Snag Safety and Hazard Tree Indicators
ENVIRONMENTAL AND OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS
Some indicators that may increase snag hazards include:
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- Strong winds
- Night operations
- Steep Slopes
- Diseased or bug-kill areas
- Helicopter bucket drops and rotor down drafts
- Retardant drops
- Vibrations from heavy equipment and motor vehicles operating nearby
- Use of explosives in fireline construction
HAZARD TREE INDICATORS
Some of the common signs which should warn you about a potentially dangerous condition include:
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- Trees have been burning for an extended period of time
- High risk tree species (rot and shallow root system, i.e., cypress)
- Numerous down trees
- Dead or broken tops and limbs overhead
- Accumulation of down limbs
- Absence of needles, bark or limbs
- Leaning or hung-up trees
