Fire Sparks New Life -- Dalton Hwy MP 20.7, Yukon-Koyokuk Borough, AK USA - Flora and Fauna Information Signs on Waymarking.com

This flora and fauna information sign discusses the impact of fire on the landscapes along the Dalton Highway. It is located in milepost 20.7 along the highway at a new pullout created by the Alaska Department of Transportation to educate travelers along the Dalton Highway of the varied landscapes and why they are ever-changing.

The sign reads as follows:

"FIRE SPARKS NEW LIFE

In the valley below, Hess Creek meanders west to meet the Yukon River. The interlaced pattern of dead and live trees is from the Erickson Creek fire, ignited by lightning on June 17, 2003. The flames charred 117,242 acres (47,446 hectares) for being doused by July rains. Firefighters monitored, but did not fight the Erickson Creek blaze - fires that threaten human settlements are given first priority for staff and resources. Fire is not a threat to the boreal forest; in fact, it is a critical factor in regenerating forest diversity.

Wildfires snake through the northern forest - blackening a patch of spruce here, licking quickly across the forest floor there, skipping over one stand of birch before pouncing on another, skirting the edge of a marsh. The result is a patchwork of burned, partly burned, singed, and untouched areas, which will re-sprout and regrow vegetation at different times and rates, creating a variety of boreal forest habitats.

Even when it appears to be “out,” a fire can still creep within the dense duff layer and above the permafrost (frozen layer). There, it releases nutrients, enriching the soil.

In lightly burned areas, seeds and shoots buried in the forest floor can spring up within weeks of the fire a hot intensifier can burn up the organic layer in the forest floor. It may take years for plants to re-colonize those areas. (Photo: Mike Haggstrom, Alaska Department of Fish & Game)

What about the pipeline?

The pipeline is built to withstand fires: its half-inch-thick steel walls are wrapped in a 3-inch-thick composite of a fibrous glass insulation covered with a galvanized steel outer jacket that makes it essentially fireproof. In addition, pipeline maintenance crews clear brush near the pipe to keep the flames of the distance."

Visit Instructions:
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Date Logged Log User Rating   12/01/2022 Benchmark Blasterz visited it