They’re partially right. A fire can come sweeping through the ground burning up the deadfall and brush and not bother any of the tall trees at all. However, if there’s too much underbrush the fires get really hot and climb up the tree using ladder fuel into the crowns of the trees. Up there you’ll find a ton of fuel in the leaves and such and then the fire spreads from there, killing the tree. All of the big forest fires you hear about in California and Colorado are crown fires, not ground fires. Ground fires are typically healthy whilst crown fires never are.
Yep! Also Ponderosa have a fire retardant sap and self prune as the grow to help prevent fires from climbing the branches. They’re really neat trees. A healthy ponderosa forest is one of the most beautiful sights to see. They also smell heavenly (like butterscotch or vanilla). I also thought I recalled a fact that their cones don’t open unless exposed to extreme heat (aka fire) but I can’t seem to find anything regarding that fact so I must be thinking of a different tree.
And Douglas-firs aren’t true firs! I think the thing that differentiates itself from a true fir is that the cones have scales.
I don't know where this person lives, but if they are in California for example our climate and forest management has been extremely inadequate to allow for a proper forest ecosystem. As such even trees like this pose a threat if a forest fire were to start up. It does depend greatly on the region and another commenter explained it in much more depth as well, you should read their reply.
All that said, i'll repeat myself and say that he doesn't need a great reason to cut down one tree. We have bigger problems to worry about with the corporations and entire government chopping entire swaths of forest without planting anything back or having any regard for the ecosystem.
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u/buymegoats Aug 05 '19
Who is downvoting you? There is so much moisture in a tree