Released February 27, 2009
MONTICELLO, Ark. - Debris from millions of damaged or dying trees that are the aftermath of January's ice storm require careful handling to avoid wildfires the rest of the year, says Caroll Guffey, an extension natural resources program associate for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
For the spring wildfire season that runs through the end of April, "most of this year's downed wood probably won't be dried or cured enough to burn well," Guffey said. "It can take a while for downed material to dry out."
However, for landowners looking to clear debris, "they need to keep in mind that the grass and leaves are dried out from winter," he said. "As long as the grass is brown, there is the potential for fire to spread."
Damaged pines add to the problem because dropped needles dry quickly and add to the burn potential.
It's important for homeowners who will be burning debris to watch it carefully and be ready to act to prevent it escaping, Guffey said.
"This summer, that potential for wild fires is going to greatly increase" as the wood cures and the weather becomes hotter and drier, he said. "This next fall, the potential will increase even further."
Adding to the risk are branches and trees blocking logging roads and other passable trails in forestland.
"From a fire suppression standpoint, fire crews will have to walk under, through and over the debris to get to the fire," Guffey said. "And they can't get trucks and tractors in there. That is going to be a problem for controlling wild fires this year."
For homeowners who have damaged hardwoods, there is some good news. Guffey said heavily damaged hardwoods that are less than six inches in diameter can be cut back to the ground and will often send up sprouts.
"Most of our hardwoods have become established from sprouts," he said. "An acorn will sprout, grow 6-8 inches and die back, but all the while, it's putting out roots.
In six or seven years, when something changes and it gets plenty of sunlight, the tree will begin growing again.
Larger trees are a little trickier. Timber owners, in order to get a tax break, will need to make an effort to salvage the damaged trees.
"No one's building houses or buying furniture, so the markets are down and a lot of the forest product mills are not buying any timber," Guffey said.
For many timber owners, wait and see may be the best strategy, he said.
"You can just stop and look at what's left and see what will recover," Guffey said. "Some of the trees may die, but it may be worth waiting to let them grow a couple of years to recover and for the market to come back up. Focus on what's left not on the damage."
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/february2009/0227damaged_trees_fire.htm
Contact: Lamar James, (501) 671-2187, ljames@uaex.edu