Fire-scarred stems. (a) Low to moderate intensity surface fires burning through pine forests occasionally cause fire scars at the base of surviving trees. (b) After a tree has survived a fire and has been scarred, subsequent fires readily reignite in the exposed wood and flowing resin at the older wound boundary. (c) Fire scars are typically found on the uphill side of the stem. This is a result of fuel accumulation at the base of the stem.