The Healing Torch of Fire

1

• The Healing Torch of Fire
• Fire nourishes soil, renews plants and even
  enables some trees to reproduce.
• Where fire is suppressed, the land and its
  inhabitants often suffer. Vegetation often
  becomes dense and unhealthy.
• Ecological goals of prescribed fire on the San
  Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
• Reduce hazardous fuel loads to minimize potential
  damage to riparian corridors from unwanted human
  caused fires.
• Reduce mesquites to increase grass and forbs
  (i.e. wildflowers) cover in upland areas.
• Conduct cool season burns to minimize potential
  harmful effects to fire-sensitive riparian
  species.

Fire and Grasslands Sacaton grasslands
historically covered millions of acres in the
Southwest, and now cover less than 10 percent of
the original area. Fire is essential to the
growth and vigor of native grasses and reduces
invasion by shrubs. It restores nutrients to the
soil and reduces competitors. Land
managers use prescribed fires to maintain
healthy, dynamic grassland ecosystems by
mimicking the frequency of natural
fires. Wildland firefighters ignite a
prescribed fire on the San Pedro Riparian
National Conservation Area.

• Fire and Habitats
• Natural events such as fire play a critical role
  in shaping habitats and maintaining a diversity
  of wildlife.
• Few animals are killed by wildfires, since they
  usually escape. This is why wildlife friendly
  fences are critical.
• Predators, such as hawks, often kill more prey
  after a fire, since there is less protective
  cover.
• How fire benefits animals?
• Increase in plant production following fires
  provides fresh, green plant growth for food.
• Maintains debris dams to reduce water velocity
  during floods, protecting various habitats.

Large trees that are killed by fire, often become
prime habitat for owls, woodpeckers and other
cavity nesting animals.