What is the minimum burn time for safety fuse in snow?

• A. 60 seconds
• B. 120 seconds
• C. 90 seconds
• D. 30 seconds

Answer: (C)

In snow, you need the fuse to burn long enough to give you time to reach a safe distance before the blast goes off. Snow can slow or irregularly burn a fuse because of moisture, insulation, and cold, so the delay must be long enough to account for that variability and still reliably ignite the charge.

A burn time of 90 seconds provides a practical delay under typical snowy conditions, giving a sufficient safety margin to retreat and ensure the initiation occurs as planned. Shorter times like 60 or 30 seconds raise the risk that you won’t have enough clearance if the fuse burns more slowly or encounters moisture. A longer time, such as 120 seconds, isn’t necessary for the minimum safety requirement and would unnecessarily extend the delay.

So, 90 seconds is the minimum burn time in snow that balances reliable ignition with a reasonable retreat interval. Always follow the specific fuse and site safety guidelines for your situation.