Fire-loving Plants &

Invasive Grasses
By: Teahi & Nea
What are fire-loving plants?

Fire-loving plants have traits that increase the survival

rate/spread of wildfires.

Some of these traits can be:

● High oil content
● Low moisture content
● Open form
● Fine wood(twiggy) stem

The grasses created a dry open areas for the wildfire in Maui
which caused it to spread rapidly and affect residents. The
wildfires, according to Hawaii Governor Josh Green, were "the
largest natural disaster we've ever experienced." There is about
8-20 tons per acre of invasive grasses.
Examples:
-Guinea Grass

-Molasses grass

-Buffel Grass

-Kiawe

-Red fescue
How can we prevent wildfires
from feeding off of invasive
grasses/plants?
 Solution: Funding Local Organizations
One solution for removing invasive plants is supporting local organizations that
help in removing invasive plants. The state and community should donate or
send union workers to support them with removing invasive plants.

For example, the Maui Invasive Species Committee works on controlling

invasive plants but also maintains native plants.
Solution: Controlled
Burns
Doing prescribed burns around Maui can
help reduce the larger areas of invasive
grasses. This can prevent the seeds of the
plants from scattering around and gives
100% reduction in germination. It can also
restore the health of ecosystems so that
native plants can regrow.

For example, in Fresno County, in one

year the number of Medusahead grass
reduced from 50% to an average cover
less than 1%.
 Solution: Safety Zones
Another solution for reducing the
invasive grasses and plants would to
have a 30 foot safety zone away
from invasive grasses that is around
your house. This will help keep
residents homes safe and not
contribute to wildfires.There should
be a law implemented to require
residents to maintain invasive plants
or dry areas.
Assessment
Items:
- Invasive Grasses

- Controlled Burns
 Resources:

Low Flammability Landscape Plants 6.305 - Extension (colostate.edu)

https://www.cal-ipc.org/docs/ip/management/UseofFire.pdf

https://nature.berkeley.edu/matteolab/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CNPS-fire-recovery-guide-LR-0406

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/forest-grasslandhealth/invasivespecies/?cid=stelprdb5332128

https://gwtoday.gwu.edu/inside-inferno-what-maui-fires-mean-hawaiiand-world#:~:text=Hawaii%20Governor%20Josh%20Green%20called,severe%20droughts
%20and%20rising%20temperatures.

Methods for Disposing Non-Native Invasive Plants | Extension (unh.edu)

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/fire/

https://www.austintexas.gov/page/preventing-grass-fires#:~:text=Rake%20leaves%2C%20cut%20off%20dead,on%20dry%20grass%20or%20shrubs.