Keyword: forest fires

Long-term forest health implications of roadlessness

The 2001 Forest Service Roadless Rule prohibits roadbuilding in forests across an area equivalent to the combined states of New York and Maine (236 000 km2). There have been recent assertions that roads are needed to prevent fire and to keep forests healthy.

Microbial communities of fire-affected soil

Over 100 years of fire suppression and over grazing by cattle have left profound changes to some of the ponderosa pine forests in Colorado. The forest stand structure has shifted from a wide open savanna-like structure to one with very high tree densities, which in turn has contributed to destructive forest fires such as the Hayman fire of 2002 (Graham, 2003).

Root diseases: primary agents and secondary consequences of disturbance

The fact that endemic root disease causing pathogens have evolved with forest ecosystems does not necessarily mean they are inconsequential. A pathogen such as the P group of Heterobasidion annosum has become an intractable problem in many Sierra east side pine stands in California because the fungus is adapted to colonization of freshly cut stump surfaces.

Measuring fire weather and forest inflammability

In the measurement of fire weather and forest inflammability, now practiced regularly at more than 90 forest stations in northern Idaho and western Montana, it is necessary to use many methods that are peculiar to this work. Some of these methods are familiar to meteorologists, but few foresters have had any appreciable training in meteorology.

Influence of weather factors on moisture content of light fuels in forests of the northern Rocky Mountains

The necessity of forest-fire protection is generally recognized in the United Slates. The tremendous damage done by forest fires each year to valuable timber, watershed cover, forest range, wildlife, recreational facilities, and personal property has impressed upon the people the need for preventing and controlling forest fires so far as this is humanly possible.

Meteorological conditions affecting the Freeman Lake (Idaho) fire

Measurements of meteorological conditions prevailing during the rapid spread of forest fires are greatly needed so that when their recurrence seems probable, fire-weather forecasters may issue warnings of the danger.

A five-year record of lightning storms and forest fires

According to the records compiled by the supervisors of the national forests in the northern Rocky Mountain region, lightning has been responsible for a greater number of fires, more burned area, more damage, and more expense of suppression in this territory than all other causes of forest fires combined.

Lightning and forest fires in the northern Rocky Mountain region

During the past 18 years lightning has caused 39 per cent of the forest fires in the northern Rocky Mountain district, which includes Montana, northern Idaho, and a small portion of northeastern Washington. For the seasons of 1924 and 1925 the figures are 51 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively.

Climate and forest fires in Montana and northern Idaho, 1909-1919

The present report is a result of the study of the relation between climate and forest fires in Montana and northern Idaho. This region is designated as District I of the United States Forest Service. The data used are the weather records of the United States Weather Bureau for the regular and cooperative stations, and the detail fire reports of the United States Forest Service for the years 1909 to 1919, inclusive. Mr. C. C.

Lightning fires in southwestern forests

Lightning is the leading cause of fires in southwestern forests. On all protected private, state and federal lands in Arizona and New Mexico, nearly 80 percent of the forest, brush and range fires are ignited by lightning. The Southwestern region leads all other regions of the United States both in total number of lightning fires and in the area burned by these fires.