FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Toxicodendron toxicarium | Eastern Poison-Oak 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
No specific information on eastern poison-oak mortality or top-kill due
to fire was available in the literature.  It is likely that, given its
small stature, eastern poison-oak is easily top-killed by even
low-intensity surface fires.  It is likely to survive such fires and
sprout from rhizomes.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
In Tennessee, eastern poison-oak occurred on plots that were prescribed
burned annually between 1963 and 1988.  Years and duration of its
occurrence were not reported; the authors stated only that it "occurred
widely across the years".  Eastern poison-oak was also present on plots
that were burned periodically (1964 and 1969) but disappeared from these
plots after 1972 [3].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
The allergenic oil (uroshiol) from eastern poison-oak can be carried on
soot particles when the plant is burned and causes dermatitis on persons
working in areas where eastern poison-oak is burned [11].  The smoke can
injure lungs.  Reports of ill effects from exposure to the smoke of
burning eastern poison-ivy or poison-oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)
include head-to-toe dermatitis, fever, lung infections, and even death
caused by the throat swelling up [18].  It is likely that under similar
burning conditions and plant densities, smoke from eastern poison-oak
could cause the same problems.  Eastern poison-oak, however, has not
been reported at anywhere near the same densities encountered for either
eastern poison-ivy or poison-oak.

Related categories for Species: Toxicodendron toxicarium | Eastern Poison-Oak