wildfire

darrenjttu · September 13, 2011, 09:52:08 AM

Can pine trees and oaks survive a wild fire or are they totally dead. All the pine needles burned off but it looks like the trunks and main branches are ok. My MIL lost her house in the Bastrop, Texas fire last week. If the trees are going to die or are dead I might cut some down and try to make some thing out of them for her. She lost every thing.

Texas Ranger · September 13, 2011, 10:56:47 AM

Yes, some can survive, oaks will be the hardest hit. But, damage and death will continue with the double tap of heat and no water.

Hard to say on your trees, we are losing them here in east Texas without the fire with no relief in sight.

Buck · September 13, 2011, 11:24:42 AM

Everywhere you look they are dying without fire. I am curious to see how long it will be before we are trying to save our forests from beetle infestations from the stresses endured from this drought and now fires. We were making bug flights and have found so many spots over last year it is unreal.

tcsmpsi · September 13, 2011, 05:04:04 PM

I would venture that the chances of their survival are very slim, and I consider that optimistic. They were likely just 'hanging on' as it was.

Texas Ranger · September 13, 2011, 05:23:45 PM

RaiderBill sent me this.

The road to hell could be no worse.

Magicman · September 13, 2011, 05:29:02 PM

Sharpen your blades, there will be many portable sawmilling opportunities for the next year.

SwampDonkey · September 13, 2011, 07:12:20 PM

I swear, we must have gotten all the rain up here. If it's sunny all day, it will rain at night, mostly showers. Been that way this week to and suppose to continue for a couple days. :

Was nice all Dang day here again, but the woods was wet and all day drying.

WDH · September 13, 2011, 08:59:48 PM

The rule of thumb that I go by is that if no more than the lower third of the needles in the crown actually combusted, the pine tree may well live and put out new green needles even if all the other needles that remain are scorched. It sounds like all the needles on your pine combusted, so I would not hold out any hope or bet a large sum of money on it living.