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Since the early 1940's prescribed fire has been used as a management tool on the
Grindstone Project on the Mendocino National
Forest in Northern California. The Grindstone Project is a chamise-chaparral area of
165 square miles managed for wildlife, watershed, range, and fire management objectives.
The Grindstone Project evolved out of a serious need to manage, or at least control, the thick, massive stands of brush that created catastrophic fire conditions. The disastrous
"Rattlesnake Fire" of 1953, which claimed 13 lives, focused attention on the intensity of the problem.
The project site was chosen for several reasons. The vegetation, climate, topography, and soil conditions resemble other areas along the interior valley slopes of California. An equally important consideration was whether the area could be managed in a way that not only met the needs of forest and range resources, but would reduce wildfires as well.
The Grindstone Project originated in the Grindstone and Rattlesnake drainages on the east slope of the California Coast Range Mountains in northern Glenn and southern Tehama counties.
Years of research, experimentation, administration, and application of brushland management techniques in the area have improved wildlife habitat and grazing for cattle, increased water yields, and reduced the threat of serious fire situations.
In addition to the Forest Service, other cooperators are involved in carrying out the original objectives of the program. The objectives that have been spelled out for the Grind-
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Presented at the Symposium on Dynamics and Management of Mediterranean-type Ecosystems,
June 22-26, 1981, San Diego, California.
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Fire Management Officer, Mendocino National
Forest, U.S. Forest Service, Willows, California
95988
Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-58. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Forest and Range
Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 1982.
Abstract: Prescribed fire has been used as a tool for improving wildlife habitat range and water yield and reducing the vegetative fuel loading in chamise chaparral on the Grindstone
Project, Mendocino National Forest, California, since the 1950's. In 1979 the helitorch, a helicopter-borne ignition device, was introduced to the project, which increased the amount of acres burned, allowed burning on more days, and decreased costs. Policies and procedures for the use of this new tool were developed for both prescribed burning and as a backfiring tool on wildland fires. stone Project have set the stage and served as guidelines for all those with an interest in and/or decision making responsibility for similar projects.
COOPERATION OF OTHERS
Back in the 1950's and 1960's, the United
States Forest Service managed and disposed of the heavy brush. In the 1970's, the California
Department of Fish and Game, and the Glenn
County Fish and Game Commission joined forces with the Forest Service to identify the most suitable uses and the benefits that could be derived from the land and its resources.
In 1973, a new, expanded cooperative program focused on rebuilding past accomplishments and reemphasizing wildlife, grazing, watershed, fire management, and recreation needs. At that time, the Grindstone Project became a coordinated effort between the California Department of Fish and Game, the County of Glenn, local ranchers, and the Mendocino National Forest.
Today, this joint venture has expanded beyond Grindstone Canyon. It now includes the
California Department of Forestry, Bureau of
Land Management, Soil Conservation Service, other counties and many private landowners.
Everyone with an interest or responsibility in the program works together to reach common objectives.
TREATMENT METHODS
Fire has always played a vital role in the
Grindstone Project. By 1973, some 2,500 acres of brush had been converted to grass, at a cost of 85 dollars per acre. Controlled burning of small patches of brush, called "sprout burning", has enhanced wildlife, range, and watershed conditions. Through "sprout burning," old brushfields have become open stands of young brush, grass, and forbs.
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The handheld drip torch served as the primary fire starter, and the construction of fire lines enabled control. Through experimentation a less expensive technique for controlled burning of brush was adopted. This technique, known as
"prescribed burning," uses weather factors— wind, temperature, humidity—to determine the size of the burn. This has eliminated the need for costly fire lines. Prescribed burning to reach resource objectives is done under careful supervision and only when specific weather conditions prevail. By the mid-70's, burning brush, without converting to grass, cost between
10 and 30 dollars per acre.
The Grindstone Project could actually be called a "pilot area." The advances in fire technology learned and practiced here can be applied in Southern California, as well as other parts of the country. The Mediterraneantype climate and heavy brushfields also make the Grindstone a test area for other parts of the world where conditions are similar.
HELITORCH IN PRESCRIBED FIRE
The helitorch, a newly introduced fire starting device suspended under a helicopter was brought to the Grindstone Project in March 1979.
This was the first use of this airborne tool for burning chaparral brush.
The helitorch consists of an aluminum frame,
55-gallon barrel, pump, and ignition device. The fuel used is a mixture of regular gas and fuel thickener, which forms "gelgas." The pilot activates the pump and ignition device which spreads the "gelgas" on the ground in golf ball size drops and ignites the brush.
The helitorch was tested on the Grindstone
Project to determine whether it could improve the efficiency of existing burning methods.
Under rigid test conditions, the helitorch proved it not only had a place in prescribed burning, but had the capability of being used in controlling wildfire as well. This testing on the
Mendocino National Forest led to the development of policies and procedures for use of the helitorch in prescribed burning and wildland fires.
The cost and effectiveness of the helitorch greatly exceeds that of handheld torch burning methods. In March 1980, 1,700 acres of brush were burned in one day. Normally, fire crews using the conventional method would require an entire season to treat that much brush. Not only is prescribed burning less costly with a helitorch, 5 to 7 dollars per acre - it is more efficient and not as risky as brush burning by hand. The helitorch can ignite brush when conditions are wetter than normal, and this tool also permits the use of prescribed fires in areas previously declared unsafe or inaccessible.
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MAJOR OBJECTIVES - BENEFITS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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To improve habitat conditions and increase wildlife populations.
Big and small game have prospered. For example, it is estimated that the Alder Springs
Deer Herd population increased by 300 percent between 1973 and 1979.
