An Advanced Fire Effects Course was recently held by the Nevada County Resource Conservation District (RCD). The focus was on preventing unwanted tree mortality on prescribed fires. Prescribed fires are planned and controlled, low intensity burns that are an effective tool in reducing hazardous fuels, especially surface fuels where wildfires start. The class was aimed at professional arborists, burn bosses, foresters, and advanced prescribed fire practitioners.
Most of the courses and workshops held by the Nevada County RCD are for people new to prescribed burning. This course was developed because higher fuel loads, insect levels, denser forests, and intermittent drought, have increased the likelihood of unwanted tree death, especially of large trees. Understanding the causes of tree mortality and best ways to prepare for and conduct prescribed fire can be very effective in reducing unwanted tree death.
The course was led by Zeno Acton, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board Certified Master Arborist and Jo Ann Fites-Kaufman, local fire scientist, an expert on wildland fire behavior, fuels and fire effects. Acton has two decades of experience in evaluating tree health and causes of mortality, including as an expert consultant. Dr. Fites-Kaufman has worked on wildfires and prescribed fires for more than 33 years, including specialized fire behavior and effects studies on wildland fires in California, Montana, Minnesota, Florida and Georgia.
The participants learned about the effects of heat on plant tissues and how tissue kill in the leaves, roots, and bole of trees affects tree survival and health. A summary of the scientific research on how different fuels, fire behavior and season affect temperatures that kill or injure tree tissues and physiology. Last but not least, the participants learned about techniques for reducing or eliminating unwanted tree mortality.
A field trip was taken to see a previously burned forest conducted by the Tahoe National Forest to reduce fuel hazard to the Cruzon Firewise Community and a primary evacuation route safer. Fites-Kaufman presented on the burn and described the firing patterns, pre-burn fuels and observed fire behavior. Acton showed examples of different effects on tree tissues and the secondary effects of insects and pathogens. Examples of effective pre-burn and during the burn treatments were shown. This included raking around the base of large pines, firing patterns, and use of water and other fire suppression actions during the fire. The course qualified as continuing education units for arborists with ISA credentials.
According to one participant “Decades of experience and knowledge condensed into a well-presented workshop”.
The course wrapped up a very busy fall and winter education program including 17 workshops with 332 attendees, 38 site visits, and participation in 20 outreach events. Workshops were held in 8 different Firewise Communities and more than 30 Firewise Communities were represented at outreach events.
For more information on the Prescribed Fire Program at the Nevada County RCD, visit our website www.ncrcd.org. There are educational resources and a calendar of courses. The program is funded by a Community Wildfire Defense Grant, through the US Forest Service, with funds from the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. At this time, as a federal grant, the program is on pause. When this lifts, the courses will resume.