Interactions among wildland fires in a long-established Sierra Nevada natural fire area

Collins, B. M.; Miller, J. D.; Thode, A. E.; Kelly, M.; Van Wagtendonk, J. W.; Stephens, S. L.

Abstract:

We investigate interactions between successive naturally occurring fires, and assess to what extent the environments in which fires burn influence these interactions. Using mapped fire perimeters and satellite-based estimates of post-fire effects (referred to hereafter as fire severity) for 19 fires burning relatively freely over a 31-year period, we demonstrate that fire as a landscape process can exhibit self-limiting characteristics in an upper elevation Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forest. We use the term ‘self-limiting‘ to refer to recurring fire as a process over time (that is, fire regime) consuming fuel and ultimately constraining the spatial extent and lessening fire-induced effects of subsequent fires. When the amount of time between successive adjacent fires is under 9 years, and when fire weather is not extreme (burning index <34.9), the probability of the latter fire burning into the previous fire area is extremely low. Analysis of fire severity data by 10-year periods revealed a fair degree of stability in the proportion of area burned among fire severity classes (unchanged, low, moderate, high). This is in contrast to a recent study demonstrating increasing high-severity burning throughout the Sierra Nevada from 1984 to 2006, which suggests freely burning fires over time in upper elevation Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forests can regulate fire-induced effects across the landscape. This information can help managers better anticipate short- and long-term effects of allowing naturally ignited fires to burn, and ultimately, improve their ability to implement Wildland Fire Use programs in similar forest types. ?? 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

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Article

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70033094

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Collins, B. M.; Miller, J. D.; Thode, A. E.; Kelly, M.; Van Wagtendonk, J. W.; Stephens, S. L.

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128

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English

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Ecosystems

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Interactions among wildland fires in a long-established Sierra Nevada natural fire area; 2009; Article; Journal; Ecosystems; Collins, B. M.; Miller, J. D.; Thode, A. E.; Kelly, M.; Van Wagtendonk, J. W.; Stephens, S. L.