Deciduous forests least likely to burn, black spruce at highest risk.
Forest type and wildfire behavior in Alberta's boreal mixedwood region were studied to understand what fuels fires burn. By analyzing the compositions of different forest types in areas affected by lightning fires, researchers found that the type of forest influences the likelihood of it burning. Deciduous stands burn less frequently, while black spruce stands burn the most. This suggests that managing fuels at a landscape scale could help control wildfires in this region.