U.S. Fish and Service Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge Managing to Protect Wildlife and People

Cape Cod, a Legacy of Fire When you think about Cape Cod do you think about fire? Since the time when only the Wampanoag Indians lived here, caused naturally or by people have shaped the of Cape Cod – sometimes with deadly consequences.

1843: Lightning starts 7,680-acre fire in North Falmouth 1938: 5,000-acre kills three Sandwich on Route 130 1946: Slash piles started by German prisoners of war at Camp Edwards blaze out of control and consume 50,000 acres 1982 – 1997: Six burn about 7,500 acres at Camp Edwards ©Tammy Serata Design ©Tammy Firefighters light a controlled burn. While most recent large fires were started by military exercises at Camp especially dangerous because they centuries. But because we put out Edwards, the fact remains – given an throw sparks which can blow in the wildfires to protect people and homes, ignition source, the of Cape Cod wind for miles and land on buildings. we must now mimic benefits of wildfire. are ready to burn. Many homes lost in wildfires are No method does this better than destroyed this way. controlled burning. Mashpee, a Community at Risk In 2000, many wildfires burned due Fire Management on Upper Cape Cod is We’re Doing our Part to Protect You to a volatile combination of drought Nothing New In 2009 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and accumulations of plant material Controlled burning, burning flammable Service and refuge partners began to built up from years of putting out floor debris under carefully reduce wildfire risk as recommended wildfires. In response, in 2001 the selected conditions, is a way to reduce in a 2008 Wildland Hazard federal government made a list of forest fire risk. In fact, early officials Assessment for Mashpee National communities that are at high risk of the Town of Sandwich burned Wildlife Refuge. The first action was to from wildfire on federal lands. The their woods annually through the mid make refuge roads safe for firefighters Town of Mashpee was on that list. 1700’s to reduce wildfire hazard. More during a wildfire. Partners cleared recently, Camp Edwards has had a roadside vegetation and turnaround What’s at Risk? controlled burning program since the areas to allow better access. Possibly your home or business. 1980’s. Other ways of reducing fire risk Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge include mowing, grinding brush, and is about 5,000 acres of pitch . and scrub oak forests. The needles and of these trees contain oils What about Wildlife? that are very flammable; hence the Controlled burns not only protect nickname “gasoline pine ” for pitch human communities, they rejuvenate . In dry conditions, accumulations for wildlife as well. For of needles, leaves, and fallen twigs example, the New England cottontail, can fuel ground fires. Ground fires a rare rabbit, thrives in thickets can climb bushes and low branches sprouting up after wildfire. Fire is of pines and oaks, ignite volatile oils, a natural process and many plants and explosively spread fire to the and animals on Cape Cod have lived tops of trees. These “crown fires” are with fire and other disturbances for New England cottontail Future plans call for clearing more What are You Doing to Protect Yourself? vegetation along roads to make fire Improving access helps breaks and safety zones to which firefighters get a jump on any wildfires firefighters could safely retreat during that start, but fires in pitch pines are a wildfire, chipping or grinding to among the fastest moving fires in the remove flammable understory plants, United States. If a wildfire starts under trees to reduce the risk the wrong conditions, it can burn many of dangerous crown fires, reducing acres before it is controlled. Call 911 fire risk near buildings, and using if you see or smell smoke. You can controlled burns to reduce wildfire risk actually increase the chances of your and restore natural areas. home surviving a wildfire by taking a few simple steps. Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge n Create a defensible space—remove Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge dry grass, brush, dead leaves, was established in 1995. It is a and pine needles. Remove highly natural area with salt marshes, flammable plants and replace them cranberry bogs, Atlantic white cedar with high moisture ones that don’t swamps, and freshwater marshes. burn easily. Keep woodpiles away It is home to waterfowl, songbirds, from buildings. Keep trees pruned. shorebirds, raptors, red fox, and white-tailed deer. n Make your roof, walls and windows Eagle/USFWS Tom fire-resistant—if you have The refuge and partners cleared Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge shingles, treat them with fire roadsides to increase firefighter safety is one of more than 550 refuges of retardant or replace them with and decrease risk of wildfire. the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It non-combustible materials such as is unique in that the U. S. Fish and asphalt shingles, tile, slate, metal, n Be accessible—make sure your Wildlife Service owns less than 10 brick or stone. Replace plate glass driveway is well marked and wide percent of the land. The remaining with tempered glass. enough for fire trucks to enter. property is owned or managed n Install screens on chimneys, vents, by partners including Waquoit eaves and gutters—flying sparks can n Be prepared—make a family disaster Bay National Estuarine Research enter through any opening. Keep plan including meeting locations, Reserve, Massachusetts Department gutters free of leaves, pine needles phone contacts, and an emergency of Conservation and Recreation, and debris. supply kit. See www.redcross.org for Massachusetts Division of Fisheries what should be in the kit. and Wildlife, Town of Mashpee, Town n Check all additional structures— of Falmouth, Orenda Wildlife Land wooden decks, fences, and trellises Visit www.firewise.org or talk to Trust, Falmouth Rod and Gun Club, can act as fuses, leading fire to your your local for more and the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian house. Clean leaves and debris from information. Tribal Council, Inc. under patios. Don’t attach wooden fences to your house. Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex 73 Weir Hill Road Sudbury, Massachusetts 01776 978/443 4661 978/443 2898 Fax [email protected] http://www.fws.gov/northeast/mashpee

www.fws.gov/northeast/refuges/fire

Federal Relay Service for the deaf and hard-of-hearing 1 800/877 8339

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD http://www.fws.gov

March 2010 ©Tammy Serata Design ©Tammy A controlled burn in a pitch pine forest consumes flammable understory plants.