Starting Point Diagnosis = The Site Has > 20 ft 2 Basal Area Per Acre of Longleaf in the Overstory But Has No Recent History of Fire

Fire must be a part of the restoration process, but must be re-introduced very carefully if it has been long excluded. Excessive fuel build-ups can result in damaging or lethal fires, even in mature stands. In stands with a pine overstory other than longleaf, forest floor fuel depths may not be as great, because loblolly and slash pine needles are shorter and decay more rapidly than do longleaf needles. Still, if fuel accumulations are very deep, feeder roots may have grown up into the duff and can be damaged or killed by a hot fire. In addition, litter buildups around the base of the boles of standing timber can smolder for long periods of time, damaging the cambium where the bark is thin. In addition, long-term fire exclusion usually results in a woody mid- and understory. These fuels can feed hot fires, especially if needles drape on vines and shrubs and "ladder" flames up into the canopy.

The first fire in a situation like this should be as cool as possible, burning on a cold, breezy day with moderate humidity and fuel moisture. In extreme cases, fuel treatments such as mowing or raking around the boles of overstory trees might be employed. If longleaf is to be favored in these stands, special attention should be paid to the bases of existing longleaf trees. Raking or wetting the fuel around the trees might lessen the danger of damage from fire if scale of operation allows. Strip headfires move the heat through the stand relatively quickly without allowing intensity to build to dangerous levels and are good options. The second fire might also be a dormant season strip headfire to further reduce fuel loads, push longleaf surface roots deeper, and consume or topple woody shrubs top-killed by the first fire. The interval between the first and second fire should be no more than 3 years. Subsequent fires should take place on two or three-year intervals, depending on fuel conditions. The third or fourth fire should be a growing season fire, ideally in late March through early May. From this point on, at least every third burn should be a growing season burn, extending the window into early summer. As fuel loads are reduced, hotter fires can be safely used. For more information on this subject click here.

The understory should begin to respond following the first growing season fire and continue to develop with successive burns. If this is not the case, the process might be "jump-started" by planting or seeding desired species.

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or is your Starting Point Diagnosis = Site Has > 20 ft 2 Basal Area Per Acre of Longleaf in the Overstory and Has a Recent History of Fire ?

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