Fire and Nature
Wildfires have been around our county a long time. In
centuries past, wildfires burned unhindered across our
landscape. These fires consumed dead brush and fallen
trees, and opened up travel routes for wild animals. Their
heat caused dormant seeds to germinate, and their ashes
nourished them. Gorgeous wildflowers and fresh green
shoots appeared after each fire, providing premium food and
habitat for wild animals and birds.
Because these fires happened
frequently, they burned “cool” and didn’t damage the
environment. They were good
fires. They kept our forests
and grasslands healthy, and
prevented the devastating
fires we see today. Native
Americans and ranchers knew
this. They often set small fires
to help nature out, and to
improve their food sources,
rangeland, and hunting.
But in recent decades we have interrupted
this natural cycle of fire. We have built so
many homes in wildland areas that fires are
no longer free to do their job.
Wildfires have
been vigorously fought to protect these
homes. Increasing population in wildland
areas has made doing “controlled burns” so
difficult they are rarely attempted.
The consequence? Our county has a
huge buildup of flammable vegetation.
Most areas have missed several cycles of
normal wildfires. The quantity of brush and
unhealthy trees is unprecedented. This
means that wildfires in the future will burn
much more intensely and do much more
damage than they did in the past.
So we must learn to live with wildfires
-- and take action to protect ourselves and
our natural resources from their unwanted
consequences.
Mendocino
County
has a huge
buildup of
flammable
vegetation.
This means
that future
wildfires
will burn
much more
intensely
and do
much more
damage than
they did in
the past. |
Mendocino County
Forest Facts
Our county’s forests are like orchards. To be healthy and
productive, they need some attention. In the past, “good”
wildfires and Native Americans did this work for us. But without
those good fires, forests need our help.
Many of Mendocino County’s forests haven’t received proper
attention for years. By keeping good fires out, humans have
essentially stopped pruning and mowing the orchard. The trees
have grown wild and tangled. This may seem like a wonderful
thing. But, just like an unattended orchard, their “fruit” is wild
and small, and many of the trees are not truly healthy.
What is a healthy forest? One in which each tree has room to
flourish. One in which each tree’s branches get all the sunlight
they need. One in which each tree has plenty to drink. One in
which a wildfire would cause relatively little damage.
The basic problem with our untended forests is this: the trees
are too crowded. They are competing with each other, and
none of them is winning. Their branches can’t reach the sun,
and their roots can’t get enough water.
The result is small-diameter trees that are susceptible to disease
and pests and have many dead branches. This makes their
timber less valuable and the trees less beautiful. And it makes
our forests more likely to experience catastrophic fires.
DID YOU KNOW...?
Fire season in our state is now 78 days longer than it was in
1970. In southern California it essentially lasts all year.
An “average” large wildfire now takes 37.1 days to put out,
compared with 7.5 days in the 1970’s.
A report by the USDA Inspector General says we are likely to
soon see intense fires “beyond any scale yet witnessed.”
Climate change? You be the judge.
|
