  
Annually, both small and large scale wildland fires are ignited by lightning and humans. The boreal forest and the animals within the forest are adapted to fire-caused changes that have occurred for thousands of years. Both black and white spruce depend on intense ground fire to clear organic layers and to expose fertile seedbed. Without the routine occurrence of fire, organic matter accumulates, the permafrost table rises, and ecosystem productivity declines. Fire, as an agent of change rejuvenates and maintains these systems by removing some or all of the insulating material thus warming the soil, and increasing the availability of nutrients.
The Alaska National Parks which typically experience wildland fire activity are Denali National Park and Preserve,
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Cape Krusentstern National Monument, Kobuk Valley National Park, Noatak National Preserve,
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
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Author: Karen La May
Last modified
on: April 20, 2009
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