FBP Fuel Type Descriptions

S3 - Coastal Cedar–Hemlock–Douglas-Fir Slash

This fuel type is characterized by slash resulting from high-lead clear-cut logging of mature to overmature coastal British Columbia mixed conifer stands. Predominant species are western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn.), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Slash is typically one season old, with the cedar component retaining all its foliage in a cured condition on the branches, whereas the hemlock and Douglas-fir components will have dropped up to 50% of their foliage. Slash fuels tend to be continuous and uncompacted. Very large loadings of broken and rotten unmerchantable material may be present, depending on degree of stand decadence. Slash fuel depths may range from 0.5 to 2.0 m. Ground cover may be feather moss or just compact old needle litter under significant quantities of recent needle litter fallen from the slash. Organic layers are moderately deep to deep and compact. Minor to moderate shrub and herbaceous understory components may be present. This fuel type designation may also be applied to wet belt cedar–hemlock slash of coastal and interior British Columbia where the Douglas-fir component is absent.