You’ve heard the (chainsaw) buzz, maybe seen some folks tabling at community events — but what exactly is FireBREAK?
In short, it's a campaign to reduce the risk of a devastating wildfire in Moab. But that's a big goal; how exactly are project partners working to achieve it?
Swipe to learn more about FireBREAK and the Community Wildfire Defense Grant, and don't forget to visit firebreakmoab.org for more info!
Have you been wondering what firefighters mean when they talk about things like containment, fire fuels, suppression, and extreme fire behavior? You’re not alone!
There are a lot of terms, phrases, and abbreviations to keep track of in the wildland fire world. To help demystify this lingo, we created a new series, “Fire Talk Friday,” to define some of the more common terms in the world of wildland fire.
For the first post of the series, we are defining the term that inspired the name for this campaign: fire break!
🌳⛓️💥 New shaded fuel break alert!
We’ve been hard at work this spring reducing wildfire risk on the Canyonlands Health Care Special Service District property near Moab Regional Hospital.
Crews from @grandcountyweedsdept , @moabvalleyfd , & @utahconservationcorps have been establishing a shaded fuel break on the property by removing dead trees, increasing spacing between the live ones, and taking out “ladder fuels” — in this case, dead brush that connected ground fuels (i.e. grasses) with tree canopies. This work breaks up the horizontal and vertical continuity of vegetation, meaning if a fire were to ignite, it would stay smaller, slower, and easier to stop.
Plus, @moabcity crews removed 40 dumpster loads (yep, 40!) of flammable debris that had been piled on the east and south ends of the property. Huge kudos to the crews at the Streets Department and Parks Department for this critical work.
Thank you to the community for your patience and support on this long-term project! This collaborative work helps protect Moab's neighborhoods, healthcare facilities, and first responders while maintaining shade and habitat.
Note that work on the property is ongoing over the next few years. Please continue to avoid crews and work areas to ensure work can continue safely.
🌾 Have you heard about Ravenna grass?
Ravenna is a decorative bunchgrass sometimes planted on properties in Moab. It’s also invasive, and a known fire fuel (look at that video 🔥)
FireBREAK is on the hunt for Ravenna and can provide resources to help homeowners with removal. Reach out if you would like assistance identifying or removing Ravenna grass!
Happy Earth Day! We celebrated by helping 30 amazing volunteers reduce wildfire risk & clean up along Moab’s creek corridors.
Yesterday, FireBREAK partnered with @wabisabi.moab , @moabsolutions , and @moabcity to clean up trash and clear weeds along Mill Creek in downtown Moab.
In just an hour, volunteers filled over seven 40-gallon trash bags with weeds, mostly invasive, flammable grasses like cheatgrass and foxtail. By removing these weeds along popular trails and in high-use areas, volunteers reduced the chance of an accidental ignition spreading into ladder fuels (low trees and shrubs) and from there into tree canopies, where it could grow into a much more dangerous fire.
Massive thanks to the volunteers and organizers who made it all happen! And to @canyonpizzaco for providing dinner!
🔥 FireBREAK is Moab’s collaborative, multiagency fire preparedness campaign. Learn more and get involved at firebreakmoab.org
Team Rubicon helps FireBREAK prevent wildfires in Pack Creek
Team Rubicon volunteers removed nearly three acres of Russian olive from Pack Creek in March, helping Moab's FireBREAK coalition reduce hazardous wildfire fuels across the valley. The invasive species removal also restored riparian habitat while providing salvaged wood to local nonprofits like Warm Elders.
#moab #moabutah #moabsunnews #utah #canyoncountry
Awesome coverage of Fortify Moab, @moabsunnews and @moabtimes ! Thanks for helping us promote the amazing work @teamrubicon has done for Moab, and the ways we can all "neighbor up" to make our community more wildfire-resilient.
🔗 before-and-after pair at: /articles/team-rubicon-transforms-disc-golf-course
🔗 we'll link the Sun News article when it becomes available online!
(Also pictured: cheatgrass and foxtail, which are fire fuels! You can reduce wildfire risk by mowing them — or, if they've already cured, using a string trimmer 🌾)
🔗🔗
Last week, @teamrubicon completed their 8th operation in Moab in partnership with FireBREAK, clearing an extremely dense patch of hazardous fire fuels in the Moab Valley.
Here's what we accomplished together:
🔥 2.8 acres of thick, technical fire fuels removed
👷🏼♀️ 30+ team members on-site each day (Team Rubicon volunteers and local partners)
🚒 3 chippers on-site (and they were busy!)
🪵 ~3,500 cubic feet of firewood donated (this is an update from the original 2,500 cubic feet estimate!)
We connected with elected officials, stakeholders, and journalists about the importance of fuels mitigation and community wildfire resilience — an especially relevant topic this year.
So many local partners supported this operation including @rimtorimrestoration , @moabvalleyfd , @moabcity , @grandcountyweedsdept , @utahffsl , @grandcountysheriff , @utahconservationcorps and @warm_elders . Thank you for feeding the chippers, managing logistics, picking up wood, and making this operation a huge success!
Finally, a quick note that the stumps on-site will be cut flush with the ground later in the year, along with seeding and revegetation work. Some trees were also left standing to maintain shade and wildlife habitat. Thanks for your patience during this important work 🔥
Wildfire resilience can’t happen in a bubble — it takes a community.
Last week, we welcomed several of our community’s elected representatives out to see @teamrubicon critical fire fuels mitigation work in Spanish Valley.
Thanks to Moab City Councilors Colin Topper and Miles Loftin; Grand County Commission Chair Melodie McCandless; and Grand County Sheriff Jamison Wiggins for visiting site.
@moabcity and @grandcountyut / @grandcountysheriff are important partners in this work and we’re excited to continue working toward wildfire resilience together.
We have a few more thank-yous to extend...
❄ @moabice ! Their long-lasting ice blocks kept @teamrubicon 's food and drinks nicely chilled during an exceptionally hot week.
🐎 @oldspanishtrailarena and staff — they were incredibly generous hosts, providing a quiet, comfortable space to stage the operation.
Immense thanks for your generosity!
