Community Fuel Breaks

What is a fuel break? 

A fuel break is defined as, "a strip or block of land on which the vegetation, debris and detritus have been reduced and/or modified to control or diminsh the risk of the spread of fire crossings the strip or block of land." 

Reference: NRCS. Conservation Practice Standard: Fuel Break. CODE 383. April 2007.

A serene forest scene with tall trees, dappled sunlight, and a carpet of leaves on the ground, suggesting a calm natural setting.
Before Treatment
A serene forest scene with tall trees and a carpet of pine needles on the ground, creating a peaceful natural ambiance.
After Treatment
A metal gate stands in front of a wooded area, surrounded by trees and fallen leaves, indicating a boundary or entrance.
Before Treatment
A metal gate opens to a cleared area surrounded by trees, with sunlight filtering through the leaves.
After Treatment
A serene forest scene with tall trees, dappled sunlight, and a carpet of leaves on the ground, suggesting a calm natural setting.
A serene forest scene with tall trees and a carpet of pine needles on the ground, creating a peaceful natural ambiance.
A metal gate stands in front of a wooded area, surrounded by trees and fallen leaves, indicating a boundary or entrance.
A metal gate opens to a cleared area surrounded by trees, with sunlight filtering through the leaves.

What is a shaded fuel break?

A shaded fuel break is a strip of forested area between 100 - 400 feet wide. In shaded fuel breaks the goal is to reduce surface and ladder fuel, ultimately reducing vegetative density in the understory. Trees are spaced out and branches are pruned to 10 feet high. Fire intenstiy and the rate of spread are altered so that suppression resources can be engaged more safely and effectively.

A sunlit forest area with scattered trees and ground covered in leaves and wood chips, creating a peaceful natural scene.
Post mastication treatment in a section of the Upper Rancheria Fuel Break. 

Why are fuel breaks key to helping stop wildfires? 

Fuel breaks are essential to helping firefighters establish control lines and slow wildfire spread. With the reduction of brush and ladder fuels, fire intensity lessens and the flames remain at ground level, instead of spreading into the canopy. Read more about the Tiger Creek Fuel Break and it doing its job for fire crews to stop the Tiger Fire at the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management. Fuel breaks alone will not save communities; however, they are a strategy that can be used to reduce severity and provide time for first responders to respond.

Fuel Breaks in Amador County

Pine Acres 

Initial Treatment Year: 2002 

Length: 6.5 miles 

Acres: 268 

 

Mitchell Mine 

Initial Treatment Year: 2022

Length: 11 miles 

Acres: 376

River Pines 
A serene forest scene with trees on a hillside, featuring blue sky and sunlight filtering through the branches.
A peaceful forest scene with tall pine trees and a sunlit hillside covered in brown foliage.
A serene landscape featuring a mix of trees and grass under a clear blue sky, showcasing nature's beauty.
A sunlit forest scene with trees on a sloped area, featuring bare ground and patches of green grass.
A serene landscape featuring tall trees on a hillside under a clear blue sky, showcasing nature's beauty.
A serene hillside covered with trees and pine needles, under a clear blue sky. Nature's calm and beauty on display.
A serene forest scene with trees on a hillside, featuring blue sky and sunlight filtering through the branches.
A peaceful forest scene with tall pine trees and a sunlit hillside covered in brown foliage.
A serene landscape featuring a mix of trees and grass under a clear blue sky, showcasing nature's beauty.
A sunlit forest scene with trees on a sloped area, featuring bare ground and patches of green grass.
A serene landscape featuring tall trees on a hillside under a clear blue sky, showcasing nature's beauty.
A serene hillside covered with trees and pine needles, under a clear blue sky. Nature's calm and beauty on display.

Initial Treatment Year: 2023-2024

Length: 1.25 miles

Acres: 36

Tiger Creek 
Forest landscape with trees, dry grass, and blue sky.
This image clearly conveys the Tiger Creek Fuel Break, with untouched vegetation to the left, and the Tiger Fire footprint to the right.
A forest with trees and burnt ground, with a mix of green and brown foliage under a clear blue sky.
A forest landscape with trees and a clear blue sky. Image is upside down.
Charred ground with scattered trees and a hose, indicating a recent wildfire in a forested area.
A group of firefighters in orange uniforms stand beside a CAL FIRE truck in a forested area.
Assigned to the Tiger Fire was Captain Jordan Haley and Pine Grove Crew 2, from CAL FIRE Pine Grove Conservation Camp.
Three people in firefighting gear and helmets, standing in a forest clearing with tools.
BLM Wildlife Biologist Jeff Jones, CAL FIRE AEU Unit Forester Megan Scheeline, and CAL FIRE Firefighter Bodie Bartolomei.
Aerial map with a highlighted red boundary showing a specific terrain area, surrounded by roads and topographic contours.
A map showing a residential area near a golf club, with blue and red shaded regions, and a nearby river and reservoir.
The map above shows the Tiger Creek Fuel Break in blue, the Tiger Fire footprint in red, and communities of Pioneer adjacent to the fuel break.
Forest landscape with trees, dry grass, and blue sky.
A forest with trees and burnt ground, with a mix of green and brown foliage under a clear blue sky.
A forest landscape with trees and a clear blue sky. Image is upside down.
Charred ground with scattered trees and a hose, indicating a recent wildfire in a forested area.
A group of firefighters in orange uniforms stand beside a CAL FIRE truck in a forested area.
Three people in firefighting gear and helmets, standing in a forest clearing with tools.
Aerial map with a highlighted red boundary showing a specific terrain area, surrounded by roads and topographic contours.
A map showing a residential area near a golf club, with blue and red shaded regions, and a nearby river and reservoir.

