Following Hurricane Helene, many areas in Georgia and North Carolina experienced fires fueled by downed trees that allow sunlight to promote dry biomass. Virginia Iglesias from the University of Colorado Boulder highlighted that these circumstances pose challenges for firefighters, as fallen logs block access and can remain hazardous for years. Similarly, past hurricanes like Michael led to significant habitat destruction, which later contributed to extensive wildfires. Fire experts warn that the increased sunlight may also encourage growth of fire-prone vegetation such as rhododendron, further complicating firefighting efforts in susceptible regions.
After the hurricane, there were lots of dead trees felled on the ground, and that allows for sunlight to reach the ground... promoting fire if there's an ignition.
These fallen trees can be a fire nuisance for years after a hurricane, particularly in the Southeast, where dried out pine needles are highly combustible.
So that stuff could really increase, growth-wise, and that’s gonna have a potential impact from a firefighting perspective.
The extra sunlight on the landscape could trigger the growth of plants like rhododendron and mountain laurel in the southern Appalachians, which burn intensely.
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