Fire History within the Lower Elwha River Watershed, Olympic National Park, Washington

We used fire scars and tree ages to reconstruct a 440-year fire history in a portion of the Elwha River watershed, Olympic National Park, Washington. At least nine fire events occurred in the 1873 ha study area during the period 1568 to 2007. Reconstructed fires occurred in 1568, 1661, 1676, 1729, 1868, 1890, 1898, 1927, and 1977. A 140-year natural fire rotation and a 127-year mean fire return interval were calculated for the study area. Fires were more frequent on south aspects, at low elevations, and in Douglas-fir forest types. Fire suppression has likely prevented fires larger than 20 ha over the past century although large fires were also absent during a 140-year period in the 18th and 19th centuries. Continued suppression may limit forest structural heterogeneity and the establishment of early seral species in this area.