A localized, heavy accumulation of woody debris, slash, or blowdown that creates a severe obstacle or fire hazard. Loggers use the term for a messy pile of intertwined logs that is dangerous to buck with a chainsaw because of unpredictable tension and compression forces. In wildland fire management, a jackpot is a pocket of concentrated fuel that will burn with sudden, extreme intensity.
Heard on the job
Watch your step in unit three, the windstorm left a massive jackpot of blowdown near the property line.
Insider tip
Never wade into a jackpot with a chainsaw unless you know exactly how the logs are bound together; the stored energy can cause logs to snap violently when cut.