Initial Treatment Year: 2024

Length: 2.25 miles 

Acres: 240

Tiger Creek is often described by AFSC as the “perfect fuel break,” and with good reason. Post‑treatment regrowth has been dominated by bear clover, which provides ground cover while maintaining low fire‑severity risk. Just as importantly, the project represents a true grassroots collaboration. Tiger Creek is part of a broader network of fuel‑reduction efforts that span multiple landowners and jurisdictions, including BLM, the Forest Service, PG&E, CalFire, SPI, and numerous private landowners. It continues to serve as a model of coordination and partnership across Amador County.

 

Press Release

AFSC Tiger Creek Fuel Break assists in knockdown of Tiger Fire

Tiger Fire PR 2025 - AFSC.pdf

 

In the News

Ledger Dispatch - "Fuel Break Assists in Containment of Tiger Fire"

Aug 15, 2025 | Updated Jul 22, 2026

https://www.ledger.news/news/fuel-break-assists-in-containment-of-tiger-fire/article_a115a4c4-2622-4f6c-923c-cb643f77e576.html

 

Tiger Creek Fuel Break - The Perfect Fuel Break

 

Upper Rancheria 
May contain: slope, soil, field, grassland, nature, outdoors, gravel, road, and wilderness
A sunlit wooded area with tall trees and a cleared ground covered in brown mulch or leaves, under a blue sky.
The image shows a forested area with tall trees, green grass, and a dirt path leading up a sloped ground under a partly cloudy sky.
The image shows a sloped area with several tall trees and some tire tracks on the ground, surrounded by green grass.
A metal gate opens to a cleared area surrounded by trees, with sunlight filtering through the leaves.
After Treatment
A metal gate stands in front of a wooded area, surrounded by trees and fallen leaves, indicating a boundary or entrance.
Before Treatment
A sunlit forest area with scattered trees and ground covered in leaves and wood chips, creating a peaceful natural scene.
May contain: slope, soil, field, grassland, nature, outdoors, gravel, road, and wilderness
A sunlit wooded area with tall trees and a cleared ground covered in brown mulch or leaves, under a blue sky.
The image shows a forested area with tall trees, green grass, and a dirt path leading up a sloped ground under a partly cloudy sky.
The image shows a sloped area with several tall trees and some tire tracks on the ground, surrounded by green grass.
A metal gate opens to a cleared area surrounded by trees, with sunlight filtering through the leaves.
A metal gate stands in front of a wooded area, surrounded by trees and fallen leaves, indicating a boundary or entrance.
A sunlit forest area with scattered trees and ground covered in leaves and wood chips, creating a peaceful natural scene.

Initial Treatment Year: 2025

Length: 6.5 miles 

Acres: 281

 

Upper Jackson Gate 
A serene forest scene with trees, sunlight filtering through leaves, and a clear blue sky. Calm and natural environment.
A serene landscape featuring scattered trees on a hillside, with a clear blue sky and seasonal foliage.
A scenic view of a hilly landscape with trees, a clear blue sky, and some buildings in the background.
A serene landscape featuring trees in a sunlit forest with a clear blue sky and some ground cover.
A forested area with trees, dry ground covered in mulch, and a clear blue sky overhead.
A sunlit hillside with several trees casting shadows on dry, brown ground, creating a peaceful natural landscape.
A sunny forest scene with trees on a sloped ground and a clear blue sky, showcasing natural beauty and tranquility.
A serene forest scene with trees, sunlight filtering through leaves, and a clear blue sky. Calm and natural environment.
A serene landscape featuring scattered trees on a hillside, with a clear blue sky and seasonal foliage.
A scenic view of a hilly landscape with trees, a clear blue sky, and some buildings in the background.
A serene landscape featuring trees in a sunlit forest with a clear blue sky and some ground cover.
A forested area with trees, dry ground covered in mulch, and a clear blue sky overhead.
A sunlit hillside with several trees casting shadows on dry, brown ground, creating a peaceful natural landscape.
A sunny forest scene with trees on a sloped ground and a clear blue sky, showcasing natural beauty and tranquility.

Initial Treatment Year: 2025

Length: 0.5 miles 

Acres: 33

Volcano Hills 

Initial Treatment Year: 2026

Length: 6.5 miles 

Acres: 299

 

Butte Mountain 

Initial Treatment Year: 2026

Length: 0.75 miles 

Acres: 58

 

Resources 
  1. Ingram, C. Kimberly. (2022, July 15). Herbicide Use for Treating Invasive Plants: One Tool in the Forest Landowner Management Tool Box. Blog - Forest Research and Outreach. https://ucanr.edu/blog/blog-forest-research-and-outreach/article/herbicide-use-treating-invasive-plants-one-tool
  2. UC ANR. (2026 March). Managing Competing Vegetation with Herbicide: Factsheet. Forestry Research and Outreach. https://ucanr.edu/site/forestry-research-and-outreach/document/managing-competing-vegetation-herbicide-factsheet
  3. UC ANR Fire Network. Herbicide. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. (Accessed 2026 Oct 15). https://ucanr.edu/program/uc-anr-fire-network/herbicide-0
  4. UC ANR Fire Netwok. Reducing Forest Fuels. Univsersity of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. (Accessed 2026, Oct 15). https://ucanr.edu/program/uc-anr-fire-network/reducing-forest-fuels
  5. USDA. Fuel Break - Forestland. Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Practice Specifications (Ac.) Code 383. (Accessed 2026, Oct 15). https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/api/CPSFile/20901/383_PS_CA_Fuel_Break-Forestland_05-2020
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