Hurricanes often known for their powerful winds and rain, also create conditions that can increase wildfire risk, especially in regions populated by pine trees. According to Robert Scheller, a professor of forestry and environmental resources at NC State, hurricane-force winds can knock down trees and scatter needles, leaves, and branches, leaving behind “fuel” that can later ignite.
Pine trees, common in areas like the southeastern U.S., pose a higher wildfire risk due to their flammable resin-filled needles, which decompose slowly, Scheller explained. After a storm, the abundance of dead pine needles and branches on the forest floor creates a phenomenon called fuel loading, where high amounts of combustible material in one area heighten the potential intensity of wildfires. For instance, the aftermath of Hurricane Michael in 2018 left 1.3 million acres of longleaf pine damaged in the Florida Panhandle, fueling the massive Bertha Swamp Road Fire two years later.
While hurricanes contribute to wildfire risks by increasing fuel loads, Scheller notes that severe drought can amplify these conditions. Areas like western North Carolina and the southern Appalachians, primarily covered in pine forests, could face extreme wildfire conditions if hit by both a hurricane and subsequent drought.
To help prevent such situations, government agencies like the U.S. Forest Service conduct prescribed burns to reduce fuel loads on public lands. However, with over 50% of U.S. forest lands privately owned, the need for landowner cooperation presents a significant challenge. Property owners often resort to burning or chipping debris, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere. Scheller advocates for alternatives like biochar, a carbon-storing soil enhancer that could help mitigate climate change impacts in the long run.
Scheller and his team also warn that climate change is shifting tree species’ natural ranges. Sabal palms, highly flammable despite being fire-tolerant, are migrating into North Carolina’s Sandhills, increasing wildfire risk in areas unaccustomed to such vegetation.
As natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires become more frequent and intense, innovative strategies like biochar and mindful forest management will be crucial to limit environmental damage and the worsening effects of climate change.
Reference: https://www.preventionweb.net/news/hurricanes-can-increase-wildfire-risk-expert-says