Unprecedented Success at Cumberland Island in 2020

Firefighter from Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve assists with structure defense on the Settlement South prescribed fire in January 2020.

NPS/R SINKOVITZ

In 2015, a new fire management plan for Cumberland National Seashore opened avenues for greater-than-expected success in 2020. The plan expanded the use of mechanical treatment for hazardous fuel reduction allowing crews to conduct prescribed fire in areas never previously treated. Natural wildfires in the Cumberland Island Wilderness could now also be managed for resource benefit.

Fire management staff were able to put this preparation into action for the lightning-caused Whitney Fire in July 2019. Fires in this area had repeatedly threatened the High Point and Settlement communities, including 40 NPS and private structures, some of historical significance. Mechanical treatments near these structures were a crucial part of the success of this strategy and broke the cycle of wildfire threat on these communities.

Longleaf pine forest in the Settlement South prescribed fire in January 2020, burning for the first time in more than 50 years.

NPS/M WHITMAN

Following that, fire staff used the footprint of the Whitney Fire to implement the North Cut prescribed fire immediately adjacent to the High Point Community. By January and March 2020, fire staff were able to build off the momentum of the previous summer to complete eight additional burn units that bisected and surrounded the remaining structures of the Settlement area. These successful treatments occurred three years before originally planned.

Tabby bricks previously unknown found in Settlement area after March 2020 prescribed fire treatments.

NPS/R SINKOVITZ

The complexity and risk of implementing these prescribed fires was dramatically reduced by the fuels reduction in adjacent areas of the Whitney Fire and North Cut prescribed fire the previous summer. This returned fire management to a mature longleaf pine forest that has been devoid of fire for over 50 years. Much of the north end of Cumberland has been identified before European Settlement as Longleaf Pine Savannah with a species-rich herbaceous understory. This ecosystem’s delicate balance, which is heavily dependent on frequent low intensity fire, has been fragmented and converted to other forest types due to logging, grazing, farming, as well as the exclusion of fire. Since July 2019, park staff have found indicator species of the benefits of fire to this ecosystem. Wiregrass and gopher tortoise are directly benefiting from the restoration of fire in the longleaf forest in the park. Due to the reduction in forest litter from the prescribed fire treatments, another added benefit in the Settlement area has been some previously unknown archeological sites have been found.

Now that fire has been successfully reintroduced into this fire-adapted habitat, many past challenges have been mitigated. Prescribed fires can return at the frequency on which this ecosystem depends and the safety North End communities require.