FIRE EFFECTS GUIDE - National Wildfire Coordinating Group

produced by that oakbrush may be negatively impacted for many years.
(2) Will food items be available when the species requires them? For
example, a fall burn could eliminate critically needed forage for
wintering herbivores. A fire on that same site early enough in the spring
to promote substantial regrowth, could be beneficial.
(3) Is fire-sensitive vegetation involved in the food base? Long-term
negative impacts can be incurred if an animal is dependent on a firesensitive
species that burns. The opportunity, however, for accepting
short-term forage loss for long-term enhancement of the food base
should be considered.
d. Water availability. Free water availability dictates the presence or
absence of many species following a fire.
(1) Is water present on or close to the burned area? Some species will
travel miles for water. Others, however, need it immediately available.
(2) Is the water present yearlong or on a seasonal basis?
(3) What cover characteristics are present immediate to the water?
Some species (e.g., sage grouse, white-tail deer) show a reluctance to
use a water source deficient of adjacent cover. Other species, such as
antelope, prefer good visibility.
(4) The potential adverse effects of fire on water quality -- both onsite
and off-site -- should be addressed. Water quality can have a major
influence on food chain relationships.
4. Miscellaneous Considerations.
a. Size of burned area. Is the burn of sufficient size to accommodate
the forage demand of large herbivores? Deer, elk, bighorn sheep,
livestock, and a number of other species are capable of making
excessive use of burned areas that are of insufficient size. Many of
these species exhibit a strong affinity for burned areas. Options to
consider include:
(1) Burn additional similar size areas;