Snag Safety

ENVIRONMENTAL AND OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS

Some indicators that may increase snag hazards include:

• Strong winds
• Night operations
• Steep Slopes
• Diseased or bug-kill areas
• Helicopter bucket drops and rotor down drafts
• Retardant drops
• Vibrations from heavy equipment and motor vehicles operating nearby
• Use of explosives in fireline construction

HAZARD TREE INDICATORS

Some of the common signs which should warn you about a potentially dangerous condition include:

• Trees have been burning for an extended period of time
• High risk tree species (rot and shallow root system, i.e., cypress)
• Numerous down trees
• Dead or broken tops and limbs overhead
• Accumulation of down limbs
• Absence of needles, bark or limbs
• Leaning or hung-up trees

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services