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Table A2—Summary of fire frequencies for fire history studies

Table A2.1—Fire-return and fire-rotation intervals for ponderosa pine communities of the Northern Rocky Mountains. Studies reported composite fire intervals (CFI) unless point fire intervals (PFI) or fire-rotation intervals are noted in the last column. Cells are blank where information was not available. Follow the links to discussions of the studies. See Table A1 for further information about the associated BpSs. Print this table in landscape view for best results.
Map number (from figure 4) and location Site description (as provided): plant community; aspect, slope, and elevation Scope of study (as provided): area or extent of site; number of sites sampled; number of trees sampled Presettlement period studied
 MFRIsa (years) generated by LANDFIRE models (associated BpS series) MFRIs reported in study
Contemporary or other period studied (if applicable)
1. Colville National Forest, Quartzite Planning Area, northeastern Washington near Colville ponderosa pine and ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir series; ~2,600-4,400 feet 7,669 acres stratified into 8 polygons ranging from 20-2,623 acres; fire-scarred trees selected within polygons for a total of 142 sample trees 1671-1885 (presettlement)
 13 for ponderosa pine types (BpS series 10530b); 21 for mixed-conifer types (BpS series 10451c) CFI = 8.32 (SD 1.85, range: 5.6-11.3); Weibull median FRI=7.94 (range: 4.9-10.6)

PFI = 14.30 (SD 2.13, range: 11.0-18.8)
1886-1920 (settlement) CFI = 5.97 (SD 2.54, range: 3.3-11.0); Weibull median & range not calculated due to insufficient data

PFI = 19.60 (SD 3.43, range: 15.4-24.0) [146]
2. Colville National Forest, South Deep Watershed, northeastern Washington near Colville ponderosa pine and ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir series; 1,948-5,777 feet 50,192 acres stratified into 21 polygons ranging from 309-2,086 acres; fire-scarred trees selected within polygons for a total of 168 sample trees 1683-1860
(presettlement)		 13 for ponderosa pine types (BpS series 10530); 21 for mixed-conifer types (BpS series 10451) 5.9 (range: 11-39.4)
1861-1910
(settlement)		 2.5 (range: 4.5-25.5) [145]
3. Flannigan Creek, Idaho, private land Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed conifer forest, ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir; various aspects at 3,198 feet 69 acres; 31 ponderosa pine (25 cross-dated) 1650-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) 6 (range: 2-24) [83]
4. Kootenai National Forest, Idaho, Rexford Ranger District, Sophie Lake Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed conifer forest-ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir; various aspects at 2,558 feet 32 acres; 48 ponderosa pine (46 cross-dated) 1650-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) 6 (range: 1-15) [83]
5. Kootenai National Forest, Idaho, Rexford Ranger District, Hunter Point Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed conifer forest-ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir; south-southeast aspect at 2,575 feet 77 acres; 21 ponderosa pine & 5 western larch (25 cross-dated) 1650-1900 21 ( BpS series 10451) 14 (range: 2-27) [83]
6. Kootenai National Forest, Montana dry Douglas-fir-ponderosa pine/ common snowberry; all aspects on 5°-85° slopes at 2,700-5,800 feet 3-5 ponderosa pines &/or Douglas-firs sampled on each of 20 sites 1814-1910 21 (BpS series 10451) 15.1 (SE=1.35)
1911-1980 49.3 [5,6]
7. Kootenai National Forest, Idaho, Libby Ranger District, Sheldon Flats Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed conifer forest-ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir; nearly flat aspect at 2,304 feet 89 acres; 28 ponderosa pine & 1 western larch (29 cross-dated) 1650-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) 6 (range: 2-17) [83]
8. Kootenai National Forest, Idaho, Libby Ranger District, McMillan Mountain Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed conifer forest-ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir; west aspect at 2,822 feet 20 acres; 33 ponderosa pine (32 cross-dated) 1650-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) 12 (range: 4-25) [83]
9. Flathead National Forest, Montana Douglas-fir/dwarf bilberry habitat type; <8% slopes at 3,600 feet three 2.5-acre plots; 2-56 ponderosa pine &/or Douglas-fir sampled per plot 1500-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) 24.5 [17]
10. Plum Creek Timber (near Plains, Montana), Corona Road Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed conifer forest-ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir; various aspects at 4,002 feet 7 acres; 23 ponderosa pine & 3 western larch (26 cross-dated) 1650-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) 11 (range: 4-25) [83]
11. Flathead National Forest, Flathead Lake East Shore Analysis Area, Montana Douglas-fir/bluebunch wheatgrass dominated by ponderosa pine on dry, south-facing aspects fifteen 375 m² plots over 6,000 acres 1513-1920 21 (BpS series 10451)
21 (range: 8-47)
1921-1997 98
Douglas-fir/mallow ninebark habitat types codominated by ponderosa pine on warm, moist slopes three 375 m² plots over 6,000 acres 1513-1920 21 (BpS series 10451) 30 (range: 10-62)
1921-1997 77-121 [33]
12. Lolo National Forest, Montana, Ninemile Ranger District, McCormick Creek ponderosa pine woodland & savanna; south-southwest aspect at 3,854 feet 367 acres; 18 ponderosa pine (17 cross-dated) 1650-1900 13 (BpS series 10530) 13 (range: 3-30) [83]
13. Lolo National Forest, Whitehorse Gulch and Sawmill Creek, Montana seral ponderosa pine; south-facing slopes at 5,000 feet three 2.5-acre plots; 2-56 ponderosa pine &/or Douglas-fir sampled per plot 1500-1900 13 (BpS series 10530) 26 at Whitehorse Gulch and 31 at Sawmill Creek [17]
14. Lolo National Forest, Montana, Missoula Ranger District, Blue Mountain Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed conifer forest-ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir; east to southeast aspect at 3,962 feet 82 acres; 39 ponderosa pine (36 cross-dated) 1650-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) 6 (range: 1-17) [83]
15. Bitterroot National Forest, Montana dry Douglas-fir-ponderosa pine/mallow ninebark, pinegrass, common snowberry, and northern rough fescue habitat types; all aspects on 5°-85° slopes at 2,700-5,800 feet 3-5 ponderosa pines &/or Douglas-firs sampled on each of 20 sites 1814-1910 21 (BpS series 10451) 15.1 (SE=1.35)
1911-1980 49.3 [5,6]
16. Bitterroot National Forest, Onehorse, Montana ponderosa pine with Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, or pinegrass understories; 3,800-5,000 feet on valley edges 11 trees sampled from 1 stand; stand size not specified for this site but ranged from 200-800 acres for this study

