1. Forest Fires

2. Surface Fire Burns undergrowth and leaf litter Burns undergrowth and leaf litter

3. Benefits of surface fires Prevents larger “crown fires” Prevents larger “crown fires” Releases nutrients in fallen leaves Releases nutrients in fallen leaves Helps conifer seeds germinate (sequoias, pines) Helps conifer seeds germinate (sequoias, pines) Reduces diseases and insects Reduces diseases and insects Opens sections of canopy to help smaller trees grow, encourages diversity Opens sections of canopy to help smaller trees grow, encourages diversity

4. How surface fires happen Lightning Lightning

5. Prescribed burns Foresters deliberately set fires Foresters deliberately set fires

6. Prescribed burns Help clear buildup of underbrush Help clear buildup of underbrush Prevents more destructive fires Prevents more destructive fires

7. The Fire Triangle

8. Today’s project Group 1: make a poster, PowerPoint, or TV commercial about how to prevent accidental forest fires Group 1: make a poster, PowerPoint, or TV commercial about how to prevent accidental forest fires Things to consider: Things to consider: What are the dangers of these fires? What are the dangers of these fires? How do they affect forests? How do they affect forests? How can they be prevented? How can they be prevented?

9. Today’s project Group 2: make a poster, PowerPoint, or TV commercial on the benefits of prescribed burns Group 2: make a poster, PowerPoint, or TV commercial on the benefits of prescribed burns Things to consider: Things to consider: How to they prevent future fires? How to they prevent future fires? How do they help the forest? How do they help the forest? How are these fires controlled? How are these fires controlled?