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Understanding the Impacts of Hurricane Helene
on Prescribed Fires and Wildfires
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, there is heightened concern of the increased risk of wildfires from the fuel loads present. A disturbance, like a hurricane, can alter the movement and behavior of wildfires and prescribed fires across the landscape. Land managers, fire practitioners, and natural resource managers are trying to understand the future implications of prescribed fire and wildfires and how the accumulation of debris will play a critical role in the intensity, severity, and behavior of fire. There is much to understand on how fuels have changed and what this means for the future of these forests.
Southern Forest Outlook Southern Research Station | General Technical Report SRS-280 | May 2025
Written by Lars Pomara, Nicholas Gould, Sandhya Nepal, Kristen Emmett, Scott Goodrick, and Danny Lee, USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station
Report Abstract: This report in support of the Southern Forest Outlook assesses current and future risks associated with wildfire and smoke in the Southern United States, through a synthesis of literature review and new analysis. Ongoing and future changes in climate, forests, and society present complex wildfire risk challenges, but pathways exist to build forest resilience and mitigate risk.
Full advisory PDF.
https://doi.org/10.2737/SRS-GTR-280
Spring 2025 Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory: Southern Appalachian Mountains and Foothills
Issued by the Southern Area Decision Support in coordination with state and federal partners.
The conditions this year, particularly in the month of March 2025, have led to low relative humidities, a rainfall deficit, and extremely low fuel moisture. These environmental occurrences in conjunction with post - Helene fuels, are displaying uncharacteristic wildfire behavior in the southern Appalachian Mountains of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Full advisory PDF.
Hurricane Helene Strategic Wildfire Rapid Risk Assessment
This strategic wildfire rapid risk assessment seeks to identify areas where hurricane disturbance may compound existing wildfire risks to inform post-hurricane fuels management priorities and wildfire response strategies. The report was last edited on March 7, 2025.
Full report PDF.
Fuels and Fire Management Considerations for Hurricane Helene Damaged Areas
This document provides fuel loading and modeling guidance, fire behavior expectations, and fire management considerations for both wildfire response and prescribed fire implementation for each of the hurricane damage severity categories: catastrophic, severe, moderate, light.
Full report PDF.
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Addressing Hurricane Helene's Disturbance: A Customized Mapping and Data Integration Solution by LANDFIRE
Hurricane Helene's landfall during the final days of the 2024 fiscal year challenged LANDFIRE to capture disturbances in time for the LF 2024 Preliminary Disturbance product. Just months after the hurricane, LANDFIRE responded with a targeted mapping effort, incorporating external data source to ensure timely and accurate information in the LF 2024 release.
Full report PDF.
Research: The influence of experimental wind disturbance on forest fuels and fire characteristics
Jeffery B. Cannon, Joseph J. O’Brien, E. Louise Loudermilk, Matthew B. Dickinson, Chris J. Peterson, “The influence of experimental wind disturbance on forest fuels and fire characteristics,” Forest Ecology and Management, Volume 330, 2014, Pages 294-303, ISSN 0378-1127, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2014.07.021
Full Research Article PDF.
Research: Analysis of Forest Change Detection Induced by Hurricane Helene Using Remote Sensing Data
Ansari, R.A.; Esimaje, T.; Ibrahim, O.M.; Mulrooney, T. Analysis of Forest Change Detection Induced by Hurricane Helene Using Remote Sensing Data. Forests 2025, 16, 788. https://doi.org/10.3390/ f16050788
Full Research Article PDF.
Greg Philipp, assistant fire management operator for the National Forests in North Carolina, assesses fire damage on the proposed Graveyard Mountain salvage unit during the North Fork Fire.
(USDA Forest Service photo by Lisa Jennings. )
Wildfire in Wake of Hurricane Helene
Dana Hodde, National Forests in North Carolina
Full Article.
Research: Temporal Effects of Hurricanes and Prescribed Fire on Fuel Loading and Pine Reproduction in the Southeastern United States
Pile-Knapp, Lauren S.; Guan, Shanyue; Song, Bo; Wang, Geoff G. 2022. Temporal effects of hurricanes and prescribed fire on fuel loading and pine reproduction in the Southeastern United States. In: Willis, John L.; Self, Andrew B.; Siegert, Courtney M., eds. Proceedings of the 21st Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-268. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 21–31 https://doi.org/10.2737/SRS-GTR-268
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Southern Area Wildfire Risk Assessment Fall 2025 Southern Area Decision Support Group
Southern Area Decision Support Group
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2024 Hurricane Helene in the southern Appalachians
Impacts to five landscapes are described in detail. These are Roan Mountain, the Big Ivy area, Elk Mountains, Asheville's urban forest, the Pisgah Ranger District, and Linville Gorge.
Website
Photo Credit: NCDOTcommunications, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Post-Hurricane Fuels and Suppression Considerations Bulletin
This bulletin highlights key considerations to ensure the safety and effectiveness of suppression efforts, and the unique challenges and hazards associated with hurricane impacted areas.
PDF
Region Eight Fire Risk Management Prescribed Fire Fuels and Planning Safety Bulletin
This bulletin highlights Fuels and fire management in hurricane damaged areas in the Southern Appalachians, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain. Issued by the Fire and Aviation Southern Region and the U.S Forest Service
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Photo Series for Estimating Post-Hurricane Residues and Fire Behavior in Southern Pine
This photo series is from Hurricane Hugo. Photographs of preburn fuel loads, fire behavior, and postburn fuel loads were taken to visually depict the fire intensity associated with differing hurricane-generated fuel loads. These photo sequences enable the reader to compare actual fire behavior and consumption with preconceived mental images. Issued by Dale D. Wade, James K Forbus, and James M Saveland.
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Southern Apps Post- Helene Spring Wildfires 2025 AAR: September 8, 2025
Purpose: Document and discuss observed fire behavior from the spring 2025 season, the first after Hurricane Helene
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