A fire fighter records data on weather, flame length, rate of spread, and smoke production on a prescribed fire on Mica Island in 2007.

Prescribed Fire

As part of the fire management plan at Voyageurs National Park, prescribed fire is conducted as a means of replicating natural fire processes in a safe and controlled manner. This is done through what is known as a burn “prescription”. Prescribed fire is the carefully planned periodic burning of selected sites to meet a variety of park management objectives. Goals may include enhancing wildlife habitat, improving ecosystem health and/or reducing fuel loads. A fire that improves wildlife habitat may also decrease accumulated fuels and provide defensible space near developed and high-use park areas.  

Fire Use Fire

Depending on location and conditions, a lightning caused fire may be deemed “Fire Use” and allowed to burn naturally. In 2004, the Section 33 fire, near Shoepack Lake, was a Fire Use fire. This fire burned through just over 1000 acres of spruce/fir/aspen forest during the months of July and August. The fire was extinguished by heavy rains and cool temperatures in mid-August.

Wildfire

Although fire is a natural way to renew ecosystems and stimulate growth, Voyageurs National Park suppresses all human-caused fires. Human-caused fires, particularly those in areas of high visitor use, may be dangerous for visitors and park staff, and could cause damage to property and cultural resources.  To protect visitors and resources, the fire staff will suppress these unwanted fires. 

Monitoring

Fire monitoring plots are established within the park to monitor the health of the forest and ensure goals are met for prescribed or natural fires. Post burn information including burn severity, scorch and char height, and depth of burn, is collected in addition to vegetation and fuels data. These data are then analyzed to assess progress made toward achieving resource management objectives.

Plot prior to the prescribed burn.

Prescribed Burn Plot

These photographs were taken from the same location within a plot prior to burning (left) and during each re-read visit 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 years after the fire.

Notice the progressive growth of understory vegetation, as well as the persistence of the mature red pines in the background. The site will need to be burned again to control the dense brush and allow pine to regenerate.