Fire damaged Copper Beech

[ADDA]

Does anyone have experience of dealing with fire damaged trees? This mature Copper Beech has lost a twenty foot long section of bark with a width of a quarter the tree's girth. The fire (which was a nearby building fire) has also killed about a third of the crown. The first spring after the fire it looked like a dead loss but this year it has sprung to life and has good foliage density in the unaffected part of the crown.

Obviously, the chances of the tree contracting a disease or being colonised by a fungi has increased dramatically but I would like to save the tree if possible. Not sure what it's chances are long term.

 

[treeseer]

picture? the amount of living bark % of circumference tells much of the story.

Care for the roots--they got burned too.

 

[deercatcher]

Ok now... fire damaged copper beech. The first questions concern safety. What is the strongest wind generating storms in that local, and the direction? The loss of 25% of the bark will make a weakness in lost elasticity. The tree, over time, as the exposed wood breaks down, will be subject to wind pressure from the direction of the wound. As that wood fails the tree will fall toward the good side. Does the strong winds blow into the wound? what is behind, or is it clear? If it falls in a bad storm, no one should be out in it if it is open ground. A roadway; that is a different and dangerous matter. If the strong winds blow on the undamaged quadrants, the tree will handle the strain better. You will need to monitor the decay resistence or progress over the next several years. There is variability in decay resistence within a population of same species trees and between different species. Try to determine your tree's ability by examining old cuts or dings. I am in loUiSiAna
and have few beech, but being related to oaks, should be good compartmentalizers. As the tree closes the wound, the new forming wood will increase the strength. Even a cavitation will not degrade the strength as much as one might suppose. Research "Strength loss chart" to find how to calculate the strength lost in a hollow tree. Try to send pics and answer weather concerns and what things are at risk from a failure, and maybe we can help you form a plan.

 

[treeseer]

As the tree closes the wound, the new forming wood will increase the strength. Even a cavitation will not degrade the strength as much as one might suppose. Research "Strength loss chart" to find how to calculate the strength lost in a hollow tree. .

Beware, none of those charts account for the increased strength of woundwood. They also exaggerate the risk by failing to consider the entire tree's geometry and site conditions such as yes exposure to wind.

 

[ADDA]

Thanks folks.

The damage is on the windward side so there is some concern as to snapping.

Its a tricky one and the poor old thing may have to go as it's right next to a road and close to a public space. Was a lovely tree before the fire though.

 

[treeseer]

consider extending its life by pruning and monitoring decay and most important to re-grow roots where the fire was. buy it some years so a replacement can establish.

 

[ADDA]

The thing is; if it was my tree there would be no question as I would formative prune and feed the roots etc. Unfortunately the owners want to fell the tree, has given notice of their intention to do so and I have to decide whether the tree is still suitable for a Tree Preservation Order. A TPO will allow us to demand a replacement is planted if it is allowed to be felled at a later date but if we take the mickey we could end up with an ombudsman complaint. Oh, and they want to build a diner there as well!!!!

 

[treeseer]

take the mickey we could end up with an ombudsman complaint. !!

Huh? sounds more like a question for the uktc forum...

re assessment for the tpo, what % of the circumference is dead?

 

[ADDA]

Huh? sounds more like a question for the uktc forum...

re assessment for the tpo, what % of the circumference is dead?

I would say about 25%. However, it is only the bark that has been damaged and fallen off. Iexcept that the cambium must be damaged due to the amount of deadwood within the crown (or it could be root damage I suppose). It will be a long time before any ingress of rot is apparent as the fire didn't actually burn past the bark.

I've just not seen this type of damage before. Obviously, I have seen small scale bonfire damage but this was a tennis court sized building that was raised to the ground. The tree was about 30 feet away but was lucky that night due to wind direction. A Sycamore opposite but the same distance away was reduced to your typical forest fire matchstick.

 

[treeseer]

I expect that the cambium must be damaged due to the amount of deadwood within the crown (or it could be root damage I suppose). .

You can assess cambium and roots, you know--look at them!

 

[ADDA]

You can assess cambium and roots, you know--look at them!

The availability of an airspade...........that would be nice. One day perhaps when trees aren't just there to get a planning application refused . LOL. I just wondered whether anyone through experience had seen many trees damaged this way survive long term.