2.
To increase the grazing capacity of the range.
Through burning, old fields of brush are converted into open stands of brush and grass. More than 1,500 pounds of forage are produced on-site annually. One cow can feed on two burned-over acres for a month.
3.
To increase the quantity of water.
Prescribed burning increases run-off by 100,000 gallons per acre per year. Part of the increase comes as run-off in the winter; part as an extended flow into the dry summer. The results are increased year-round springs, more water being stored off-site in reservoirs for longer water flow periods.
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To reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire.
After brush has been treated, wildfire can be controlled quicker and easier, with increased safety afforded to the firefighters.
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To involve, communicate with, and develop an understanding among interest groups and cooperators.
Working relationships, efficiency, knowledge, and decision-making capabilities among these groups have improved.
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To provide a demonstration area where people can be trained in the use of prescribed fire in brush lands, in burning without control lines, and in helitorch techniques, and where costeffectiveness of these techniques can be tested.
Hundreds of people have been trained on the
Grindstone Project. The cost-effectiveness of the various techniques used here has been monitored. The application and economic evaluation of these new skills is now being tested elsewhere.
7.
To enhance recreation enjoyment.
Hunting and fishing opportunities increase with improved habitat and watershed conditions. Equally important is improved access and esthetic qualities of the landscape.
8.
To achieve a favorable cost-benefit ratio for the project.
Analysis completed for a five-year study period
(1974-1979) concluded that resource management benefits derived from the Grindstone Project

totaled 638,082 dollars. This equated to a
7.85 dollar return for each 1 dollar invested.
HELITORCH IN WILDLAND FIRE SUPPRESSION
The Pacific Southwest Region of the Forest
Service selected a committee of land managers and fire management personnel to develop a testing and evaluation procedure for use of the helitorch during the 1979 wildfire season in
California.
The Committee recommended that two Forest
Service helicopter modules be equipped and trained to operate with the helitorch for the
1979 fire season.
Helicopter crews on the Mendocino National
Forest and the Cleveland National Forest were chosen as the first two crews due to their experience with the torch during the spring prescribed burning season and their location in the state (one north, one south).
The Committee developed testing and evaluation procedures requiring a trained Firing Boss with helitorch experience and a Fire Behavior Officer on each fire at which the torch was to be used.
A helitorch firing plan and fire weather readings had to be prepared before the torch could be deployed.
The Committee also required that the Helitorch
Firing Boss have positive control of the helitorch on firing runs by means of an exclusive radio frequency and visual contact during each run. This resulted in a second helicopter being used as the observation platform for the Helitorch Firing Boss. Safety regulations would not allow the firing boss to ride in the helicopter carrying the helitorch.
The helitorch was first used on a wildfire on the Nacimiento Fire on the Los Padres National
Forest on September 4, 1979. It was subsequently used on six more wildfires in California during the 1979 fire season.
Summary
Following is a summary of the helitorch use:
Nacimiento Fire - Los Padres National Forest,
September 4, 1979
Burned 100-150-acre island of chamise across a steep canyon from the fire line. Successful burn. Many firemen were able to observe.
Pinecrest Fire - Angeles National Forest,
September 14, 1979
Used to burn out areas inaccessible or unsafe to do by hand methods, 40-60 acres. Burned ground fuels, did not burn canopy. Burn considered a success.
Pinecrest Fire - Angeles National Forest,
September 15, 1979
Burned islands of brush under Mt. Wilson after fire made its initial run.
Sage (Monte) Fire - Angeles National Forest,
September 16, 1979
Used helitorch to assist backfiring around Mt.
Gleason Complex. Ignited 100 acres of chamise to draw fire away from buildings. Very successful. Changed wind direction and increased wind from 10 to 20 miles per hour. Observed by a number of City, County and California Department of Forestry Firemen. Also fired about 1/2 mile on preconstructed firebreak. Very successful operation.
Sage Fire - Angeles National Forest,
September 17-18, 1979
Assisted in firing handline. Fire jumped line, used helicopter for water dropping and medivac.
Santa Ana Fire - San Bernardino National Forest,
September 19-21, 1979
Assisted in hand line fire out operation. Moderate success due to Recon Helicopter unavailability. Burned out four miles of fire line in nine-year old brush. Used 600 gallons of jellied gas. Incident Commander said helitorch reduced manning that fire line by one full shift.
Otay Fire - California Department of Forestry,
San Diego County, September 21, 1979
Helitorch used on about 500 acres of burnout.
California Department of Forestry Firing Boss said results were very good.
It was apparent during the testing and evaluation period that the helitorch gives the wildland fireman more ability to ignite backfires or to burnout where it is impossible or unacceptably unsafe to fire by conventional methods. It also provides a much more rapid method of ignition which allows the fireman to take advantage of favorable weather conditions (i.e. wind direction and speed, humidity, etc.).
In prescribed burning with limited permissive burn days, the helitorch makes it possible to burn more area per burn day, and to burn in a more favorable prescription.
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After a successful testing evaluation period the Regional Helitorch Committee met and recommended that the helitorch be declared an operational tool for use in prescribed burning and wildfire in California with a minimum of restrictions and conditions. The Committee also recommended that nine helicopter modules be equipped and trained to operate the torch during the 1980 wildland fire season. These recommendations were accepted and made policy by the Regional
Forester on December 21, 1979.
Further information on the use of the helitorch in prescribed burning and wildfire can be obtained by contacting DENNY BUNGARZ, Fire Management Officer, Mendocino National Forest, 420 East Laurel
Street, Willows, California 95988, phone (916)
934-3316.
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