Breakthrough at the Missouri River Breaks: A quick tool for comparing burned and unburned sites

Abstract

A quantitative understanding of how forests work, both before and after (prescribed and wild) fire, is essential to management. Yet acquiring the kind of broad yet detailed information needed for many management decisions can be costly, tedious, and time-consuming. After two sweeping wildfires in the Missouri River Breaks area of eastern Montana - the Indian and Germaine wildfires - some researchers wanted to see whether it was possible to characterize both pre-fire and post-fire characteristics in a relatively inexpensive and efficient way. Specifically, they wanted to know whether prescribed fire that is then followed by wildfire, is more likely to meet management objectives.

Citation

Clark, Rachael; Jain, Theresa. 2009. Breakthrough at the Missouri River Breaks: A quick tool for comparing burned and unburned sites. Fire Science Brief. 73: 1-6.