Sudden Oak Death & Fire.pdf

Sudden Oak Death, caused by the non-native pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, has killed over a million trees in coastal California forests. Key observations include:
- Prescribed fires and large wildfires reduce P. ramorum inoculum but do not completely eliminate it.
- Surface fuel loadings in SOD-infested forests may not increase flame length or fireline intensity due to a substantial canopy.
- Dead tanoak leaves have very low moisture content, potentially leading to crown ignitions more often during fires.
- Fire effects in P. ramorum-infested forests vary depending on the stage of disease progression.
- Surface fuels from P. ramorum-killed hardwoods may cause increases in fire behavior, making changes in firefighting tactics necessary.
- Detailed maps of hardwood mortality in SOD-affected areas are needed for more effective and safer firefighting.
- The use of surfactants can reduce P. ramorum, but does not completely eliminate inoculum.
- More studies of surface and crown fuel amounts and fire history are needed throughout the distribution of P. ramorum in California.