Story Fuel Break Update
(Lots of photos here)
February, 2005

             The Story Fuel Break is progressing well. Most of the slash has been chipped or burned. Some chips need to be disposed of, some small piles remain to be burned; some clean up is needed in some areas, and a few trees need to be cut. The fuel break should be completed by fall of 2005. The cost will fall right around $100,000; less than the cost of an average home in Story. During the burning process we generated some smoke which some of you are tired of; thank you for your patience. The Fuel Break map shows the approximate location of the ‘Shaded Fuel Break’. The exact boundaries will be mapped this spring.

            The break is 300 to 400 feet wide and 2 miles long with tree spacing 20 to 50 feet with all underbrush removed. In some areas additional thinning was done adjacent to the fuel break, effectively enhancing the effectiveness of the break. The exception to this spacing is the section in South Piney Canyon that borders the public access to the bighorn National Forest boundary. We did minimal fuel reduction in this area to maintain the aesthetics of a very popular hiking trail. The natural clearings higher up on the slopes provide a break in the fuel in this area.

            We wish to thank the landowners who allowed the fuel break to cross their lands and provided support. Without their cooperation this project would not have happened. The fuel break was divided into 8 phases since there were 8 landowners. These phases were not done in sequential order. These landowners are, from North to South;

Phase 1: LeRoy VanBuggemnum
Phase 2: Bob Roth
Phase 3: John Matejov
Phase 4: John & Kay Turner
Phase 5: Jerry Gatlin
Phase 6: Story Fish Hatchery
Phase 7: Thorne-Rider Youth Camp
Phase 8: Lee Wandler (South Piney Canyon)

Wyoming Sawmills; Sheridan, Wyoming:
            Provided the logging services on phases 1 through 6 of the fuel break. They purchased the merchantable timber from the landowners and contracted sawyers (STL Logging; Lander,Wyoming) and truckers (G&D Trucking; Sheridan, Wyoming) to haul the logs to Sheridan.  STL Logging also did the extra clean up of slash that we requested.
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Buckingham Lumber; Buffalo, Wyoming:
            They provided logging services on Phase 7 of the fuel break as well as adjacent areas. They  purchased the merchantable timber and contracted sawyers (Lee Gorham; Tensleep, Wyoming) and Dingus Truckin’; Sheridan, Wyoming) to haul the logs to Buffalo.

Worland Tree & Lawn; Worland, Wyoming:
            Sawing, chipping services, and thinning services. They did the fuel treatment on phase 8. They also did some thinning on other properties in Story in which they worked with Buckingham Lumber and Dingus Truckin’.    

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LeRoy Vanbuggenum; Story, Wyoming:
            Seeded large portions of the fuel break free of charge.

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Cole Lumber & Construction; Wheatland, Wyoming:
            Provided chipping services with a 22” ‘Morbark chipper. 

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Alpine Excavation; Story, Wyoming:
            Heavy equipment services for clean up and slash removal during the burning and final clean up process.

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John Matejov; Story, Wyoming:
            Labor for the burning and final clean up process.

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Jeff Wenckus; Story, Wyoming:
            Chipper operator. Also skidder operator during non-fuel break thinning activities.

Mark Flack; Story, Wyoming:
            Welding services.

John Almond; Sheridan, Wyoming:
            Contract administrator for Thorne-Rider Youth Camp.

Story Fish Hatchery Crew:
            Dave, Brad, and Jennifer tolerated a lot of activity during this process.

Wyoming State Forestry Division:
            They have worked with us throughout the entire project and continue to work with us to implement our Story Wildfire Assessment & Mitigation Plan. They provide forestry expertise, grant administration services, and contract administration for the fish hatchery.

United States Forest Service; Bighorn National Forest:
            They also have worked with us throughout the entire project and continue to do so. Without them the grant funding would not be possible. They also are implementing the Story Fuels Project on the West side of Story. Their project is adjacent to our fuel break in several areas, enhancing the effectiveness of both projects.

Story Fire District Residents:
            Provided support, encouragement, tolerance, and patience during this project. While we recognize we do not have 100% support of our efforts we feel the support far out weighs the non-support. Thank you all.