Overwintering fires can occur in both peatlands and upland forests with varying ecological impacts

Section 1: Publication

Publication Type

Authorship

Baltzer, J. L., Walker, X. J., Veraverbeke, S., Hessilt, T. D., Alfaro-Sanchez, R., van Gerrevink, M. J., Mack, M. C., Ogden, E. L., Olsen, R., Scholten, R. C., Turetsky, M. R.

Title

Overwintering fires can occur in both peatlands and upland forests with varying ecological impacts

Year

2025

Publication Outlet

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Vol 9, Iss 4, pg 559-564

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02630-2

ISBN

ISSN

2397-334X

Citation

Baltzer, J. L., Walker, X. J., Veraverbeke, S., Hessilt, T. D., Alfaro-Sanchez, R., van Gerrevink, M. J., Mack, M. C., Ogden, E. L., Olsen, R., Scholten, R. C., Turetsky, M. R. (2025) Overwintering fires can occur in both peatlands and upland forests with varying ecological impacts, Nature Ecology & Evolution, Vol 9, Iss 4, pg 559-564, issn 2397-334X, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02630-2

Abstract

Climate warming is increasing the prevalence of overwintering ‘zombie’ fires, which are expected to occur primarily in peatlands, undermining carbon storage through deep burning of organic soils. We visited overwintering fires in Northwest Territories, Canada, and Interior Alaska, United States, and present field measurements of where overwintering fires are burning in the landscape and their impact on combustion severity and forest regeneration. Combustion severity hotspots did not generate overwintering, but peat and woody biomass smouldering both supported overwintering, leading to wintertime smouldering in both treed peatlands and upland forests. These findings create challenges for fire managers and uncertainty about carbon emissions, but forest regeneration was not compromised.

Plain Language Summary