Sequoia National Forest’s 2024 prescribed burns will benefit trees and wildlife | Opinion

As part of the U.S. Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy, the Sequoia National Forest uses prescribed fire tactics to reduce hazardous fuel loads in the forest. The forest wrapped up burning for 2023, and plans for 2024 are underway, focusing on increasing acres of burning while maintaining safety and environmental standards.

The Sequoia National Forest is at risk of wildfire due to heavy fuels buildup, drought, beetle outbreaks, climate change and other forest stresses. Fire management officials use prescribed burn operations to address the threat by returning resource benefiting fire to the landscape.

In 2023, the Sequoia National Forest fire-management crews from each district, contractor and partner conducted over 5,695 acres of prescribed burn operations, and approximately 10,125 piles were burned. This resulted in a reduction of over 100 tons per acre of hazardous fuels.

“It’s exciting to see proactive work to promote good fire on the landscape that will benefit the ecosystems in the forest,” stated Gretchen Fitzgerald, the forest’s ecosystem staff officer. “Fuels reduction treatments have been shown to reduce the probability of a high severity wildfire for the next 10-20 years.”

The 2023 lightning-caused Rabbit Fire was managed to promote natural fire effects. Firing operations were conducted to bring the blaze to containment lines. Firing operations were successfully concluded on Oct. 22, reducing nearly 3,000 acres of excess fuel.

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The Rabbit Fire footprint had not seen wildfire for almost 100 years and occurred under ideal conditions, leading to beneficial outcomes such as reducing hazardous fuels while limiting the mortality of green trees.

Prescribed burning is a critical tool in forest management to control undergrowth, recycle nutrients and maintain the diverse ecosystems within the forest. Prescribed burns help manage vegetation, reduce wildfire risks and support diverse habitats.

Fire-adapted forests such as the Sequoia National Forest require frequent low-intensity wildland fires to regenerate and stay healthy and maintain a resource balance.

The benefits to the forest and its wildlife are many:

▪ Prescribed fires are vital in reducing the accumulation of dead wood, leaf litter, and other combustible materials on the forest floor. This reduction can decrease the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

▪ Fire is a natural part of many ecosystems. By burning old vegetation, prescribed burns encourage the growth of new plants, providing diverse habitats and food sources for wildlife. This diversity is crucial for the health and resilience of forest ecosystems.

▪ Many wildlife species depend on the habitats created by periodic fires. Some species require young forests or open areas created by fire for feeding and breeding.

▪ Prescribed fire helps return nutrients, locked in vegetation, to the soil, thus enhancing the nutrient cycle. This replenishment is vital for the continued health of forest ecosystems.

▪ Prescribed fire creates bare mineral soil for tree seedling regeneration and can help open cones in some species.

“The forest’s recent prescribed burning successes are a testament to our collaboration,” stated Teresa Benson, Sequoia National Forest supervisor. “With invaluable support from Sequoia National Forest crews and staff from each district, private contractors, adjacent forests, state agencies, local air boards, and other key players, we continue to get closer to reaching our prescribed burning goals.

“This approach is a blueprint for future efforts as we tackle the ongoing wildfire threat on the Sequoia National Forest.”

Angel Prieto is the fire and fuels planner for the Sequoia National Forest.