 1735-1900 13 (BpS series 10530)

 

6 (range: 2-20) [7,16]
17. Bitterroot National Forest, Sawmill Creek Research Natural Area, Montana
(This was a pilot study conducted prior to the Sawmill Creek study just below.)		 ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir/bluebunch wheatgrass-arrowleaf balsamroot savannas; canyon forest ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir-Rocky Mountain juniper/bluejoint reedgrass-Idaho fescue habitat types; shallow slopes & ravine bottoms at ~4,400 feet a total of 13 fire-scarred ponderosa pines selected from the habitat types at left 1700-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) 13 (range: 2-32), PFI [63]
18. Bitterroot National Forest, Montana, Stevensville Ranger District, Sawmill Creek Research Natural Area Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed conifer forest-ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir; south & northwest aspects at 5,232 feet 109 acres; 34 ponderosa pine & 1 Douglas-fir (32 cross-dated) 1650-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) 15 (range: 3-32) [83]
19. Bitterroot National Forest, Montana, Stevensville Ranger District, Sheafman Creek ponderosa pine woodland & savanna; northeast aspect at 4,878 feet 35 acres; 41 ponderosa pine & 1 Douglas-fir (41 cross-dated) 1571-1910 13 (BpS series 10530) 11 (range: 2-30) [83]
20. Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Idaho and Montana ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir stands (ponderosa pine/pinegrass habitat type); warm, southerly aspects of 30°-60° slope at 1,200-4,478 feet one to three 375m² plots in 11 stands across the wilderness; 127 total trees sampled 1528-1935 13 (BpS series 10530) 1528-1935:
22 (SD 7.7)
1979-1990 1979-1990: fire-rotation intervals of 28-39 years for low-elevation ponderosa pine & 54-73 years for midelevation Douglas-fir [45,46]
21. Nez Perce National Forest, Idaho, Moose Creek Ranger District, Twenty-three Mile Bar Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed conifer forest-ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir; south aspect at 2,460 feet 106 acres; 12 ponderosa pine (12 cross-dated) 1791-1934 21 (BpS series 10451) 1791-1934: 35.8 (24-39)
1989 55 [83]
22. Payette & Boise National Forests, South Fork Salmon River drainage, Camp Creek, Idaho ponderosa pine, ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir, & ponderosa pine-grand fir habitats; all aspects from 4,200-5,144 feet Twenty-five 375 m² plots over 8,000 acres; # trees sampled not provided 1623-1948 (author stated that effective fire suppression began after 1948 on this site) 13 for ponderosa pine types (BpS series 10530);

