Fire and Environmental Research Applications Team

Fire and Climatic Variability in the Pacific Northwest: Integrating Science and Management

FERA developed a multi-scale analysis of the relationships between climate, topography, and spatio-temporal patterns in historical fire regimes in the inland Pacific Northwest. We used existing fire history data from seven watersheds on the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests. Clear differences in fire regimes between the historical period (1650-1900) and the period after initiation of fire suppression in the region (after 1900) were documented.

Publications

Final Report to the Joint Fire Science Program [.pdf]

Spatial Models for Inferring Topographic Controls on Historical Low-Severity Fire in the Eastern Cascade Range of Washington, USA.
Kellogg, Lara-Karena B.; McKenzie, Donald; Peterson, David L.; Hessl, Amy E. 2008.Landscape Ecology. 23: 227-240.
Abstract and full text [.html]

The Fire-Climate Connection
Joint Fire Science Program. 2007. Fire Science Digest. 1(October). 12 p.
Full text [.pdf]

Drought and Pacific Decadal Oscillation Linked to Fire Occurrence in the Inland Pacific Northwest -- Hessl, Amy E.; McKenzie, Don; Schellhaas, Richard. 2004. Ecological Applications. 14(2): 425-442.
Abstract [.html] Full-text [.pdf 652kb]

Using Neutral Models to Identify Constraints on Low-Severity Fire Regimes -- McKenzie, Donald; Hessl, Amy E.; Kellogg, Lara-Karena B. 2006. Landscape Ecology. 21:139-152.
Abstract and full text [.html]

Team Lead: Don McKenzie

Cooperators:

We acknowledge funding provided by the Joint Fire Science Program under Project JFSP 01-1-6-01.