Modern fire management depends on a variety of large-scale
fuel treatments. History has taught us practices and policies demanding quick suppression of fires can often lead to more harm than good in the long run. To successfully manage all aspects of our forests, including timber harvest, wildlife habitat and the expanding wildland urban interface, policies and management strategies need to be looked at and adapted for current forest conditions and firefighter/public safety.
A sunrise over a lake surrounded by red and white pine. The shoreline is rocky and the water reflects the trees and the sunrise.
Image of the Boreal Forest
On the Superior National Forest, management of the boreal fuel type is especially challenging. In
a biome where most species have evolved and adapted to fire, humans are the minority. Over the last 100 years,
humans developed policies to keep the fire out of the ecosystem, under the assumption those policies will keep people and infrastructure safe. That is true on the short term, but long-term application of this strategy has proven, without fire, the flora and fauna of
the Boreal Forest lose habitat. The buildup
of hazardous fuel in decadent forest stands results in large intense fires, such as the Pagami Creek (92,682 acres) and Greenwood (26,797 acres) fires.
A small fire burning in a red pine forest.
An aerial view of a column of smoke coming out of the tree tops from a prescribed burn. The prescribed burn is bordered by a lake shown in the front right hand corner.
Three fire fighters responding by canoe to a fire burning in mixed boreal forest.
Fire on the Boreal landscape
Where it is applicable, there are other options of fire management. Combining fire suppression techniques and fire management strategies prove healthier for the ecosystem and a safer way to suppress fires, keeping wildfire from impacting the wild land urban interface. This strategy of active fire management was applied in the 2021 Fire Season to the Fourtown Fire.
The Fourtown Fire
Fourtown Lake
The Fourtown Fire was detected on the evening of 7/24/2021. The lightning caused fire was estimated to be ¼ acre in size, and well within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. A patrol flight taken the morning of 7/26/2021 determined the fire was estimated 20-25 acres and actively burning, spurring the delegation from the local unit to MNICS Team B, a type III Incident Management Team. MNICS Team B was in place transitioning with a Type 2 Incident Management Team managing the West Zone Complex, a series of fires burning in the area since early July.
This map displays the locations of the fires within the West Zone Complex. The green squares on the map illustrate entry points to the Boundry Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and the fire locations are indicated by the flame icon. The red hatchmarks indicate closure areas of the BWCAW and Canada due to fire activity.
Team B, working closely with Fire Management and Agency Administrators, completed a list of action alternatives for the Fourtown fire. The proposed alternatives included; Alt 1: No action/checking fire with aerial resources, Alt 2: Direct Attack by ground resources, and Alt 3: Burn Out Firing operation. The Incident Management Team determined if Alternative 2 was selected, it would take firefighters several days to access the fire by foot cutting through dense brush. Given the predicted weather forecast, this delay in direct response could lead to additional growth and erratic fire behavior. Alternative 1, let the fire burn on its own to the natural barriers, would provide safety for fire fighters, but given the drought and critical fire weather this could lead to unpredictable fire behavior and erratic growth. Fire managers determined the best course of action was to select Alternative 3, taking a proactive approach with aerial ignition. Based on the terrain, fuel type, predicted weather and fire behavior, Team B would implement Alternative 3 to bring the fire to natural barriers while weather conditions were favorable.
Bringing the Wildfire to Natural Boundaries
Careful consideration was given to the use of natural barriers to define the footprint of the firing operation. The original unit, bringing the fire to the natural barriers of the shores of Boot and Fourtown Lake, was large and required two separate holding groups, one on each lake. Due to burning conditions and to limit the complexity of the operation, the decision was made to reduce the size of the burnout by utilizing a green meadow/natural break that ran north and south through the unit. This cut the unit in half and reduced exposure to personel.
A wet area of grass, tamarack, and black spruce surrounded by higher land with red and white pine.
A day before ignition, 11 ground personnel were inserted to secure the potential holding lines.
A canoe, mark III fire fighting pump and hose next to the shore of Fourtown lake.
The firing operation was initiated on 07/27/2021. Prior to lighting, a heavy helicopter was used for water drops to pretreat and strengthen the proposed holding lines (in black and grey marks). This operational map illustrates the proposed firing unit in red, and completed holding line in black. The purple dots are locations of approved helispots and the red dots are locations of campsites.
