Fire hazard in budworm-killed balsam fir stands on Cape Breton Highlands

Abstract

The pure and mature Abies balsamea fir stands of the Cape-Breton Highlands in Nova Scotia have no apparent fire history. A systematic study was undertaken between 1979-1988 following a major spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana epidemic in the 1970s, to measure fire hazard quantitatively by monitoring changes in fuel distribution, and to evaluate fire weather severity and its seasonality. The cool and moist climate decomposed dead fuels rapidly, and there was little accumulation of surface combustibles. Fire weather severity is low, and even when an unexpected drought occurs, direct attack and attainment of control of wildfire in these stands can be achieved with existing resources. -from Author