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Firefighters let Shotgun Fire burn through the Golden Trout Wilderness
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Smoke from the Shotgun Fire spreads over the Sierra Nevada Mountains
The National Forest has begun a new fire policy in California, Let ‘em burn. Well it’s more complicated than that, but firefighters are letting the Shotgun Fire burn with less suppression. The Shotgun Fire started on June 17th near the confluence of the Shotgun Creek and the Little Kern River in the Golden Trout Wilderness along the southern western divide of the Sierra Nevada Range. The fire was allowed to grow to char nearly 900 acres but is now smoldering out. It is expected that many of the 90 firefighters who have been controlling the blaze will be finished by the end of the week.
The handling of the Shotgun Fire acknowledges the important natural function of wildfires in the Sierras. The fire will improve the overall health of the forest by adding nutrients back into the soil, and the clearing of dense trees and underbrush will, it is beleived, reestablish habitats for fish and wildlife.
Western Divide District Ranger Priscilla Summers explained:
For more than 100 years, the philosophy has been to suppress fires at all costs. The current condition of the Golden Trout Wilderness and surrounding Giant Sequoia National Monument shows the absence of natural fire. Fire is a natural occurrence; it enhances the ecosystem's ability to sustain nutrient cycles and enhance productivity. Nutrients released as a result of fires are quickly used by new plants and trees.
The firefighters drew a line to protect some areas of the forest but took a laissez-faire attitude toward others. By fighting wildfires so vigorously in the past, the danger of wildfires may have actually increased in the area.
The Shotgun Fire Incident report goes on to state that:
In the past few years, the Sequoia National Forest has experienced devastating wildfires that, in a large part, have been due to the condition of the forests. Today's densely green forests may seem beautiful, but in fact are deadly. Fire suppression and reduced forest management over many decades has allowed trees and brush to grow very dense. Our forests are choking with brush, tinder-dry dead leaves, branches and trees that increase the risk of abnormally hot, intense and damaging wildfires. As a result, when a wildfire happens, managers face exorbitant costs to suppress fires and rehabilitation the forests after the fires.
The potential cost savings of this new approach are a measure that all Californians can enjoy. While the smoke hovering over the southern sierras diminished views on forth of July weekend, that temporary plight is better than witnessing a larger conflagration that could cause intolerable devastation.
The smoke of the Shotgun Fire could be seen tarnishing the view from Cirque Peak on July 4th, 2009. Exercise caution if you are visiting this region of the Golden Trout Wilderness. All trails are currently open, but for more information call the Springville National Forest office at 559-539-2607.
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