21 for mixed-conifer types (BpS series 10451)		 15 (range: 9-29)
1949-1992 4 "moderate-size" fires [35]
23. Tolan, Montana ponderosa pine with Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, or pinegrass understories; 3,800-5,000 feet on valley edges 4 trees sampled from 1 stand; stand size not specified for this site but ranged from 200-800 acres for this study 1735-1900 13 (BpS series 10530) 11 (2-18) [7,16]
24. West Fork, Montana ponderosa pine with Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, or pinegrass understories; 3,800-5,000 feet on valley edges 7 trees sampled from 1 stand; stand size not specified for this site but ranged from 200-800 acres for this study
 1735-1900 13 (BpS series 10530) 10 (range: 2-18) [7,16]
25. Bitterroot National Forest, Fales Flat Campground, Montana ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir; a cold, broad slope at 5,400-5,900 feet; south-facing slopes at 5,000 feet; <8% slopes at 3,600 feet three 2.5-acre plots; 2-56 ponderosa pine &/or Douglas-fir sampled per plot 1500-1900 13 (BpS series 10530)

50 [17]
26. Lolo National Forest, Montana dry Douglas-fir-ponderosa pine/mallow ninebark, pinegrass, common snowberry, and northern rough fescue habitat types; all aspects on 5°-85° slopes at 2,700-5,800 feet 3-5 ponderosa pines &/or Douglas-firs sampled on each of 20 sites 1814-1910 21 (BpS series 10451) 1814-1910: PFI=15.1 (SE=1.35)
1911-1980 1911-1980: PFI=49.3 [5,6]
27. Salmon National Forest, River of No Return Wilderness, Salmon River Breaks corridor, Corn Creek to Mackay Bar, Idaho ponderosa pine/mountain snowberry, Douglas-fir/mallow ninebark, & Douglas-fir/bluebunch wheatgrass habitats; 2,300-3,360 feet on all aspects 40 miles along the Salmon River Canyon; 9 stands (5 on the south & 4 on the north side of the river), from which 27 trees were sampled 1700-1931 21 (BpS series 10451) 1700-1931: 19.9 (range: 8-39)
1935-1984 1935-1984: no fires [31]
28. Salmon National Forest, North Fork Ranger District, Colson Creek drainage, Idaho ponderosa pine/alpine rough fescue, ponderosa pine/bluebunch wheatgrass, Douglas-fir/Idaho fescue, & Douglas-fir/common snowberry habitat types on all aspects. 10 stands that ranged from open, pure ponderosa to dense, ponderosa-Douglas-fir. Trees were 300-500 years old; 3,480-5,600 feet 75 trees sampled 3,000 acres 1707-1919
 13 for ponderosa pine/bunchgrass types (BpS series 10530); 21 for Douglas-fir types (BpS series 10451) 1707-1919: 13.8 (range: 5-28);
1934-1940 1934-1940: 2 fires
1941-1984 1941-1984: no fires [30,31]
29. Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho, North Fork & Salmon Ranger Districts, North Fork Salmon River area was considered too large for vegetation typing; various aspects at 6,232 feet 51 ponderosa pine & 1 Douglas-fir over 28,352 acres (48 cross-dated) 1650-1900 13 for ponderosa pine types (BpS series 10530); 21 for mixed-conifer types (BpS series 10451) MFRI not calculated due to large sampling area (range: 1-37) [83]
30. Nez Perce National Forest, Idaho, Clearwater Ranger District, Keating Ridge Northern Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine woodland & savanna; south-southeast aspect at 5,076 feet 10 acres; 23 ponderosa pine & 1 Douglas-fir (22 cross-dated) 1650-1900 13 (BpS series 10530) 14 (range: 3-26) [83]
31. Nez Perce National Forest, Idaho, Red River Ranger District, Cove Mountain ponderosa pine woodland & savanna; south aspect at 5,756 feet 30 acres; 25 ponderosa pine & 1 Douglas-fir (25 cross-dated) 1650-1900 13 (BpS series 10530) 1650-1900: 17 (range: 3-46)
1920-1987 1920-1987: 60 [83]
32. Salmon National Forest, River of No Return Wilderness, lower Chamerlain & Disappointment creek drainages, Idaho Douglas-fir/mallow ninebark, Douglas-fir/common snowberry, & Douglas-fir/Idaho fescue habitats. South slopes were open, uneven-aged ponderosa pine; north slopes were dense, uneven-aged Douglas-fir/shrub; all aspects from 5,300-6,100 feet 4,000 acres on ridgelines & upper slopes; 10 stands from which 27 trees were sampled 1730-1934 21 (BpS series 10451) 1730-1934: 22.2 (range: 12-37)
