Aftermath of the Squirrel Creek Fire

We got to see the aftermath of a fire in the Medicine Bow National Forest this week as we drove through the area.
The fire started on June 30^th and was 100% contained on July 9^th. It burned 10,921 acres of forest and grassland or about 14 square miles. Here is a link to a dramatic photo that was taken from Laramie at the height of the fire as it crested Sheep Mountain. http://www.flickr.com/photos/turbguy/7487464120/

 

Today 8 weeks later while still blackened there are signs of new life emerging. I wonder if the area will be reforested over time or if it will revert to grassland or sage now due to climate changes.

The open fire restriction has now been lifted for the forest due to recent rains but the condition of the unburned forest that we saw was approximately 50% dead from beetle kill. The forest fires of this summer most likely will continue for years to come because there is just so much dry fuel there. There were several campground and hiking trail areas closed while the forestry personnel remove trees likely to fall in the national forest.

They believe the Squirrel Creek Fire was human caused as so many of them are even though often unintentionally.