Ecological and Social Resilience in Wildfire-Prone Communities

Burnett, Melissa

ABSTRACT: Climate forecasts predict more extreme weather in the future, with very wet years followed by years of severe drought. These changing conditions are creating a higher risk for wildfires across the southeastern United States, which could have serious impacts on the environment. The Appalachian Mountains once experienced frequent natural wildfires, but over the last century, fire prevention policies have greatly reduced fire activity. While this may seem like a good thing, it has led to the buildup of dry vegetation (fuel loads) making the region more likely to experience intense and damaging wildfires. One such example happened in the fall of 2016, one of the driest seasons on record. A series of wildfires swept through the southeastern U.S., including the Chimney Tops 2 (CT2) fire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which burned nearly 4,451 hectares (11,000 acres) of forest. This project looks at the long-term effects of the CT2 fire, especially whether it increased the amount of fuel in the forest, which could make future fires even more severe. Interestingly, more intense wildfires may actually help certain native plants that are adapted to fire, like the yellow pines, especially Table Mountain Pine (Pinus pungens). Using satellite imagery and on-the-ground vegetation surveys, we tracked changes in forest communities from 2015 to 2021. Our findings showed that fire severity plays a major role in influencing which species thrive. The CT2 fire increased fuel levels but also encouraged the regrowth of yellow pine and Pine-Oak Heath communities. The fire also brought attention to the need for stronger community resilience to wildfires, especially in places where the risk is rising. We looked at how the CT2 fire affected low-income communities in the northeastern portion of the fire, including Gatlinburg, Tennessee, using an environmental justice approach. We found that wealthier households were more likely to engage with wildfire safety programs like Firewise USA and had more resources to protect their homes. In contrast, lower-income families tended to rely on community support and basic tools, such as garden hoses and fire extinguishers, to prepare for wildfires.