Fire prevention and control also continued to be of prime concern to park management. A park fire historical study conducted in July 1964 found, however, that “fire risks and hazards” were “considered to be generally low in this area compared to other parks.” The study stated:
Climatic conditions and vegetative development at the Park’s high elevations are responsible with its exceptionally high soil moisture content, low litter and debris accumulation and the pumice soil.
The study also provided a summary of the fire history of the park during the previous thirty years:
Annual mean averages during the past 30 years discloses that 7.6 lightning, 1.2 smoker, 0.3 camper, 0.2 debris and 0.5 miscellaneous fires occur each year. The maximum total fires occurring in one season has been 28. During this thirty year period about 85% of all fires were Class A, with 15% being Class B. There have been no Class C, D, or E fires during this period. Non-preventable fires have resulted in 83% Class A fires and 17% Class B fires. Preventable fires resulted in 91% Class A and 9% Class B burns. An average of three acres has burned annually in the Park, with a suppression cost of $645. . . . [50]
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