In June, 2015 the Card Street Fire burned three residences and 8,876 acres in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge 54 air miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a report evaluating the effects of preexisting fuel treatments on the spread and control of the fire. Below is an excerpt from the summary:
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“The fire intersected two separate fuels treatment projects. Portions of the northeastern flank of the fire were stopped and ultimately controlled in part due to the change in vegetation types created by these treatments. The first unit is a 672 acre parcel completed in 1984, and the second is a 124 acre unit completed in 2009. Both areas were treated mechanically.
The 1984 unit was treated by tree crushing machines. The 2009 unit was completed by a combination of hydraulic axe and feller buncher machines. The feller buncher created several large slash piles throughout the unit, which were later burned. The area was also opened to firewood cutters after completion. The firewood cutters further removed some of the slash left over from the treatment. Effectively, both units were “clear cut”, leaving only a small amount of seed trees scattered throughout the units.
Key points:
- Both treatments had some effect on lessening fire behavior and spotting potential at the head of the fire which ultimately aided in the control of the Card Street Fire.
- The 2009 unit provided firefighters with an anchor point and safety zone for their operation on the northeastern flank of the fire due to the lower fire intensities, lower rates of spread, and the lack of fuels and snags.
- The burning conditions exceeded the upper prescription limits set by the Skilak Loop Burn Plan, and therefore the majority of seed trees left on the 2009 treatment were killed.
- The high intensity fire sustained within the 2009 unit is expected to stimulate new growth from the deciduous trees and shrubs found inside the unit, as well as provide an acceptable seed bed for conifer regeneration.”
