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Ecosystems of the Front Range are Fire Adapted
Passive crown firePatches of stand
torching but fire spread mainly through surface
fuels
(Mixed-severity fire regime)
Active crown fireMainly aerial fuels
involved in fire spread across landscape
(High-severity, replacement fire regime)
“Types” of Fire
Surface fireMainly surface
fuels involved in fire spread
(Low-severity fire regime)
Vegetation and Fire Regimes across Elevation Gradients in the Front Range of Colorado
Elevations in feetDrawing by Laurie HuckabyRocky Mountain Research Station
Fire rare
Infrequent, stand-replacing
Moderately frequent, mixed severity
Moderately frequent, surface fire
What is the role of prescribed fire in changing wildfire outcomes (and providing additional ecological benefits) for Colorado’s Front Range?
What can we do about it?
We are currently observing “uncharacteristically” severe fire in lower-elevation settings, with undesirable fire effects.
Prescribed fire modifies wildfire dynamics
Hayman post-fire assessment (Graham 2003):• “Prescribed fire can be
expected to moderate subsequent surface fire intensity and reduce the potential for crown fire initiation…” p. 98
• “The Hayman’s June 9 run crossed Trout Creek and Highway 67 but stopped at the edge of the Polhemus burn.” p. 108
Polhemus prescribed fire
2001
Hayman fire2002
Protection of seed trees for regeneration
This area burned as a surface fire in the Bobcat Gulch burn (2000); it had also burned in 1993.
• Species such as ponderosa pine need post-fire conditions (reduced competition and bare mineral soil) for seedling germination and establishment
Photo: JeffersonConservationDistrict
“Site-prep” for regeneration
• Necessary for rare wildlife species that depend on old-trees and open, fire-maintained habitats
Abert’s squirrel
Northern Goshawk Photo: Audubon Society
Prescribed fire for wildlife
• Prescribed fire stimulates nutrient cycling and nutrient-rich leaf production; stimulates seed production; favors herbaceous species
Improves forage for wildlife
Skunkbrush sumac—edible berries, branches good for baskets
Mountain mahogany—very palatable to wildlife, especially sprouts
Sego Lily—edible roots
Chokecherry—edible fruit
Yucca—edible flowers and roots, leaves useful for fiber
Common useful native plants that respond favorably to burning
• Maintaining carbon in large, old trees and soils as opposed to losing carbon stores to high-severity fire
Prescribed fire for carbon sequestration
• Escapes• Smoke – health consequences, traffic
accidents• Slow recovery in low productivity
systems… may be aesthetically unappealing
• Undesirable fire effects, e.g. killing old trees in long-unburned stands… but often adjustable with burn planning, targeting weather conditions to achieve desired fire behavior, ignition patterns
Prescribed fire – the benefits are great, but not without risks
But fire will occur one way or another…
“The question before public land managers and citizens is not whether there will be fire and smoke in their future, but how they might want their fire and smoke.” Hessburg and Agee (2003)
Smoke plume, High Park firePhoto by Ben Wudtke
Colorado Prescribed Fire
Council
IntentPromote, educate and increase the appropriate use of prescribed fire in Colorado• Reduce barriers to Rx fire• Improve cooperation and coordination among burners• Disseminate technical information to practitioners• Monitor and communicate accomplishments annually
Prescribed fire initiatives in Colorado
Acknowledgements• Thanks to Vernon Champlin and the Pikes Peak
Wildfire Prevention Partnership for hosting this workshop
• And to Peter Brown and Laurie Huckaby for providing slides for this presentation