Fire Use in the Montane Region of the Longleaf Pine Range

While longleaf pine forests are commonly associated with the Coastal Plain, they exist over a wide geographic range that includes mountainous areas of Alabama and Georgia. Fire is a vital agent in montane longleaf pine, just as it is throughout the range this forest type. However, very little has been reported on the use of fire in montane longleaf pine. Most of what is known is from anecdotal accounts that reported that the results from burning in the mountains was not that much different from burning on the Piedmont or Coastal Plain.

The first report in the literature of longleaf pine in the montane region of northeast Alabama and northwest Georgia came from Mohr (1897). He found longleaf pine on isolated ridges, ascending to an elevation of nearly 2,000 feet. North of Hollins, Alabama, Mohr found "the foothills and narrow valleys between them, at an elevation of from 1,400 to 1,500 feet covered with truly magnificent forest of Pinus palustris, yielding to the acre as much merchantable timber as the best class of pine lands in the coastal belt from Alabama to Texas."

Andrews (1917) found the southern slopes of Lavendar Mountain near Rome, Georgia covered by the remains of a great longleaf pine forest. He noted the demise of the Georgia montane longleaf pine communities was tied to European settlement in the 1830’s.

These forests of longleaf pine owed their existence to fire. Reed (1905) may have had the first report on the use of fire in his "Working Plan for Forest Lands in Central Alabama." He noted that surface fires were prevalent in the region, indicating some areas may have burned twice within a year.

Implementing prescribed burns in montane longleaf pine

Based on observations and reports from burning in the Appalachian Mountains, prescribed burns should nearly always be set at higher elevations and allowed to back down. Ridges and spur ridges are often set and the fires are allowed to burn down the slopes. Those lighting the fires need to pay strict attention to conditions, escape routes and safety zones in case there is a change in fire movement. When set low on a slope, the fires preheat ever-increasing amounts of fuel as they ascend, and these fires can be devastating.

The most specific report about prescribed fire in the montane region was done by Laros (1961). He reported that burning in the mountains was similar to burning on the Coastal Plain. He discussed burning slopes of 10-15% for brown-spot control and to prepare a seedbed for a longleaf pine cone crop. After control lines had been established, lines of fire were strung along ridge tops and allowed to back down the slopes. The burning was done 3-5 days following a measurable rainfall. He concluded that fires should be less frequent than on the Coastal Plain because of the danger of soil erosion. Hardwood control could be done on lower slopes with repeated fire due to less danger of soil erosion but control on steeper slopes would be some combination of mechanical and chemical treatments.

The other published report came from work examining longleaf pine regeneration in the mountains and piedmont of Alabama (Croker 1968). This report noted a concern for preventing excessive overstory damage during a late summer burn on steep slopes.