Sudden Oak Death and Fire

Project Description

Land managers, fire-suppression professionals, and research scientists have speculated about the relationship between increased sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum)-caused hardwood mortality and wildfire incidence, severity, and behavior in coastal California. Little quantitative data has emerged to measure the nature of any such relationship. The Basin Complex and Chalk Fires in summer and fall 2008 along the Big Sur Coast provided the first opportunity for observers to confirm or disconfirm speculations about fire and sudden oak death. In an effort to focus research, outreach, and technical assistance, we conducted an information-gathering survey targeted at select personnel who worked on the Basin Complex and Chalk Fires, and followed the survey with a series of meetings with land-management professionals and scientists to obtain recommendations for how these firefighters’ experiences should inform future research and outreach efforts. Recommendations included more effective provision of needed maps and safety information; future research into the best methods for sanitizing water or ensuring that infested stream water is not used to fight fire; investigation into characteristics of live fuels in areas of increased hardwood mortality to aid fire behavior analysts with predictions; and increased coordination with firefighting agencies for information distribution and standardization of demobilization procedures.

Purpose and Scope

To investigate the relationship between fire suppression activities and spread of Sudden Oak Death.

Methods

Interviews, surveys

Key Findings

Don’t use infested stream water for suppression, improved sanitation methods.

Project Deliverables

• Sudden Oak Death Mortality and Fire: Lessons from the Basin Complex
• Sudden Oak Death Mortality and Fire: Lessons from the Basin Complex (Poster)
• Sudden Oak Death and Fire in California

For more information: http://www.suddenoakdeath.org/