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Old Flames Revisited
 Fire
in the wildland can be either beneficial or destructive, and sometimes
both. It all depends on where, what and how it is burning. Fire
is a natural event. The climatic pattern of spring drought followed
by summer lightning storms has persisted for thousands of years
in the southwest. These summer lightning storms ignited fires which
burned unchecked across our landscapes. These fires determined the
composition, structure and natural processes which make up the southwestern
forests.
During the 1980's, scientific research
was revealing the important role of fire in the environment while
drought induced wildfires raged in an unnatural and uncontrolled
manner. Data collected during fires like those which burned in Yellowstone
opened new avenues of research and helped to build a knowledge base
of predicting extreme fire behavior. We know from experiences with
the La Mesa Fire of 1977, the Quemado Fire of 1993, the Dome Fire
of 1996 and the Oso Fire of 1998, that the structure of our forests
have changed. All of the above fires were on the Santa Fe National
Forest. We have large concentrations of combustible material (fuel).
Historically, frequent low intensity fires burned throughout both
the Sangre De Cristo and Jemez mountain ranges. Most of these fires
were caused by lightning, extinguished themselves naturally, and
reduced the level of combustible forest fuels at regular intervals.
Grazing in the 1850's removed the fine vegetation and grasses, which
carried fire. Since the early 1900's, fuels have been allowed to
build up to levels that may result in major catastrophic fires.
If the forest is not allowed to do its "housekeeping"
with low intensity fire, the inevitable consequence is higher intensity
fires that are harder (and sometimes impossible) to control.
Decisions about fire management strategies
are based on a multitude of concerns including safety of firefighters
and the public, how fire might behave, air quality, vegetation,
weather, funding, protection of property, cost efficiency, public
sentiment and damage or benefit to the environment. We choose the
most appropriate management response when a fire occurs.
Wildland fire will be used to protect,
maintain and enhance resources and, as nearly as possible, be allowed
to function in its natural ecological role. Human caused fires will
always be suppressed.
Why are some fires put out and others
allowed to burn? Good question! Human caused fires will always be
suppressed. The Oso Fire in 1998, Dome Fire of 1996, La Mesa Fire
of 1977, Porter and Cebollita Fires of the 1970's were put out because
they were person caused fires. There was the potential for the Dome
Fire to impact the community of Los Alamos and Los Alamos National
Laboratory. During the La Mesa Fire, spot fires occurred from 1/2
to 2 miles ahead of the main fire front on Los Alamos National Laboratory
lands. The Cebollita fire actually entered the community of La Cueva,
narrowly missing homes. The impacts of these fires ranged from moderate
to severe. Fortunately, no homes were lost on these fires but the
cost to the taxpayers has increased from about $190 per acre to
$1000 per acre, depending on the size of the wildland fire. The
La Mesa Fire, for example, cost 3 million dollars to supppress.
The Dome Fire cost $7.5 million.
Sometimes thousands of acres are
ignited on purpose by the Forest Service. These fires burn under
conditions which limit how hot and severe they can burn; these are
Prescribed Fires. The cost of planning and implementing a prescribed
fire is approximately $75 per acre, depending on the size and complexity
of the burn.
Lightning caused fires can sometimes
be monitored closely and held within a certain geographic boundary,
without being suppressed. This can only be done in certain areas,
under certain conditions, and only when the fire is in an area that
has been designated for Fire Use.
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