National Fire Plan Success Story
Williams Trail Fuel Break Tested During the Galion Fire
Huron-Manistee National Forest
National Fire Plan - Fuels Reduction - 2007
In an effort to protect a small subdivision from wildfire, a shaded fuel break was constructed adjacent to homes along Williams Trail in 2002. The fuel break was about ½ mile long and 200 to 300 feet wide. The construction consisted of tree thinning to increase the distance between the tree crowns. Further, several homeowners prepared for potential wildfire events by establishing defensible space around their homes and thinning flammable tree species such as jack and red pine.
On August 30, 2007, the Galion Fire erupted to the south of the Williams Trail subdivision. The fire quickly transformed into a running crown fire heading toward the Williams Trail subdivision; however, once the fire hit the fuel break its intensity reduced to a ground fire. Although the ground fire continued through the fuel break and into the subdivision and destroyed several structures, most remained damage free; home owners who had prepared ahead of time suffered little or no damage to their homes or outbuildings.
The fire spread was stopped later that day as the weather moderated and the fire ran into the moister, riparian area of Silver Creek. In total, 557 acres burned and two homes were lost in the subdivision adjacent to the fuel break. The fire was controlled with the help of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Grant Township, Tawas City, East Tawas and Plainfield Township Fire Departments, Michigan State Police, Iosco County Sheriff, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Contact: Barb Bonefeld at (231) 775-5023 or bbonefeld@fs.fed.us