Data were collected during June-July 1988 on the regeneration of black spruce (Picea mariana) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) after an intense fire in June 1983. The main factors analysed were (i) effects of organic matter thickness on growth of the regeneration, (ii) spatial distribution of the regeneration, (iii) effects of burned stems on this distribution and (iv) links between spatial distribution of the regeneration and thickness of the post-fire residual organic matter. A strong correlation was observed between the presence of seedlings and thickness of the post-fire residual organic matter. Jack pine was much more efficient than black spruce in establishing on microsites with thicker organic matter. Spatial distribution of the regeneration tended to be contagious, following Blackman's dispersion coefficient, while adult individuals of the original stand followed a more random pattern; this suggests that some seedling mortality, induced by seedling density, is to be expected. Regeneration showed a spatial link (point correlation coefficient) with trees of the original stand. The residual organic matter thickness on the ground did not significantly influence the overall growth of jack pine and black spruce seedlings.