The Lookout Fire burned over approximately 70% of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in the summer and fall of 2023. As soon as it was safe, researchers and forest managers explored the burned areas, to discuss the fire progression and fire suppression efforts. Researchers documented post-burn conditions and began to assess damage to research infrastructure. The fire burned across hundreds of research plots and damaged research infrastructure including sensors, tags, plot markers, bird song meters, and stream gauges. Most plots were part of ongoing long-term studies; equipment will be replaced so scientists can continue their studies and learn about the fire and about how the forest recovers after the fire. One of the sites visited was part of the 200-year Log Decomposition study, which examines the breakdown of wood, what factors influence decomposition, and the release of carbon and nutrients. The burned log decomp sites will remain part of the ongoing study and may reveal new information about post fire carbon and nutrient dynamics.
Post-Fire Field Trips 2023-2024
Researchers inspect a burned area of the forest that is part of a long-term study
Researchers inspect a burned area of the forest that is part of a long-term study
Burned area of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest after the 2023 Lookout Fire
Forest Director Mark Schulze moves through an area of the HJA that burned in the Lookout Fire
OSU's Joy Jensen looks over a charred stump
These charred sections of wood are part of the 200-year Log Decomposition study. Even after the fire they have information to provide on decomposition rates and carbon.
Forest Director Mark Schulze looks over an area of the HJA that burned in the Lookout Fire
These charred sections of wood are part of the 200-year Log Decomposition study. Even after the fire they have information to provide on decomposition rates and carbon.
Researchers move through an area of forest that burned in the Lookout Fire
The fire created deep holes where roots and rotted looks burned away
Researchers Mark Harmon and Georgia Seyfried scan the forest for remnants of the Log Decomposition study
Researchers Jacob Bukoski and Georgia Seyfried inspect a charred tag that is part of the Log Decompositon study
Researcher Mark Harmon, who started the 200-year Log Decompostion study, finds an identification tag from one of the study's logs
A tag and log, charred, as part of the 200-year Log Decomposition study
Burned area of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest after the 2023 Lookout Fire
Photographer Nancy Floyd captures information through her lens and practiced eye
Researcher Fred Swanson and photographer David Paul Bayles have worked together on describing the forest after wildfire
A trip participant sketches the landscape of charred standing snags
Trip participants within an area of the forest that had high severity burn in the Lookout Fire
This tagged tree is part of the long-term vegetation study that has been tracking tree growth and mortality for decades
This tagged tree is part of the long-term vegetation study that has been tracking tree growth and mortality for decades
Burned area of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest after the 2023 Lookout Fire
A western chorus frog in a mossy area, after the fire
Burned area of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest after the 2023 Lookout Fire
Unburned soil on the left and burned soil on the right, with much of its organic layer removed
Burned area of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest after the 2023 Lookout Fire
Burned area of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest after the 2023 Lookout Fire
Fungi were visibily making a comeback soon after the fire
Researchers inspect a burned area of the forest that is part of a long-term study
Burned area of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest after the 2023 Lookout Fire
OSU faculty Matt Betts estimates the age of a large tree that was cut post fire as part of a hazard tree removal effort
This steep gully and surrounding area burned differently in the Lookout Fire
Trip participants ponder a large tree that was cut post fire as part of a hazard tree removal effort
The Lookout Creek Old-Growth Trail was part of the area that burned in the Lookout Fire.
Looking downhill over the area of the Lookout Creek Old-Growth Trail
Trip participants in the Cold Creek area, which had high severity fire
White fungal activity was already showing in charred areas of wood
Charred wood
Area that experienced high severity burn in the Lookout Fire
Area that experienced high severity burn in the Lookout Fire
Field trip participants along the road near Cold Creek
Area that experienced high severity burn in the Lookout Fire
Graduate student Tatianna Latorre in front of Cold Creek and melted research infrastructure
Graduate student Jaimie Ortega in front of Cold Creek and melted research infrastructure
Graduate student Jaimie Ortega looks over burned research infrastructure that was part of his study prior to the fire
Area of the HJA near Cold Creek that experienced high severity burn in the Lookout Fire
Area of the HJA near Cold Creek that experienced high severity burn in the Lookout Fire
Area of the HJA near Cold Creek that experienced high severity burn in the Lookout Fire
Area of the HJA near Cold Creek that experienced high severity burn in the Lookout Fire. It was striking that the branched and structure remained but the green was stripped away.
Roadside areas of the fire were a mix of burn severity and tree removal and chipping from fire crews
Mixed severity fire leaves charred and green forest patches
Field trip participants heard from Willamette National Forest staff
Burned area of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest after the 2023 Lookout Fire
Graduate student Tatianna Latorre and OSU faculty member Ivan Arismendi check for life in a burned over section of stream
Roadside areas of the fire were a mix of burn severity and tree removal and chipping from fire crews