Mitigating Wildfire Risk with Integrated Vegetation Management

Highway on mountain top - burned vegatation

A Case Study of Shaded Fuel Break Benefits

The risk of wildfires is growing across the U.S., as more regions experience extreme heat and drought. Along a northern California highway, Caltrans used an integrated vegetation management (IVM) approach, including the use of selective herbicides, to establish and maintain a shaded fuel break that proved highly effective at stopping fire spread in a recent wildfire. The images and videos below (all courtesy of Caltrans) provide dramatic evidence of the importance of maintaining shaded fuel breaks.

“I wasn’t surprised that it worked, but I was awestruck by seeing the benefits of doing this work. It was almost a textbook example of why we do what we do.”
—Kris Mitchell, Caltrans Vegetation Manager, District 3

With wildfires growing not only in frequency, but also intensity, take a deep dive into how one Department of Transportation is battling back with integrated vegetation management.

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Videos

Flyover of Park Fire Aftermath

Drone flyover along Highway 32 in Butte County, California, following the 2024 Park Fire. Fire damage is seen on the right while properties on the left are unscathed, protected by the shaded fuel break.

Flyover of Park Fire Aftermath

POV of Fire Damage Along Highway

Point of view driving on Highway 32. Fire damage is seen on both sides of road.

POV of Fire Damage Along Highway

Point of view driving on Highway 32. Fire damage is seen on both sides of road.

Drone View of Shaded Fuel Break Effect

This view shows a stark contrast between fire-decimated landscape on the right and the area protected by the shaded fuel break on the left.

Drone View of Shaded Fuel Break Effect

This view shows a stark contrast between fire-decimated landscape on the right and the area protected by the shaded fuel break on the left.

Drone View of Fire Damage

Overhead view showing the breadth of devastation from the Park Fire. The shaded fuel break (right) prevented further fire spread.

Drone View of Fire Damage

Overhead view showing the breadth of devastation from the Park Fire. The shaded fuel break (right) prevented further fire spread.

Flyover of Park Fire Aftermath

POV of Fire Damage Along Highway

Drone View of Shaded Fuel Break Effect

Drone View of Fire Damage

View of shaded fuel break area and clear line where fire spread stopped.

Devastation from the Park Fire is seen on the left. The shaded fuel break (right) protected the homes beyond.

Devastation from the Park Fire is seen on the left. The fire stopped where it encountered the fuel break by the highway.

Widespread fire damage can be seen on the right, compared to the area protected by the shaded fuel break on the left.

Roadside area burned in Park Fire.

Burned forest area along Highway 32 (left). The fuel break stopped the fire from jumping the road (right).

Wide overhead view of Highway 32 showing where fire stopped.

The shaded fuel break (middle, left) prevented fire spread, leaving trees untouched on the other side of Highway 32.

Burned out landscape (right) leading up to the shaded fuel break. Vegetation to the left of the highway was spared.

View of damage up a ridge leading to Highway 32. The fuel break across the road stopped the fire spread.

Overhead view of Highway 32 showing clear delineation where the fire was stopped by the shaded fuel break across the road.

Severe charring and vegetation damage is seen on the right, compared to the fuel break area and green vegetation on the left.

A burned-out vehicle sits among the Park Fire debris.

View of expansive damage from the Park Fire (left) and the undamaged landscape beyond the shaded fuel break (right).

The Park Fire decimated the landscape seen on the left, while trees beyond the fuel break (right) remain untouched.

Opposite view showing almost total loss of vegetation on the right, and landscape that was spared on the left.

Wide view of Highway 32 showing fire damage on left, and area protected by shaded fuel break on right.

View showing how the Park Fire swept through the landscape approaching Highway 32 before encountering a shaded fuel break.

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