Mature Ponderosa Pine Bark
As it matures Ponderosa Pine develops a heavy, fire resistant, bark. The species is fire adapted. In fact it’s needles are designed to resist compaction and stay dry. If a fire starts and burns in a layer of needles like that shown around the pine cone picture above, this tree will do fine. However, if the ground cover is deep or another burning tree falls against this one, the heat will be to intense and burn through. That’s the problem with all the years of fire control.
