A New Tool to Reduce Fire Fuel in Quarry Park

In late April/early May San Mateo County Parks will be using a new tool to reduce fire fuel in Quarry Park and lessen wildfire risk in the area. In coordination with Cal Fire and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the department will use an air curtain burner to dispose of trees and other woody debris from earlier fuel work in the park and downed trees from winter storms.

An air curtain burner provides numerous environmental and logistical benefits. The burner's large container uses an "air curtain" design to capture and re-burn particulate matter, thus greatly reducing smoke, harmful fine particles, and carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. The amount of smoke emitted is comparable to that of a chimney. The burner can process five to nine tons of material per hour and produces far less charred material, which, once cooled, will be dispersed in the area to provide nutrients for the soil. Air curtain burners have been thoroughly tested by environmental agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

Because eucalyptus is a non-millable wood, thus having no mainstream market value, there is currently a surplus of eucalyptus wood in landfills and traditional dump sites, which has made it expensive to dispose. This makes the air curtain burner a valuable tool in the Department's effort to reduce wildfire risk with minimal environmental impact and at an effective cost.