In the News - February 2008
Tree removal after a storm
LITTLE ROCK - After a tornado, cutting and removing trees is complicated by
tangled trees, twisted limbs and other obstacles.
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers several tips
to those clearing storm debris do it effectively and safely.
Normally, experienced loggers avoid trees that are twisted, pre-loaded or
fallen and tangled together.
After a tornado, trees and limbs may be so matted that clearing with chain
saws becomes dangerous work. Experienced chain saw operators have developed
methods to minimize binding of limbs on the saw and to avoid getting pinned by
falling trees.
Caution and experience are essential because entangled limbs and trees don't
react as they would if they were cut separately.
Many times trees with full foliage are warped causing unusual forces or
weight distributions. Proper limbing varies from the normal cutting situation.
Often, this will cause more saw kickback and pinching.
Before approaching a downed tree, check for nearby power lines or other
hazards. Be alert for overhead hazards such as debris that could be dislodged as
you work or trees lodging against the tree you are cutting.
Don't try to remove a tree that is leaning on or applying force on a
structure without having the structure inspected.
Begin limbing at the outer edges of the tree limbs. Always clear an area for
your work as you advance. The first limbs to be cut are those on the top of the
trunk. Cut these limbs as far toward the top of the tree as possible before
removing the remaining limbs resting on the ground.
Don't make cuts above chest high with a chain saw. It's dangerous because
it's easy to lose your balance, and the result could be fatal.
Stand on the opposite side of the trunk from the limb being cut. The trunk
provides a barrier between you and the saw and helps protect you from accidental
contact with the chain.
When removing trees and residue after a storm, keep in mind that your main
objectives are to safely remove obstacles posing a hazard to people or
structures and to clear a path for services to be resumed.
When cutting trees after a storm, the proper cut log length is determined by
the weight that one person can handle. The length of limbs shouldn't be so large
to hamper removal of the brush pile by large equipment.
Bucking, or cutting the log into sections, differs depending on how the log
is supported. When a log lays flat on the ground, cut down from the top surface,
then roll it over and finish the cut from the opposite side.
When a log is supported on one end, cut one-third of the diameter from the
underside to avoid pinching and splintering. Then, cut through the remaining
two-thirds of the diameter from the top. If a log is supported at both ends,
make the first cut through the top one-third of the diameter. The remaining
limb, tree trunk or log is then cut upward from the bottom.
Cutting branches resting on the ground may be necessary to clear the area as
you work. Beware that the tree may sag or roll as a new branch is cut. The
likelihood of the tree rolling increases as more branches are removed. Be alert
for any trunk movement and be ready to move away quickly.
Don't hold a powered saw with one hand and clear limbs with the other hand.
Shut off the chain saw and put it down until limbs have been cleared.
Limbs and brush are normally piled along roads following a storm, but don't
locate piles under utility lines.
Pay attention to what is going on around you at all times.
Normally, grouping four to six people for cutting and moving logs provides
good teamwork to safely handle most projects without bumping into each other.
Take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water.
For more information about tree removal after a storm, contact your county
extension agent or visit www.uaex.edu and select Natural
Resources, then Forestry, then Ice Storm Damaged Wood. The Cooperative Extension
Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.
February 15, 2008
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialists
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
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