Fire intervals generally less than 50 years. Based on fire scars, the shortest and longest times between major fires in Jack Pine forests of northern Ontario were 5 and 30 years. Major stand-replacing fires in the BWCA often occur in years of summer drought. Accumulation of litter and debris on the forest floor over time increases the likelihood of moderate or severe fire. A lichen mat, a highly flammable and continuous fuel source at ground level, develops within 40 years and is important in supporting fires in Jack Pine forests .
Mature individuals survive low-severity fires.
Jack Pine is typically killed by crown fires or by moderate-severity surface fires. Double fire scars are fairly common, but triple fire scars are rare, suggesting that an individual tree may survive only one or two surface fires in a lifetime. Establishment is limited primarily by the depth of organic matter and, therefore, progressively increases with greater fire severity. Regeneration is typically better after summer fires than spring fires Dense, young stands are extremely susceptible to crowning wildfire which is hard to control. Browsed by white-tailed deer, caribou, and snowshoe hare.