By Douglas W. Motley
Senior Writer

Free curbside chipping, in which unwanted tree limbs and branches are reduced to wood chips, began in May and will continue through Sept. 15, courtesy of the San Bernardino County Fire Department and Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council. The leftover chips may be kept by the homeowner for mulch, or be hauled away for free.

According to Fire Safe Council President Laura Dyberg, the deadline for requesting this free service is the third Sunday of each remaining month, which means mountain residents can take advantage of this convenient way of disposing of unwanted tree limbs and branches by registering by July 21, Aug. 18 and Sept. 15.

Once a chipper crew has been scheduled to chip and dispose of tree limbs and branches piled on your property adjacent to the street or curb, they will
be able to chip limbs up to 10 inches in diameter and 10 feet in length. No leaves or pine needles can be accepted. The purpose of Chipper Days is to assist all residents and property owners in the reduction of fire hazards in the form of slash and ladder fuels.

Dyberg told The Alpine Mountaineer, “We will chip up the biomass for environmentally friendly disposal.” Those wishing to register for the curbside chipping program can do so by logging onto www.freechipping.org and following all the directions for their community.

Dyberg advised that the chipping crew is unable to accept limbs or tree trunks larger than 10 inches in diameter and 10 feet in length, nor will they accept root balls, construction lumber, bagged material, pine needles, weeds, leaves, pine cones, loose bark, painted or preserved wood, trash or material containing rocks, dirt, metal, nails, screws, fasteners, wire or twine. In addition, no commercially removed trees or materials from contractors or construction sites will be accepted.

One such chipping crew showed up at a residence in the Skyland area of Crestline on July 10 to chip and haul away a pile of downed limbs and branches left over from this year’s series of high-intensity winter and spring storms. According to the chipping supervisor, the crew typically visits anywhere from eight to 20 residences each day. “It varies depending on the size and amount of limbs, branches and brush left beside the roadside.” The homeowner commented that he appreciated the crew blowing away small twigs and debris left on the edge of his driveway and street afterward.

The supervisor had just one request: “If you sign up, make sure the branches are stacked with the butts (large ends) perpendicular, facing the street. This makes it quicker for us to do the job and allows us to serve more people each day.”