Kamas Ranger District
 Prescribed Fire Program
PRESCRIPTION FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT For thousands of years, natural fires have played a major role
in grassland, brush and forest ecosystems. may ecosystems have
evolved with fire and depend on it for renewal. A burned area may
seem devoid of life, but many species survive, giving rise to a
new forest. Fire also creates opening in the forest. Sunlight penetrates
these gaps, warming the soil and stimulating new growth from seeds
and roots.
Overtime, periodic fires create a vegetation mosaic of different
ages and types. This provides a rich variety of habitats that supports
many species of insects, mammals, and birds. This diversity indicates
a thriving ecosystem.
The science of ecology tells us that natural fires is an essential
part of nature. Humans have attempted to exclude all types of fire,
not distinguishing between natural and human-caused fire.
In many of our wildlands, fire specialists have grappled with
the issue of fire for over 100 years. For most of that time, society
has viewed fire as a destructive force. The result of a century
of extensive fire suppression, coupled with the growth in urban
wildland areas, has caused a fire environment prone to catastrophic
fire. To deal with this issue, the Forest Service is restoring
fire into ecosystems.
What is the best way to restore fire? In some areas of the forest
we simply let nature take its course. In some predetermined areas,
when lightning strikes and starts a fire, the fire would be monitored
and trained specialists would decide when, where and under what
limits a fire would be permitted to burn. Another solution is prescribed
burning. Fire management, along with wildlife, timber and other
resource specialists, plan and ignite fires in areas when they
are in prescription. Fire can play its role in the forests safely
and provide for:
- RECYCLING OF NUTRIENTS
- RESTORING AND REGULATING PLANT SUCCESSION AND WILDLIFE HABITAT
- MAINTAINING BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
- REDUCING HAZARDOUS FUEL, THUS DECREASING FIRE DANGER
- CONTROLLING INSECTS AND DISEASE POPULATIONS
Some fire must always be extinguished that threaten people, property
and rate natural resources.
Careful planning, using fire as a management tool, and increasing
awareness will provide an
environment for healthy forests. For years, the accepted story
about fire was that it destroyed the
landscape. The reality is, fire is essential for forest health.
To learn more about current fire management practises, read the latest
reports
at www.fs.fed.us/fire/planning/firenotes.htm.
 Lightning
caused
fires are an
important part of
forest ecosystems |
Fire suppression has caused an
environment prone to catastrophic
fires. |
Burns provide a variety of habitat for
wildlife by rejuvenating vegetation. |
Frequent understory burns historically
cleansed ponderosa pine and Douglas fire
forests of dead and down fuel, preventing
catastrophic fires. |
|
