Fuel Reduction Chipping Program
The Maine Forest Service, is offering a FREE “Fuel Reduction Chipping Program” to communities interested in reducing the risk of wildfire near homes. Fire Chiefs and Town Fire Wardens wishing to take advantage of this program should contact their local Forest Ranger or the Maine Forest Service at:
Augusta: 1-800-750-9777
Old Town: 827-1800
Ashland: 435-7963
Communities should:
- Request the use of the chipper and coordinate well in advance with their local Forest Ranger.
- Publicize the event in community newspapers, in newsletters, on bulletin boards, etc.
- Distribute the “Will Your Home Survive?” Firewise brochure to homeowners.
- Distribute and collect applications from homeowners.
- rovide a crew of at least four to assist in hauling and feeding brush into the chipper. Training and protective equipment will be provided .
Homeowners should:
- Create defensible space within 30 feet of their home.
- Trim “ladder fuels” (branches) at least ten feet above the ground.
- Haul material to be chipped to within 5 feet of road on the up-hill side, cut ends facing the same direction (towards road), piles should be no more than 4’ high. Branches can be no more than 10” in diameter. Old dead wood dulls blades and should be disposed of by other means.
Ensure piles to be chipped are:
- free of all roots, stumps, rocks and mud.
- free of any metal.
- Do not contain leaves, pine needles or lawn clippings. We cannot chip these.
Communities benefit by: Reducing the risk of wildfire, keeping branches, brush and other debris out of expensive landfills, and using the by-product (chips) as mulch, for landscaping material, for trails or as bio-fuel.
The Maine Forest Service will:
- Provide a wood chipper and a modified stake body truck to haul chips at no cost to the community.
- Provide one person to operate the chipper (but not haul brush).
- Haul unwanted chips to a nearby location or (when feasible) deliver to a wood pellet mill for recycling.
