Abstract Logging slash is a critical problem in the Douglas-fir region of the Pacific Northwest. It constitutes a serious fire hazard and is costly to eliminate. And its treatment by burning is a growing source of concern to air pollution control specialists. Present trends in slash treatment include streamlining the use of prescribed burning, developing other physical, mechanical, and chemical means of disposing, and–most desirable of all methods–utilization of logging waste. Among the fire control techniques that have been adapted or tested for slash treatment are chemical fire retardants, sprinkler systems, firing with drip torches or fusees, electric ignition circuitry, remote ignition, and portable incinerators. Nonburning treatment of slash includes lopping and scattering, lopping and leaving in place, chipping by mechanical chippers, disking or trampling with crawler-type tractors, burying, and leaving slash on the ground to decompose.
Dell et al. (Thu,) studied this question.