Rabbit Fire in Sequoia National Forest proves useful in fight to protect land
22 December 2023
Published by: https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com
USA – Prescribed burns are part of the cycle to keep the forest thriving, as odd as that may sound. And one fire this year proved especially beneficial.
“The Sequoia National Forest is at risk of wildfire due to heavy fuels buildup, drought, beetle outbreaks, climate change, and other forest stresses,” rangers said.
In 2023, the Sequoia National Forest fire-management crews from each district, burned more than 5,695 acres of fuel – approximately 10,125 piles were burned across the forest. 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,” said 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, like those mimicked in prescribed burns. Operations were conducted to bring the fire to healthy parts of the forest. That operation ended on Oct. 22, reducing nearly 3,000 acres of excess fuel that risked the potential for much bigger fires.
The footprint around The Rabbit Fire had not seen fire for almost 100 years, officials said.
Prescribed burns are an essential tool in forest management to control undergrowth, recycle nutrients, and maintain the diverse ecosystems within the forest, said Angel Prieto, Sequoia National Forest Fire and Fuels planner.
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 wildland resource balance, Prieto added.
“Planned prescribed burn operations can reduce the risk of high-severity wildfires while restoring the ecosystem by reducing accumulated excess underbrush and dry woody debris,” rangers said.
Benefits to the forest and wildlife
- 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.
