The Importance of Fire as a Natural Ecological Factor in Itasca State Park, Minnesota

Abstract

During the period between 1650 least 32 fires occurred in Itasca and 1922 at State Park. Twenty-one of these fires were of major consequence. A fire occurred on the average of every 8.8 yr with “major” fires every 10.3 yr. Any specific location in the park was affected by fire about every 22 yr.Individual burns varied in size from 580 acres to approximately 31,960 acres (99% of the park). Sixteen of the 21 “major” fires resulted in the regeneration of pine forests.