Uncharted Flames: NPS Alaska fire ecology team discovers evidence of an unmapped wildfire in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

Olivia Lawrence, Eastern Area Fire Management Fire Effects Biotech collecting data at a soil pit and finding evidence of past fire in the area.

Mariana Perez, NPS

Using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, the NPS Alaska Eastern and Western Area Fire Management ecology teams installed thirteen ecological monitoring plots around two native allotments, located within the legislated boundary of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. These allotments are along the McCarthy Road in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in an area where fuels reduction treatments are planned for 2024. These areas, due to values at risk, are designated for full suppression of all discovered wildfires, and have burned in the past, although the actual fire return interval for this area is not well understood.

The ecology teams’ primary goal was to obtain baseline information about conditions prior to fuels reductions treatments. This information can be used to determine whether the treatment objectives were met and to assess future management needs.

Left: A layer of charcoal was present under the current duff layer. This charcoal layer is directly above mineral soil possibly indicating a high intensity fire. Right: Old charred stump, covered in lichen, found in one of the plots.

Olivia Lawrence, NPS

The ecology teams were also interested in learning more about the fire history in the area. While collecting data, they observed evidence of previous wildfire. Current fire history maps show that one of the allotments experienced wildfire in 1948. However, indicators such as charred stumps and a layer of charcoal beneath the duff were observed at both allotments.

When the ecology team revisits these plots, they will take tree core and cookie samples to determine tree age. Fires in interior Alaskan forests are typically stand replacing, so determining tree ages will provide an estimate of a minimum time since fire. This data will provide insight on the fire return interval for the park.

Fire ecology crew climbing over down trees in an area affected by a late 1990s spruce bark beetle outbreak.

Olivia Lawrence, NPS

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Eastern and Western area (Alaska) fire ecology team smiling at the last Crystal Creed monitoring plot when the mosquitoes abated enough to unzip our bug hoods!

Mariana Perez, NPS

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Learn more about NPS Bipartisan Infrastructure Law projects.

This project was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – Wildland Fire, signed on November 15, 2021. It is a historic investment in the restoration and protection of the environment. 
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - Infrastructure (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)