fire & pocosins conference october 11, 2011 james h. cherry croatan national forest district...

Fire & Pocosins ConferenceFire & Pocosins ConferenceOctober 11, 2011October 11, 2011

James H. CherryJames H. CherryCroatan National ForestCroatan National Forest

District Fire Management OfficerDistrict Fire Management Officer

Current ConditionsCurrent Conditions

• 160,000 acres160,000 acres

• Carteret, Craven and Jones CountiesCarteret, Craven and Jones Counties

• Pine Forest = 25,000 ac.Pine Forest = 25,000 ac.

• Pocosin = 75,000 ac.Pocosin = 75,000 ac.

• Pond Pine Woodland = 32,000 ac.Pond Pine Woodland = 32,000 ac.

• Other = 28,000 ac.Other = 28,000 ac.

Program GoalsProgram Goals

• 25,000 ac. Dormant Season Burning25,000 ac. Dormant Season Burning

• 5,000 ac. Growing Season Burning5,000 ac. Growing Season Burning

• 1,000 ac. Mechanical Treatments1,000 ac. Mechanical Treatments

• 3,000 ac.-5,000 ac. Pocosin Burning3,000 ac.-5,000 ac. Pocosin Burning

•History of Pocosin BurningHistory of Pocosin Burning•SeasonalitySeasonality•Why do we want to burn pocosin?Why do we want to burn pocosin?•RiskRisk•Is it worth it?Is it worth it?

Low Pocosin Ignition by Helicopter

Low Pocosin Fuel Burning – Head Fire

Sand Ridge Previously Overgrown by Pocosin

Ridge with Reduced Pocosin Encroachment

Burn History of this UnitBurn History of this Unit

• 3/08/103/08/10• 3/09/073/09/07• 3/09/043/09/04• 2/03/012/03/01

• 2/26/982/26/98• 3/15/953/15/95• 11/19/9011/19/90• 3/16/833/16/83

Lessons Learned

•Pocosin Prescribed Burn – Croatan Ranger District – May 12, 1966

“This fire demonstrates that the pocosin can be prescribe burned safely with adequate preparation; but it still remains a risky business due to the fact that pocosin either burns hot or does not burn at all.”

•We also learned that the Croatan National Forest has dangerous potential for large disastrous fires when pocosin fuels are not managed with prescribed fire.

•Wildfires have decreased an average of 80% within the last 15 years with the expansion of the prescribed fire program, including burning in pocosin fuels.

Questions?Questions?