NPS Photo The Fire Effects Monitoring Crew (Crew 9) works on over 120 long-term plots throughout Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. These plots have been established over the past thirty years to analyze the effects of fire in a variety of forest types.
The crew collects fire ecology data on tree density, diameter, and species, as well as the accumulation of fuels such as dead and downed wood, litter, and duff. Plots are visited before and after fires, and then at 1-year, 5-year, and recurring 10-year intervals.
Crew 9's findings help the Fire Management Office make informed, data-driven decisions about potential smoke production, and the effectiveness and severity of prescribed fire and wildfires. |
Last updated: August 16, 2023