5-Mile Fire Break at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

A 5-mile fire break mulched off FM 1431 on the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge near Leander, Texas, for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. We started February 2, 2026, and finished before golden-cheeked warbler nesting season began March 1, mulching a 5-mile slash pile of cedar and brush in place with our CAT 275 and Prinoth mulching head.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service needed a fire break on the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, off FM 1431. The refuge is close to Leander, Jonestown, Liberty Hill, and our base in Bertram. A 5-mile slash pile of cedar and brush ran along the fire break line, and it had to be cleared while disturbing as little ground as possible. The job required a skid steer mulcher because of the limited access and the need for minimal ground disturbance, so we used our CAT 275 with the Prinoth mulching head. Extremely steep inclines, tight access, and rock made it a challenging job. We mulched the entire slash pile in place, with nothing burned or hauled off. Timing mattered too. All of the work had to be done before golden-cheeked warbler nesting season began on March 1. We started on February 2 and finished in February 2026. The finished fire break also serves as a critical access route for firefighters, giving them a chance to stop a wildfire before it spreads to more populated areas.

Check Out Some Pictures From This Job!

Project Photos

Project Video

Equipment Used

Cat 275 XE

Prinoth Mulching Head