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Fires devastate California forests threaten lumber recovery
California and other states endure fires that scorch about 200,000 acres of timber and brush in the worst blaze in two decades. Mark Bevan of Fibreboard Corp. says up to 90 percent of burned trees can yield commercial lumber if salvaged quickly before insects infest the sites. Salvage logging progresses in Stanislaus National Forest as crews remove up to 1,000 logs daily, cutting them into 33 foot lengths and transporting to mills for plywood and home furnishings stock. The Forest Service reports salvage sales to private firms, with most mature burned trees retaining value if removed promptly, while young trees lose nearly all value due to bark loss and charcoal prevent bleaching. Most of the burned area will become charred stumps by winter, then regrowth expectations hinge on spring planting nearby.