Fire plays an incredibly important role in the Montana landscape, and is vital to the environment we live in and love.   Living in Montana means living WITH and adapting to the threats that wildfires create.   Fuels Reduction is one of the most effective ways to address the threats wildfires bring.

So what is Fuels Reduction?  In a nutshell, removing, reducing,  or limiting the availability of fuels for a wildfire to burn, and doing so in a way that benefits both the environment and the landowner.  What exactly this entails varies with every property.  Building a multi-million-dollar timber framed house on a heavily timbered, steep north slope isn’t the same as a metal building on an open sage and grass flat… the fire behavior, fuel loading, and potential hazards are completely different.  It takes a lot of experience to know the differences, and what exactly needs to be done to minimize the hazards wildfires bring.   

From full scale logging- style management of large parcels to low impact hand removal of trees, grasses, and shrubs from around your remote forest cabin, Twisted Tree brings the experience and knowledge you need for the very best, custom tailored fuels reduction possible.  Call today for a Property Assessment and see what we can offer!!

A lot of people are afraid that Fuels Reduction means destruction… ugly, torn up and no environmental appeal.  This is exactly what we try to avoid.  Low Impact Fuels Reduction is a specialty of Twisted Tree Fire and Forestry.  Using novel techniques, a good understanding of the environment, and a lot of work by hand, we can eliminate the negative impacts of the Fuels Reduction process.

Our goal on any project is to create a HEALTHY environment.  We work with the existing vegetation… looking at types of fuels, geography and slope influence, density of fuel loading, amount of dead material, watershed, and several other factors to determine our best approach.  A healthy environment is a beautiful one, and that is what we strive for.

The end result?  Forests go from messy to amazing.  Tree health improves.  Forbs receive the sun they need to thrive.  Competition for water and minerals goes down, and the remaining plants are healthier for it.  High danger fuels such as Juniper and Sage may get thinned heavily, while fire resistant plants such as Lupine, Chokecherry, and Aspen are given a chance to thrive.  Fuels can be spaced to limit fire spread, but still have the natural appeal and habitat potential that Montana is famous for.  We work WITH your property and with YOU to create the appeal you want, while giving you the fire safety you need. 

Also consider our Fire Safe Landscaping and Fire Protection Systems!!!

Aspen stands throughout the West are struggling to survive.  100+ years of taking Wildfire out of the environment has led to heavy encroachment of Conifers into the historic Aspen stands.  These encroaching Conifers target the readily available nutrients in the Aspen stands, and kill the Aspen as a result.  Several National Forests, including the Gallatin and the Beaverhead Deerlodge here in Montana, have active programs to remove some or all of the Conifers from the Aspen stands, allowing the Aspen to regenerate and thrive.  The programs have been incredibly successful, and the results can be seen in several parts of the Madison Valley.

Twisted Tree follows a similar process to the Forest Service, but with more emphasis put into visual appeal and fuels reduction.  The end results are nothing short of gorgeous!   There are a lot of benefits to removing Conifers from Aspen stands… more nutrients available, better sunlight, less competition for water, and no intertwining Conifer killing the mature trees. 

This process also significantly increases the resistance to wildfires, as clean Aspen stands don’t burn well.

Contact us and see what we can do for your Aspen health!!