FIRE CASE STUDIES
SPECIES: Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping Juniper 



CASE NAME : 
Stanford Burn



SEASON/SEVERITY CLASSIFICATION : 
Not reported.


STUDY LOCATION : 
The burn site was located in the Blacktail Hills of central Montana
approximately 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Stanford.


PREFIRE VEGETATIVE COMMUNITY : 
The preburn overstory was made up of scattered Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga
menziesia) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta).  Shrubby cinquefoil
(Potentilla fruticosa) dominated the understory, although numerous
grasses and forbs were also present.  Creeping juniper grew beneath the
shrubby cinquefoil at an average density of 0.034 plants per meter
square.


TARGET SPECIES PHENOLOGICAL STATE : 
Not recorded.

The crown area of individual junipers averaged 0.08 meter square and
height averaged only 3.1 inches (7.8 cm).


SITE DESCRIPTION : 
Topography was slightly rolling; elevation averaged 5,890 feet (1,785
m).  The area had a history of heavy grazing use.


FIRE DESCRIPTION : 
        soil moisture beneath plants - average = 49.6%
                                     - range   = 45-65%
        fuel moisture content        - average = 15.0%
                                     - range   = 4.0-23.0%
        temperature of tagged plants - 78 degrees C (109 degrees F) to
                                       406.9 degrees C (700 degrees F) 
                                     - mean 205 degrees C (337.6
                                       degrees F)      


FIRE EFFECTS ON TARGET SPECIES : 
Approximately 48 percent of creeping juniper canopy coverage was totally
consumed by fire; 41 percent was only partially burned; and 11 percent
was unharmed.  Individual crown area burned averaged approximately 85
percent.  All creeping junipers with 100 percent foliage damage died,
although many partially damaged plants survived.  Of the creeping
junipers tagged prior to the burn, 53 percent were killed when the
foliage was totally consumed; 43 percent were partially burned but
recovered; and 4 percent were totally undamaged by fire.  Partially
damaged plants typically showed good recovery.  Regrowth during the
first growing season averaged 1.4 grams per plant with a range of 0.14
to 3.95 grams per plant.  Temperatures tolerated by surviving plants
ranged from 109 degrees Fahrenheit (78 deg C) to 450 degrees Fahrenheit
(267 deg C).  However, several plants were killed by temperatures below
450 degrees Fahrenheit (267 deg C).  Pertinent data on tagged creeping
junipers are summarized below:

 Plant           Crown           Height          Crown          Regrowth
  #              Area            (cm)            Area           (grams/
                 m sq.                           Burned %       plant)
  1              .08             11.0            100              --
  2              .09              7.5             37.5            --
  3              .15              8.0             97.5           1.32
  4              .01              6.5            100              --
  5              .10              3.0            100              --
  6              .06             12.0             62.5           1.35
  7              .09             11.0            100              --
  8              .11              5.0            100              --
  9              .16              4.5            100              --
 10              .13              8.0            100              --
 11              .23              7.0             97.5           3.95
 12              .05              8.5             85.0           2.10
 13              .04              3.5             97.5           2.00
 14              .02              4.0             85.0           0.21
 15              .06              9.0              0.0            --
 16              .05              6.0            100              --
 17              .03             11.0            100              --
 18              .10              9.0            100              --
 19              .02              7.0             62.5           0.86
 20              .04              8.0             62.5           0.37
 21              .05              5.0             97.5           0.14
average          .08              7.8             85.0           1.40


FIRE MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS : 
The foliage of creeping juniper must be completely consumed for high
levels of mortality to occur.  Many partially burned individuals can
recover relatively rapidly.  Results of this study also indicate that
temperature alone does not determine the way in which fire affects
creeping juniper.  Other factors also influence fire effects and the
subsequent response of this species.



FIRE CASE STUDIES
SPECIES: Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping Juniper 



CASE NAME : 
Sun River Burn



SEASON/SEVERITY CLASSIFICATION : 
Season not reported/ low severity


STUDY LOCATION : 
The study site was located in west-central Montana approximately 22
miles (35 km) west of Augusta on the Sun River Game Range.


PREFIRE VEGETATIVE COMMUNITY : 
Preburn vegetation was dominated by creeping juniper, bluebunch
wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), rough fescue (Festuca scabrella),
and various forbs.  Prairie thermopsis (Thermopsis rhombifolia), silky
lupine (Lupinus sericeus), and milkvetch (Astragalus spp.) were the most
abundant forbs.  Creeping juniper grew in large, dense mats at this
site.


TARGET SPECIES PHENOLOGICAL STATE : 
Not reported.


SITE DESCRIPTION : 
        elevation - 4,950 feet (1,500 m)
        topography - 5% slope
                   - northeast exposure
     


FIRE DESCRIPTION : 
The fire was of low intensity.

        rate of spread - 2 feet (0.61 m) per minute
        flame height - 3 feet (1 m) or less
        flame movement - 60 - 90 degrees from horizontal
        average fire temperature - 132.3 degrees F (91 degrees C)
        average soil moisture - 11%
        average fine fuel moisture - 32%


FIRE EFFECTS ON TARGET SPECIES : 
An estimated 31 percent of the total canopy coverage of creeping juniper
was consumed by fire; 29 percent was partially burned; and 40 percent
was unharmed.  None of the 10 tagged plants was killed by fire.
Regrowth was noted on all tagged leaders during the first growing season
after the burn.


FIRE MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS : 
Creeping juniper can be killed by fire, although recovery appears likely
where only a portion of the foliage is damaged.  Often fire does not
carry well where creeping juniper grows in large, dense mats.

Related categories for Species: Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping Juniper