- Desert fires can be started by humans or natural forces.Geostock/Photodisc/Getty Images
Desert fires destroy everything in their path. Both naturally occurring desert fires and human created fires receive a boost from fire's worst enemy: water. Heavy rain causes plants to flourish, providing more fuel for the fire to burn. Aggressive invasive species also help increase the impact of the fire, because invasive species tend to take over areas quickly crowding out sparser native plants. Like a phoenix, fires signify rebirth of new plants and death of old ones. - Inevitably, desert fires burn leaves and stems above the soil. Grasses, in particular, flame up and enable the fire to spread rapidly through acres of desert. Thick bark provides trees with some protection. Limbs turn into crispy skeletons. Trunk bark burn scars remain for decades after the fire moves on. The outer skin of the cactus plant offers minimal resistance to the fire. As far as burning of the plants, cacti retain their shape, turning into dried out husks.
- Many desert plants die in fires. Fire often rages for miles before humans or rain puts the fire out. After the fire passes, the remains of burned cacti, and bushes litter the desert floor. Ash often covers the desert. The scene of absolute destruction will take about a season to begin to disappear. The trees retain their scars and evidence of the fire for decades.
- Soon after the desert fire, the plants, such as grass, start to grow back. Suckers grow on trees. During the regrowing phase, invasive species can push out native species. Spreading out native plant seed will limit the effect of invasive species. The regrowing period may last several years to several decades, depending on the plants destroyed, the fire's severity, and the amount of rain. Nonnative species tend to grow quicker than native desert species, which increases the likelihood of fires in the future. Sprinkling of native seeds on fire-affected areas gives native species a head start.
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