1935-1983 1935-1983: 1 small fire [31]
33. Boise National Forest, Idaho, Lowman Ranger District, Lowman Research Natural Area Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed conifer forest-ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir 57 acres; 11 ponderosa pine (9 cross-dated) 1650-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) 29 (range: 14-47) [83]
34. Boise National Forest, Idaho, Idaho City Ranger District, Warm Springs Ridge ponderosa pine woodland & savanna; various aspects at 4,772 feet southwest aspect at 5,034 feet; 37 acres; 26 ponderosa pine & 1 Douglas-fir (27 cross-dated) 1650-1900 13 (BpS series 10530) 9 (range: 3-20) [83]
35. Boise National Forest, Idaho, Emmet Ranger District, Wash Creek Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed conifer forest-ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir; various aspects at 3,419 feet 77 acres; 29 ponderosa pine (25 cross-dated) 1650-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) 11 (range: 1-22) [83]
36. Boise National Forest, Idaho, Idaho City Ranger District, Bannock Creek Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed conifer forest-ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir; east aspect at 4,526 feet 69 acres; 30 ponderosa pine (24 cross-dated) 1650-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) 8 (range: 3-19) [83]
37. Boise National Forest, Boise Basin, central Idaho a moist-dry gradient was sampled from ponderosa pine/mountain snowberry to Douglas-fir/elk sedge, Douglas-fir/white spirea, & Douglas-fir/mallow ninebark habitats; 4,600-5,820 feet seven ~10- to 20-acre sites; large ponderosa pines selected across the basin, with 14 trees sampled/site 1700-1895 21 (BpS series 10451) 1700-1895: 14.3 (range: 9.8-21.7), ~10-13 for low-elevation ponderosa pine & 16-22 for high-elevation ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir
1900-1983 1900-1983: 4 fires [157]
38. Big Belt Mountains, Helena National Forest, Montana Douglas-fir/common snowberry-pinegrass, Douglas-fir/mallow ninebark-pinegrass, Douglas-fir/kinnikinnick, Douglas-fir/elk sedge, & Douglas-fir-pinegrass-bluebunch wheatgrass habit types 6 watersheds; fire-scarred ponderosa pines & western junipers sampled; other details not provided 1740-1930 21 (BpS series 10451) 5.4 (minimum MRFIs not provided, maximum MFRIs range 21-41) [112]
39. Gallatin National Forest, Montana, Bridger Creek Douglas-fir and Douglas-fir-ponderosa pine habitats with mallow ninebark, pinegrass, or bluebunch wheatgrass understories; all aspects from 5,130-6,730 feet ten 0.1-acre plots in the Bridger Creek Watershed; 3 trees sampled/plot 1523-1900 21 (BpS series 10451) mean not reported (range: 29-57) [113]
aMFRI=mean fire-return interval.
bBpS series 10530 = Northern Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine woodland and savanna.
cBpS series 10451 = Northern Rocky Mountain dry-mesic montane mixed-conifer forest - ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir.
Table A2.2—Paleo study.
Location Site description: plant community; aspect and elevation Scope of study: area or extent of site; number of samples; number of sites sampled Paleo period studied
 MFRIs predicted by LANDFIRE models MFRI
central Idaho, Garden Valley near the South Fork Payette River present-day upland communities are open ponderosa pine forests on south-facing slopes & ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir forests on north-facing & other mesic slopes; 3,999-4,600 feet

basin areas ranged from 2 to 1,000 acres; 91 charcoal samples collected from 35 alluvial fan sections associated with 34 tributary basins

~800-1800 not applicable mean not provided (range: 154-286) [133]
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