Figure 17.  Large fuel accumulation and crown fire of stand of lodgepole pine severely infested by dwarf mistletoe. [courtesy D. Johnson]. Witches’ brooms low in the crown, together with resin, dead needles, and mortality, often serve as “fuel ladders” that permit a surface fire to crown. This may selectively kill patches of infected trees or result in a larger crown fire during more severe fire conditions. BACK