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Full Citation: Finney, Mark A.; McHugh, Charles; Grenfell, I. 2005. Stand- and landscape-level effects of prescribed burning on two Arizona wildfires. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 35(7):1714-1722.
External Identifier(s): 10.1139/X05-090 Digital Object Identifier
Location: Rodeo-Chediski Fire, Arizona, U.S.
Ecosystem types: Ponderosa pine forest
Southwest FireCLIME Keywords: None
FRAMES Keywords: Arizona, coniferous forests, droughts, fire case histories, fire frequency, fire hazard reduction, fire injuries (plants), fire intensity, fire management, fire size, forest management, fuel management, GIS - geographic information system, landscape ecology, national forests, Native Americans, Pinus ponderosa, rate of spread, remote sensing, scorch, statistical analysis, surface fuels, thinning, wildfires, fire growth, large-scale prescribed burning, fuel treatment effectiveness

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Stand- and landscape-level effects of prescribed burning on two Arizona wildfires

Mark A. Finney, Charles W. McHugh, Isaac C. Grenfell
Summary - what did the authors do and why?

The authors examined the effects of prescribed fires on subsequent fire behavior and fire severity one to nine years prior to the Rodeo-Chediski fire.
Publication findings:

The authors found that prescribed fire treatment effectiveness at reducing future fire severity diminished as time since fire increased. The size of the treatment was also related to its effectiveness at reducing future fire severity so that larger treatments reduced severity to a greater extent. Fire severity in untreated areas was significantly higher than in treated areas across all sites.

Fire and Ecosystem Effects Linkages

How does fire severity relate to fuels?

The authors found that prescribed fire treatment effectiveness at reducing future fire severity diminished as time since fire increased. The size of the treatment was also related to its effectiveness at reducing future fire severity so that larger treatments reduced severity to a greater extent. Fire severity in untreated areas was significantly higher than in treated areas across all sites.

How do fire frequency, rotation, and return interval relate to fuels?

The authors found that prescribed fire treatment effectiveness at reducing future fire severity diminished as time since fire increased. The size of the treatment was also related to its effectiveness at reducing future fire severity so that larger treatments reduced severity to a greater extent. Fire severity in untreated areas was significantly higher than in treated areas across all sites.