Aserraderos are working to recycle trees demolished by Hurricane Helene to help forest firefighters while increasing domestic wood production.
Many of the trees demolished by the storm are usable, according to Johnny Evans, owner of Evens Lumber Co. in Manchester, Tennessee. About 6% of the wood produced in its facilities comes from trees that fell during natural disasters.
“It is a resource that God gave us, and we need to recycle it instead of letting it rot on the ground,” Evans said. “If we do not take those dead trees from the forest, then you will have a fire in the forest. Then you will eliminate all your good wood and your dead wood.”
There have been at least eight forest fires in areas devastated by Hurricane Helene since the storm crossed the large smoked mountains in September.
Aserraderos are intervening to clean forest fuel forests of forest fires left by Hurricane Helene Debros. (Fox News)
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The Forest Division of the Department of Agriculture of Tennessee estimated that the thickest trees demolished by Hurricane Helene could have been at least three years so that it dries enough to become a potential fuel of forest fires. However, these trees can still hinder fire -fighting efforts when brought on the path of excavators used to create lines of fire.
Around 220 acres were burned in a January Forest Fire in Old Fort, North Carolina, four months after Hurricane Helene crossed the region. (Fox News)
“Those trees are there only blocking dozens. Therefore, we have to send crews to clear a path for dozens, which is much slower than we ideally want to happen,” said Megan Carpenter, spokesman for the forest division of the Department of Agriculture of Tennessee.
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The United States Department of Agriculture launched $ 23 million to eliminate dead trees from high -risk forest fire zones throughout the country. Dead trees will be sold to wood processing facilities to consolidate soil enrichment materials, construction materials, energy and paper sources. The USDA said the effort would eliminate the fuel potential for future forest fires while supporting an March executive order signed by President Trump to boost the production of domestic wood by 25%.
Aserraderos can recycle the debris of Hurricane Helene in mulch, construction materials, soil and paper enrichment materials. (Fox News)
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High -risk fire passes will be clear first to protect already vulnerable communities. The United States forest service is simplifying the permissions and hiring process for sawmills that seek to access the wood supply.
