The use of mulcher machines is a promisingmethod of preventing and combating forest fires. Whenpreparing forest areas with the use of mulcher machines the soil is crushed altogether with the vegetation growing on the surface, roots and otherwood inclusions, while the process of interaction of the working body with the soil requires significant energy costs. The analysis of the mulcher operating modes with a working body in the form of a drum-chopper has been carried out and, as the result, the operating modes of the mulcher machine have been determined. The mulcher machine operation mode when cutting woody vegetation has been examined. A computer program has been developed to determine the rational parameters and operating modes of the mulcher machine.

Keywords: drum-chopper, combating forest fires, mulcher machine, wood vegetation cutting