Feeding the Fire: Invasive Grass and Fire Spread Modeling

While forests are relatively resistant to non-native grass invasion, patches within forests with open canopies or sparse tree cover can be affected. This invasion may lead to changes in fire behavior on the landscape. A team of scientists with the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain Research Stations and Oregon State University used a suite of simulations to examine how non-native grass invasion might alter fire behavior. Their results indicated that forests near invaded patches were more likely to burn and produce crown fires.