A juniper tree "torches" during a wildfire.

During your travels through Lava Beds National Monument you may notice areas of the landscape that have been charred by fire. Some of these areas resulted from lightning-ignited blazes and others resulted from management-ignited prescribed fire.

Wildfire is one of the most powerful forces of nature and is often viewed in light of its destructive nature. However, within the last ten to twenty years scientific research has enlightened land managers as to the ecological importance of fire in wild ecosystems. One of the key roles of wildfire is to maintain the diversity and health of plant communities. This role results in positive benefits for a greater variety of wildlife.

Periodic wildfires in Lava Beds once burned away plant litter and undergrowth on a regular basis. As a result, most fires crept along the ground and were not hot enough to damage the environment. Wildfires also burned in a “mosaic” pattern, following fuel beds and natural barriers such as lava outcroppings. This pattern left behind patches of older vegetation for wildlife cover and opened up adjacent patches of ground for the sprouting of new vegetation. New sprouts are much more nutritious for wildlife and the patches of older vegetation provide adequate cover for wildlife to access the new forage safely. The burning of litter and undergrowth also recycles nutrients into the soil to support new growth.

From the 1920’s to the late 1970’s all fires in Lava Beds were actively suppressed. The traditional notion was that all wildfire was a "bad" thing. Natural fuels present are unnatural and are at dangerous levels that fuel very intense wildfires. These types of fires are difficult to control and pose a greater threat to life and property compared to the periodic ground fires that once burned through Lava Beds. The ponderosa pines, like those near Mammoth Crater, are generally resistant to periodic ground fires. Aging shrubs now provide an abundance of "ladder fuels", a horizontal arrangement of plant growth that allows fire to climb into the tops of large trees killing them completely. The lack of periodic fire to burn away the under story has also inhibited the regeneration of ponderosa pines in Lava Beds. Ponderosa pine requires clear ground with minimal competition for nutrients and sunlight in order to reproduce. Another example of fire’s importance to plants in Lava Beds is bitterbrush, the primary deer forage in the monument. The old growth provides excellent wildlife cover, but it is poor quality for forage. Without periodic fire, clear patches of ground and nutrients are not made available for the generation of new sprouts.

The fire management program at Lava Beds is actively engaged in reintroducing the natural process of fire through two methods. The first is known as wildland fire use and the second is prescribed fire.

Federal fire policy allows managers to evaluate natural fires (lightning-ignited blazes) for their potential benefits to the ecosystem. If weather and fuel conditions will permit natural fire to burn at the proper intensity that will benefit rather than damage natural resources, managers can allow the fire to run its natural course. If threats are too great the fire may be suppressed entirely or minimum suppression tactics may be used to contain the fire within safe boundaries.

This program is known as wildland fire use for resource benefit (formerly prescribed natural fire). However, it is difficult for nature to catch up to man’s removal of fire from the landscape for such a long period of time. For this reason fire management personnel prescribe fire to treat unhealthy landscapes, just like a doctor prescribes medication to treat illnesses.

Under weather and fuel conditions that promote resource benefits, managers selectively ignite areas of the monument in an effort to reduce heavy fuel loads and to reintroduce fire to the ecosystem. Reduction of fuels helps managers to control wildfires, protect life and property and makes necessary fire suppression efforts safer to conduct. The boundaries around the monument and the developed areas, such as headquarters and the employee housing units, are primary targets for prescribed fire. This action reduces the potential for natural fires to burn uncontrolled into or out of the monument or into developed areas.

Visitors should also be aware that all human-caused fires are immediately suppressed because they do not represent natural processes and do not benefit from the planning involved in wildfire use or prescribed fire. Please do not leave your campfire unattended and do not smoke on any of the trails. During a fire event, you may encounter smoke and temporary trail closures. These inconveniences are only temporary and are necessary for the benefit of our wild land ecosystems.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the fire management program at Lave Beds, please visit the Fire Management Office in the headquarters area or contact the office by phone at 530-667-8123. If you would like to visit one of the areas where fire has been reintroduced, fire management personnel will be happy to assist you. Thank you for your support as we try to bring natural processes back into the monument.