Diamond Mowers mulchers and bush cutters from Colbrook Industries are the proven trusted choice for fire mitigation works
Fire mitigation works are an integral part of forest fire management, and this takes place before, during and after a fire event.
Burning firebreaks into forest was once common practice, though more recently the window for burning is getting tighter, influenced by forest floor moisture levels and weather conditions.
Mechanical mulching is a year-round solution for fire containment, with the Diamond Mower collection of mulchers from Colbrook Industries the perfect tools to handle all types of vegetation.
“Mulching can be carried out in adverse weather conditions, so the window is larger to cut in fire breaks ahead of the burn-off season,” Colbrook Industries business development manager Hayley Plageman says.
“This means that, when the weather is right, forest fire reduction burns can be carried out without having to burn the perimeter in first.”
Firebreaks
The primary goal when developing firebreaks is to clear vegetation and create open areas that reduce the fuel available for fires. Creating a gap in vegetation or other combustible material will help to slow and stop the progress of a fire.
Firebreaks can be natural formations such as water bodies and areas of non-flammable terrain such as sand and rock; existing breaks such as roads and cultivated paddocks; or constructed breaks where vegetation is burned or mulched/mowed.
“Mulching attachments efficiently reduce the physical volume of fire fuel by cutting and processing the brush, shrubs and dead trees,” Plageman says.
“Reducing the height of the fuel load dramatically reduces the risks. Mulched material on or subsoiled into the ground is much harder to ignite and tends to smoulder. If it does catch flame, the fire will be slower moving and the fire height and heat output is much lower, allowing fire crews to get closer to extinguish it.
“Mulching also allows fire crews greater access to areas that may ones have been inaccessible with vehicles due to fallen timber, stumps, etc.”
Diamond Mowers vegetation management equipment can efficiently and effectively create defensible spaces around homes, farms and other valuable assets by clearing vegetation that could otherwise allow a fire to spread closer to them.
Attachments like the Diamond Mowers Disc Mulcher and Brush Cutters are designed to be selective – allowing operators to remove invasive species or specific trees without disturbing the desired native vegetation and mature trees.
After a fire, Diamond Mowers attachments like the Open Drum Mulcher can be used to clear burnt debris, which helps to open up access and roads, assists in land restoration and preparing the area for new growth.
Durable and versatile
Diamond Mowers vegetation management attachments are built tough, with fully fabricated decks and bodies, hardened steel teeth and reinforced frames that can withstand rocky terrain, dense scrub and tough timber.
“They are engineered for continuous operation in hot, dusty and debris-heavy conditions, which are common in pre-fire treatment zones,” Plageman says.
“Low maintenance intervals and rugged construction keep equipment running when schedules are tight and windows for mitigation work are short.”
Skid-steer attachments from Diamond Mowers such as drum mulchers, forestry disc mulchers, and brush cutters handle everything from tall grass to 10-inch+ material.
The Diamond Mowers tractor boom and excavator solutions are the ideal solution for difficult and hard to reach terrain.
There are Diamond Mowers drum mulchers available in sizes to suit most skid steers and compact track loaders. The new Drum Mulcher Pro X2, available in open drum and depth control profiles, is ideal for clearing large amounts of vegetation and heavy debris. This can also be used on excavators.
For efficient and effective land clearing, Diamond Mowers’ disc mulchers for skid steers and excavators are the perfect choice. The Disc Mulcher Pro X and the SK Disc Mulcher Belt Drive Pro X are designed for both land clearing and selective mulching.
After a fire, Diamond Mowers’ Reflex and Miller stump grinders can be used to remove burnt stumps.
Best choice
“High-efficiency cutting systems translate directly to fewer machine hours and lower fuel and labour costs,” Plageman says.
“There’s also minimal downtime thanks to simple service access and reliable engineering. This means crews can maintain tight mitigation timelines and can complete multiple tasks with one machine, from cutting and mulching to clearing. This reduces the need for multiple pieces of equipment.”
She adds that mulching has benefits over burning the vegetation – protecting the soil structure, discouraging erosion and allowing the carbon to be incorporated back into the ground rather than released into the air.
“Diamond Mowers’ range of vegetation management equipment is widely used and trusted by fire-management agencies and contractors, municipalities, utilities, and land-stewardship organisations,” Plageman adds.
“They’re US-made with a strong reputation for reliability and support in the wildfire-mitigation sector, and are backed by Colbrook Industries’ aftersales service and support for peace of mind.”
For more information on the Diamond Mowers range, visit: www.colbrookindustries.com.au
