How does succession occure after a forest fire?

Question

How does succession occure after a forest fire?

Answer 1

Fires burn out grasses and hardwoods, while fire-tolerant species survive and flourish. Certain species of pine seedlings are protected and most forest fires are not hot enough to burn big pines.

Small plants and young pines spring up among dead trees ( about 50 years )

Pine trees form dense stands up to 50 feet tall, and their shade blocks the growth of much ground vegetation. ( about 100 years )

The original pines are thinning out and ground vegetation is increasing. Fir and spruce trees appear. ( about 100 years )

The original lodgepole pines are dying. Woody fuel is abundant, the forest is ready for a major outbreak of fire.