Sierra Nevada Post-Fire Photos
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Photos taken Sept 7, 2007 of the Moonlight Fire plume from Quincy, CA. (photos by Linda Blum)
Twenty-three 300-acre California Spotted Owl (CSO) Protected Activity Centers (PACs) were located in the pre-fire landscape of the 2007 Moonlight and Antelope Fires. (photo by Linda Blum)
In 2008 surveys a single pair of territorial CSOs was documented within the 88,000 acre burns, plus ten detections of single, apparently non-territorial, male CSO. As is evident, the pictured PAC experienced near 100% tree mortality. (photo by Linda Blum)
Another CSO PAC within the Moonlight Burn. (photo by Linda Blum)
Some areas within the burns had been treated by thinning and fuel disposal prior to the fires. The Defensible Fuel Profile Zones had much less than 100% tree mortality because the canopy fire dropped to ground inside them. One DFPZ also provided a safe escape route for firefighters when the fire plume collapsed and other escape routes were cut off by the fire. (photo by Linda Blum)
This DFPZ was not treated adequately — too much fuel and too many trees were left. As a consequence, the fire was severe and tree mortality high. (photo by Linda Blum)
From the Clover WFU Fire on the Sequoia NF, June 17, 2008 [here]. Photo courtesy Ron and Karen Burke’s 2008 Pacific Crest Trail Journal. No larger image.
The Bear Creek Guard Station in 1915, built with hand-split ponderosa pine shakes. Note the open, park-like forest. The forest structure was the result of many hundreds of years of regular, seasonal, anthropogenic (Maidu Indian) fires. (Photo courtesy Plumas NF) No larger image.
The Bear Creek Guard Station in 2005. Note the invasion of the older forest by a thicket of younger cohort pine, Douglas-fir, and white fir, the result of 90 years without forest stewardship or Indian fires. (Photo courtesy Plumas NF) No larger image.
Another view of the Bear Creek Guard Station showing the build-up of thicket fuels. Photo by Dr. Paul Zinke, courtesy Dr. Al Stangenberger.
A careless guest used the stove and didn’t do it correctly. A historic treasure lost. (Photo courtesy Plumas NF) No larger image.
Aftermath of the Angora Fire (2007) on the Eldorado NF near South Lake Tahoe. (Photo by Tallac)
During the post-fire clean-up of the Angora Burn. (photo by Tallac)
Antelope Fire damage. Photo courtesy UC Berkeley News Media Center (no larger image).
#1 — Two years after the Angora Fire (June, 2007), taken Memorial Day, May 25, 2009. (Photo by Tallac)
#2 — Two years after the Angora Fire (June, 2007), taken Memorial Day, May 25, 2009. (Photo by Tallac)
#3 — Two years after the Angora Fire (June, 2007), taken Memorial Day, May 25, 2009. (Photo by Tallac)
#4 — Two years after the Angora Fire (June, 2007), taken Memorial Day, May 25, 2009. (Photo by Tallac)
by YPmule
by ar
W is the difference between USFS and USFWS. They originate from the hippie movement days around Richard McSorely’s time; Greenpeace, save planet earth… McSorely was Jesuit so he would have known of Agenda 21, and sustainable development; such a peace loving guy, he thought no one should have guns; sound familiar?
I’m paranoid, of course, so, I think they all conspired to ruin forests and game and what’s the point in having guns with no game? Well, we all know why we have guns. At least citizens do.
Thanks for all the work you’ve done here. You mentioned the fact that most people are not aware of so many details of forestry and the like and have been fed incorrect information for some time now. One of the entities responsible for such treason is the media of course; and on many other issues as well. I know you are familiar with all of this and I am frustrated to beat all over what can be done, but keep spreading the word and trust in our fellow-men — it’s all we have.
by Kurt H.
Hello from Switzerland
I participated in a research project on western forests and management for fire protection / prevention some 10 yrs ago. One thing we found was to create thin forests to achieve a DFPZ fuel profile to prevent crown fires from spreading. I think that the above pictures (esp. those illustrating forest structure in the early 20th century) give a very good impression of what a well-designed silvicultural treatment can achieve.
Good pictures - hope I can use them to show people over here what they’re facing with climate change and how they should prepare.
An excellent addition to this site. The pictures tell the story, and its the same sad story that has been repeated too often.
In the aftermath of fires, we have seen a reduction of small mammals and birds as well as hard winters for the ungulates. It will take years before the browse grows tall enough again to provide winter forage. (What has grown back so far gets buried in the snow.)