in fighting forest fires. Many fires which burn a hundred or more acres do so because firefighters cannot get through the woods to the front of the fire. Firebreaks and fire lanes can provide firefighters a readily available means of access to get around the fire. The sooner fighters can safely get in front of a wildfire, the better the chances of preventing a small fire from becoming a raging monster. Speed is important. Plowing fire line through the woods is slow work. And during a fire, it can be very dangerous.

One of the most common firefighting techniques is the use of a controlled backfire to create a wide and, hopefully, impassable fuel break or firebreak upwind of the forest fire. However, before fighters can backfire, they need an upwind fire line, firebreak, or fire lane to backup their backfire. When firebreaks are already present, fire fighters can get quickly to the business of backfiring and containment, rather than having to take time to establish firebreaks.

Compartmentalization, accessibility, and fire lines are essential in fighting wildfires. If more woodland owners would establish permanent firebreaks along at least their property lines, the highway and railroad right-of-ways, many of the accidental fires would be considerably quicker, easier, and safer to control. Established firebreaks can make the difference.

Periodic control burns of pine timber in the winter utilizing these fire lanes will increase pine growth, increase wildlife food, and decrease fuel buildup that would lead to wildfires. Qualified landowners can have these lines plowed free and a burning plan drawn. The county ranger would be glad to work with any interested landowner regarding the establishment of permanent firebreaks. His office telephone number is listed under "N. C. State of - Forest Service."

The cost of establishing and maintaining a permanent system of firebreaks is well worth the expense. Besides the "fire insurance" they provide, the establishment and maintenance costs are deductible forest management expenses.

Revised 2/16/2006.