The firing operation was conducted by a type 3 helicopter dropping PSD ignition devices as well as people on the ground securing the lines with a variety of firing tactics. This photograph, and the following photographs, were taken during the firing operation.
At the conclusion of ignition operations, final acreage of the Fourtown Fire was calculated at approx. 265 acres.
Following the burnout, holding resources remained on site for 12 days to secure and hold containment lines. Despite a record setting drought, the ignition pattern burned with a wide variety of intensity, creating a mosaic pattern.
One Year Later
One year after the Fourtown Fire, new growth is abundant, and ground species, like fire weed are thriving. There are areas of high fire intensity, but also areas of low intensity where large fire-resistant species of red, white, and jack pine will seed the next generations. New growth from aspen, birch, maple, and brush species provides deer and moose with browse. You will notice large areas of dead balsam fir throughout the burned area. Most of these trees will drop their needles within the next few years and fall to the ground, beginning the natural decay process.
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1
The Fourtown Fire from Fourtown Lake
This photo was taken about a half mile from shore. Note the understory is red indicating it was killed during the fire. Most of the brushy and
hazardous fuels, such as balsam fir, were reduced during the fire while fire resistant species, such as white and red pine, survived as the fire was brought to natural boundaries.
2
Tying into the Natural Fuel Break
The Firing Boss let the fire creep into this natural wet drainage where suppression forces were ready to hold the fire.
3
Fire Resistant Species
Fire resistant species, such as red and white pine, survived the fire while fire intolerant species, were killed.
4
A Pocket of High Intensity Burn
This area shows a higher fire intensity as most of the understory was removed leaving a fertile area for the surviving red and white pine to seed the next generation.
5
Green Overstory
Abundant white and red pine survived the fire while fire intolerant species, such as balsam fir, were killed. This is optimal for a low intensity fire in the Boreal fuel type.
6
A Pocket of Low Fire Intensity
Low fire intensity has left a green overstory.
7
Low Fire Intensity Along the South Shore
This campsite was well protected by holding resources during the burnout.
8
Grass and Plant Species are Abundant
Fire weed and grasses are often the first species to return after a wild fire.
9
The Effect of Wind on a Fire
Shoreline areas can experience a variation in local winds. Wind will funnel off a lake or around narrow bays causing high gusts that can affect fire growth. In this photo, the intensity of the fire, indicated by the dead standing trees along the shoreline, could have been intensified by gusty winds off the lakeshore.
10
Interpreting a Fire
Fire behavior can be interpreted by looking at the pattern the fire has left behind. In this example, the fire intensity could have been influenced by terrain. You will notice more standing dead fuel on the high points of the terrain, and unburned fuels in the lower area towards the center of the photo.
11
Mosaic Burn Pattern
Burn intensity on the Fourtown Fire was dependent on fuel loading, ignition pattern, and tree species. Here the fire was more intense, killing pockets of the overstory, adjacent to areas where the fire was less intense. This mosaic pattern of the burn reflects a naturally occurring pattern that allows for a healthy variety of age class and species variation.
12
Healthy Pine Overstory
These red and white pine survived the fire and reduced competition will give their seeds the advantage.
13
Burned Balsam Understory Leaves More Resources for Pine Seedlings to Grow
As in the previous photo, reducing the competition leaves a fertile bed for the red and white pine seedlings to grow. Hardwoods, like aspen and birch, will sprout from burned stumps.
14
Example of Fire Intensity
An area of higher burn intensity. Notice the ground species coming back after the fire.
15
Detailed Look at Fire Intensity
A closer look at fire intensity from the previous photo.
16
Mix of Boreal Species
Red pine, white pine, aspen and birch come together on the north side of the fire.
17
Tying into the Natural Fuel Break
The fire burned down into this naturally wet area and went out with the assistance of suppression
resources.
The Superior National Forest will continue to incorporate learnings from the Fourtown Fire into its future fire management. The Forest will also continue to monitor the site for additional findings.
For more information about the Forest’s fire program, visit Superior National Forest - Home(usda.gov). For questions or additional information, contact: Joy Vandrie,
Acting Public Affairs Officer, Superior National Forest at joy.vandrie@usda.gov.
