Tiny Gets a Little Singed
By Paul Masterson
An 18 hectare (40 acre) area of Tiny’s lot 19/20, concession 21 was successfully treated to a prescribed burning in an April/May period this spring. Carried out by trained fire crews of the Ministry of Natural Resources (Midhurst), this proven silvicultural treatment was aimed to promote natural regeneration of red oak. The low level burning program eliminated the competing shrub growth and ground cover to release the red oak. Closely monitoring the burning were crews with fire suppression equipment at the ready.
In the treatment in Tiny there was very little forest fuel on the site to be burned so that the slow moving ground fire was of relatively low intensity and little excessive smoke.
Red oak is valued as a preferred wildlife food source as well as for its high quality lumber products. Acorns are a major food source for white tailed deer, ruffed grouse and wild turkey. We all know red oak as an attractive and durable wood for use in veneer, flooring, trim and furniture.
When a nearby tree dies and falls or is manually removed, the resulting opening in the forest “canopy” allows light to penetrate stimulating the undergrowth trees such as maple, beech and ash which soon penetrates the canopy, shades out the oaks and begins to dominate the forest cover.
Why Fire?
Fire plays a major role in sustaining and regenerating oak forests and there are several reasons for using prescribed burning as a treatment.
fire allows acorns to contact the mineral soil by reducing the overlay of leaves and forest litter. This, in turn, allows blue jays, squirrels and mice to cache the acorns which encourages a regeneration process.
fire reduces those insect populations which damage the acorn.
fires dry out the site by reducing organic matter giving red oak a competitive advantage over competing species because of its ability to tolerate dry sites.
fire reduces competing understorey trees, therefore allowing red oak seedlings to outgrow the competing species.
In a forest fire situation, because of the red oaks thick bark, it has a better chance to survive, even several sequential fires, than other species. It also has the tenacity to regenerate even if its tops have been destroyed.
Source: Ministry of Natural Resources, Midhurst
