FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Acer saccharum | Sugar Maple 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Sugar maple is sensitive to fire [13].  The thin bark is easily damaged
by even light ground fires [12].  Curtis [12] reported that "cambial
injury occurs even in trees that show little external damage."  Large
trees occasionally survive light fires and may exhibit visible fire
scars [40].  Hot fires can kill existing regeneration [49].

Sugar maple commonly occurs in mesic closed canopy forests that are
relatively resistant to ground fires, particularly during the winter and
spring when litter is usually moist [12].  In the summer, flammable
litter (generally deciduous leaves) is often scarce or absent.  Greatest
fire hazard occurs in dry years during October, after the leaves have
fallen [12].  Fires which occur during this time period are occasionally
severe and can kill the entire stand.  In a Tennessee loblolly pine
stand, DeBruyn and Buckner [14] reported 85 percent mortality in sugar
maple following a fall burn when fuels were very dry.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Sugar maple sprouts poorly after fire [40].  Mature trees that have been
top-killed by fire do not sprout, small saplings occasionally sucker
[12].  Although sprouting is common in young sugar maples following
mechanical disturbances, it is relatively uncommon after fire.  Sugar
maple reestablishes through seedling sprouts and seedlings [49].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Fuels/flammability:  The average ash content of dead sugar maple leaves
collected in two Michigan counties was documented as follows [47]:

               Wexford Co.       Ingham Co.
                         (percent)
Fall              7.1              8.5         
Spring            9.2             12.2
Early summer     10.3             13.1

Related categories for Species: Acer saccharum | Sugar Maple