National Fire Plan Success Story
WUI Lines aid in Fire Suppression
De Soto National Forest, Mississippi
National Fire Plan - Firefighting
2008
Wildfire stopped at pre-constructed "WUI" Line.
Mississippi constructed over 600 miles of WUI lines. These are firebreaks between Forest Service property and private ownership especially where homes and other Wildland Urban Interface improvements are present. These lines have proved very useful for fire suppression over the last 2 years. These WUI lines provide a break between land ownerships as well as access for fire resources.
On March 23, 2008, De Soto National Forest fire resources responded to the Digger Bear fire near the community of Ramsey Springs. The fire was burning in southern rough with heavy dead and down fuels from hurricane Katrina. The Incident commander said that the fire area was surrounded on three sides by WUI lines. The lines provided the resources with a holding point for the fire as well as access along the private boundary. They also allowed the crews to attack the fire in a safe manner without having to work their way through the heavy fuel load on the ground. The fire was contained at 210 acres. There were 6 structures and as many out buildings threatened but, because of the WUI lines none were damaged.
This is just one of many success stories on the De Soto National Forest where the time and expense of constructing WUI lines and performing other fuel reduction projects paid off when wildfires occurred.
Contact: Mike Dueitt, Forest Fire Management Officer, 601-965-1668 or mdueitt@fs.fed.us.