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Current Conditions

Fire & Pocosins Conference October 11, 2011 James H. Cherry Croatan National Forest District Fire Management Officer. Current Conditions. 160,000 acres Carteret, Craven and Jones Counties Pine Forest = 25,000 ac. Pocosin = 75,000 ac. Pond Pine Woodland = 32,000 ac. Other = 28,000 ac.

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Current Conditions

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  1. Fire & Pocosins ConferenceOctober 11, 2011James H. CherryCroatan National ForestDistrict Fire Management Officer

  2. Current Conditions • 160,000 acres • Carteret, Craven and Jones Counties • Pine Forest = 25,000 ac. • Pocosin = 75,000 ac. • Pond Pine Woodland = 32,000 ac. • Other = 28,000 ac.

  3. Program Goals • 25,000 ac. Dormant Season Burning • 5,000 ac. Growing Season Burning • 1,000 ac. Mechanical Treatments • 3,000 ac.-5,000 ac. Pocosin Burning

  4. History of Pocosin Burning • Seasonality • Why do we want to burn pocosin? • Risk • Is it worth it?

  5. Low Pocosin Ignition by Helicopter

  6. Low Pocosin Fuel Burning – Head Fire

  7. Sand Ridge Previously Overgrown by Pocosin

  8. Ridge with Reduced Pocosin Encroachment

  9. Burn History of this Unit • 3/08/10 • 3/09/07 • 3/09/04 • 2/03/01 • 2/26/98 • 3/15/95 • 11/19/90 • 3/16/83

  10. Lessons Learned • Pocosin Prescribed Burn – Croatan Ranger District – May 12, 1966 • “This fire demonstrates that the pocosin can be prescribe burned safely with adequate preparation; but it still remains a risky business due to the fact that pocosin either burns hot or does not burn at all.” • We also learned that the Croatan National Forest has dangerous potential for large disastrous fires when pocosin fuels are not managed with prescribed fire. • Wildfires have decreased an average of 80% within the last 15 years with the expansion of the prescribed fire program, including burning in pocosin fuels.

  11. Questions?

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