Surface fuel loadings within mulching treatments in Colorado coniferous forests

▶ Surface woody fuel loads in mulched treatments ranged between 27 and 63 Mg ha−1. ▶ Majority of fuels were concentrated in the 1-h and 10-h fuel size class. ▶ Mulch fuelbed depth a useful predictor of mulch fuelbed loading. ▶ Mulch fuelbeds are compact with bulk density exceeding 138 kg m−3. ▶ Development of new fire behavior models for mulched fuelbed types is warranted.