Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #17

Stop #17

Quick Facts

Location:

33.8298, -80.818

Significance:

Tour stop

Prescribed Fire

Fire has always been a natural occurrence in this forest. Today, the National Park Service manages the health of the forest through prescribed fires, which help restore the natural fire regime and provide habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Loblolly pines are tolerant of fire and are normally left unscathed when fire severity is low to moderate. This fallen loblolly continued to burn after a prescribed fire due to a naturally caused injury at the base of the trunk. After the tree fell, resource managers sectioned the tree to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.