FIRE PROTECTION ON THE OZARK NATIONAL 



FOREST 



BY FRANCIS KIEFER 

 Supervisor, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas 



point in fire protection upon on the bare, shallow limestone slopes 



which the American forester lays and ledges. Reproduction of all these 



greatest stress is the quick ex- species is dense and thrifty wherever 



tinguishment of small fires and the con- fires have been excluded. Sprouts, of 



sequent prevention of larger ones. In course, are abundant, because fire, 



Arkansas, peculiar features in connec- which is conducive to sprout growth, 



tion with topography, climate, vegeta- has been nearly everywhere. 

 tion, and local sentiment (more par- The ground cover consists of sedge 



ticularly the last) have increased the grass, lespedeza, and other range plants. 



usual difficulties of fire protection, and, Where fire is kept out for a year or two 



on the Ozark National Forest, have all of these are quickly smothered by 



resulted in a unique solution of the the heavy floor of coarse oak leaves. 



problem. Often burned areas support a sparse 



Briefly, conditions in and near the growth of sedge grass, wild pea vine, 



Ozark National Forest are these : From lespedeza, and other herb weeds less 



central masses which divide the head- valuable for forage, upon which the 



waters of the streams flowing north scattered cattle of the mountaineers de- 



and east into the White River and those pend for subsistence. 

 flowing south and west into the Arkan- Every year the woods are burned over 



sas, broken, round-topped hills radiate to improve the range. The people pat- 



irregularly in all directions. Their alti- tern the often described mountaineer 



tude rarely exceeds 2,300 feet above of Kentucky and Tennessee. They lead 



the sea, or 1,800 feet above the lowest a secluded existence in their valley and 



valleys. ridge-topped communities, depending 



Although the rock and boulder-strewn upon the forest range and mast for 



mountain sides are frequently broken fodder for their cattle and hogs. Un- 



by abrupt limestone cliffs, narrow disturbed, they have for years burned 



benches occasionally attract the local over the woods and destroyed the un- 



farmer. On the rolling crests of the derbrush and litter of hardwood leaves 



ridges, wherever the thin soil is at all in order to encourage the growth of 



productive, are scattered cornfields. In grass and herbs. It is this custom, 



the narrow creek valleys the ribbons of firmly established, which has been the 



alluvial fields stretch unbroken. greatest obstacle in the way of efficient 



The Forest embraces many hard- fire protection in Arkansas. Observa- 



woods of which white oak is the most tions made on the Arkansas and Ozark 



prominent. Shortleaf pine is sprinkled Forests show that burning in the long 



on the south slopes, and is gradually run does not benefit the range, which 



strengthening its foothold. Trees of at best is inferior, but that on the other 



all ages and kinds grow in mixture hand tremendous injury results to tree 



black oak, blackjack oak, post oak, growth through the total destruc- 



black hickory, and pale leaf hickory, tion of reproduction and basal scarring 



confining themselves to the drier, less of the older timber. 

 fertile hilltops ; white oak, red oak, shag With this fact established a vigorous 



bark and pig nut hickory, seeking the educational campaign was undertaken 



moister, deeper soils of the north and against woods burning, which has been 



lower slopes. Groups of red cedar grow continued to the present time. The re- 



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