Category Archives: Fire Ecology

Causes and concerns for increasing wildfire.

Wildlife managers assessing fire impacts

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“For a second consecutive year, state wildlife managers are scrambling to assess the damage caused by massive wildfires that scorched four state wildlife areas in north central Washington, including the Methow Valley.

“Since mid-August, this year’s record-setting wildfires in Okanogan County have burned more than 505,000 acres, destroyed about 200 residences, and killed three firefighters.

“As of early this week the largest fires included the Tunk Block Fire, burning 10 miles northeast of Omak and listed at 167,840 acres and 79 percent contained; the North Star Fire, 25 miles north of Coulee Dam, which had consumed 215,406 acres and was 47 percent contained; and the Okanogan Complex Fire, west of Omak and Okanogan,Featured Image — 10312which was 133,142 acres and 85 percent contained. The Twisp River Fire, fully contained, burned 11,211 acres in August.”  Sourced through Scoop.it from: exposingthebiggame.wordpress.com

GR: After a fire, we should give deer and other wildlife access to nearby crops if they can use them.  Killing off animals that try to find food on lands we converted to farms is not ethical.  We must begin to conserve our dwindling wildlife populations and the ecosystems they inhabit.

Wildfires

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Massive Wildfires in US Northwest Destroy Habitats, Threaten Wildlife A heavy toll may be exacted on elk, moose and other wildlife whose habitat has been destroyed by wildfires that have charred hundreds of thousands of acres (hectares) of forests…Sourced through Scoop.it from: elispiritweaver.wordpress.com

Record-Breaking Wildfires, Greenland Melting and Earth’s Hottest Month Ever

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Humans have some advantages over other animal species, but like the animals, we can’t control our urge to reproduce and our desire for the security of material wealth. Sentient but not sapient, sensitive but not wise, our advantages have let us to eliminate competition, disease, and danger. Thus, nothing can stop our booming population and our world-destroying “environmental footprint.”  (ACD = anthropogenic climate disruption)

Study says some forests may not recover from mega-disturbances in the global warming era

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“Giant fires, insect outbreaks could be ‘game-changer’ for some forests

“FRISCO —Forest Service researchers say “mega-disturbances” like giant wildfires and insect outbreaks are likely to hasten the slow demise of temperate forest ecosystems in the coming decades.

“Even without those large-scale events, some forests appear to be transitioning to shrublands and steppe, and big disturbances could speed that process, according to a new study published this month in Science.“While we have been trying to manage for resilience of 20th century conditions, we realize now that we must prepare for transformations and attempt to ease these conversions,” said Constance Millar, lead author and forest ecologist with the USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station.

“Many forests are remarkably resilient, re-growing after years of logging. But after reviewing numerous forest studies, they concluded that rising global temperatures are resulting in hotter droughts — droughts that exhibit a level of severity beyond that witnessed in the past century.”  Sourced through Scoop.it from: summitcountyvoice.com

GR:  Normal recovery processes can be blocked by drought and eventually by added warmth that increases stress.

Big Oil hates a California climate bill so much that it’s telling outright lies about it

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As Western wildfires follow the worst drought in modern history, the impacts of global warming have never been more stark. And as electric cars, LED light bulbs, and solar panels proliferate, the solutions have never been more obvious.  Sourced through Scoop.it from: grist.org

US Experiencing Worst Fire Season on Record as Blazes in Washington and Oregon Explode Twelvefold to Over 1 Million Acres

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Instead of the gradual death of forest trees due to drought stress and insects, fire can cause abrupt changes in vegetation cover. Introduced invasive plants can spread and add fine fuel, and if fire frequency increases, recovery of original vegetation and wildlife is blocked. The result is a permanent decline in productivity and biodiversity.

Grazing Leads to Blazing

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“Livestock grazing in southwestern Idaho and across the West has contributed significantly to intensity, severity, and enormity of fires this summer. Important habitat for sage-grouse, redband trout, other wildlife species is now ablaze. Despite the livestock industry’s claims to the contrary, the Idaho fires are burning hotter and faster because of the impacts of cows and sheep on our arid western lands.”  Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.thewildlifenews.com

GR:  The photo shows a degraded landscape that was covered by dense shrubs before domestic livestock grazing brought cheatgrass and other fire-prone winter/spring annuals to the region.  Frequent fires have swept away the shrubs.  The wild horses in the scene survive because a few sunflowers and other summer annuals appear after the cows are trucked away to feedlots each summer when the spring cheatgrass is all gone.

Drought-Fueled Wildfires Burn 7 Million Acres in U.S.

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Bobby Magill:  “Sap a forest of rain — say, for three or four years — toss in seemingly endless sunshine and high temperatures, and you’ve got just the right recipe for some catastrophic wildfires.

“Such is the story playing out in the West, where, thanks in part to climate change, drought-fueled infernos are incinerating forests at a record pace from Alaska to California, claiming the lives of 13 firefighters, destroying more than 900 structures and requiring firefighting agencies to call in help from the U.S. Army and as far away as Australia and New Zealand.

Photo:  The Aggie Creek fire burns along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in June.  Credit: USDA/flickr

“Here’s the breakdown: As of Aug. 20, more than 41,300 wildfires have scorched more than 7.2 million acres in 2015, mostly in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. That’s nearly three times the 2.6 million acres that burned nationwide in 2014 and more land area than has burned in any other year over the last decade.”  Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.climatecentral.org

GR:  The global-warming caused shift from forest to arid woodland and shrubland could be quite sudden if continuing drought prevents forest recovery after fire.  Such shifts can be permanent if future fires occur before trees can grow to reproductive age.  This will happen if drought and temperature continue to favor fires.  It can also happen if grasses and herbs increase in abundance and provide fine fuel that enhances fire spread.

Northern California National Forests on Fire

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Last month’s storms in the North Coast resulted in hundreds of lightning strikes igniting forest fires across the region and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Now a combined total of approximately 102,755 acres are burning on the Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests. Thousands of fire fighters are on the ground, some in an effort to protect life and property and others are in the wilderness and backcountry. Fire suppression and the military style of firefighting can be more environmentally destructive than wildfire itself. Crews typically construct ridge top fire lines with bulldozers, dump fire retardant, ignite high severity back burns, fell trees and open up decommissioned roads to access and suppress the fires. These damaging efforts are often ineffective, for example yesterday a burning tree fell across a containment line on the Route complex, causing the fire to escape.  Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.wildcalifornia.org

GR:  The human damage fighting fires and logging burned areas may be more destructive than the fires.