Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2013 [Glacier National Park]

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A summary of fire ecology activities and program information for the Park/network including fire effects plot workload, staffing, management objectives and monitoring results, and planning, fire monitoring, communications, and research. Also included are staff accomplishments/areas of focus, future program direction and other optional information (e.g. data analysis graphics or presentations, annual highlights, publications, program challenges, unique solutions to problems, collaboration, photographs of monitoring/fire activities, and suggestions on FFI). This past summer initially appeared that the fire season would be significant. June was under average by almost .7” and July was very dry, with only .43” of rainfall. The West Glacier RAWS rapidly climbed to the 97th percentile in ERC by July 25th and the trend was in a steep rise. Just as we were putting together a Severity Request, it rained for 14 out of the next 16 days for a total of 2.67” significantly dropping the indices. Although that amount represents one good thunderstorm in the southwest, that amount of rainfall, in this fuel type, and spread over that many days, is a game changer. August continued moist and was above average with 1.8”. The ERC’s did reach the 90% level again, for about a week at the end of August, but then again in early September, a weather change produced considerable rainfall and reduced it for the rest of the year. Not surprisingly, the fire season was well under average with only four wildfires, all lightning starts that were suppressed at less than one tenth of an acre. Our land management neighbors also had a slow fire season, which limited opportunities to get out on fires locally. Divoky and McClellan, both got one out of park assignment. Divoky assisted ROMO as a Resource Advisor on the Big Meadow Fire and McClellan had a 16 day assignment as a Field Observer on the West Fork Complex in Colorado in early July. Ryan Lima had one dispatch as part of a twenty person crew with the Flathead National Forest. Ryan also helped out with staffing the park Engine when a Glacier firefighter left earlier than expected.

Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2013 [Glacier National Park]

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