Eastern white pine is moderately fire resistant. Mature trees survive most surface fires because they have thick bark, branch-free boles, and a moderately deep rooting habit. Forests dominated or codominated by eastern white pine have different fire regimes depending on site and associated species. In the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota, low-severity fire intervals averaged 36 years, and severe fire intervals averaged 160 years.
Some large individuals survive or escape severe fires and serve as seed sources for a new stand.
Ground fires spread slowly in this fuel type.