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ACCIDENTAL WILDLAND FIRES
The 320 acre fire of July 1999 was expensive in terms of the equipment and human
power used to contain and control it. Although structures and human lives were
not threatened, oak and ironwood groves and countless other shrubs that offer
wildlife food and shelter were lost. Ironwoods are a particular concern due to
their very limited range. These trees are found primarily on northeast facing
slopes on Catalina Island and nowhere else in the world.
This January 2003, an electrical line snapped in a fierce windstorm causing
a wildland fire that burned for two days. Luckily, two recent soaking rains had
spurred brush and trees to sprout less flamable fresh green foliage. The damaging
effects of accidentally caused fire are unpredictable and in the case of this
blaze, we have just begun to assess the situation.
Without a doubt, accidental fires can be extremely risky to catastrophic.
But ecologically, several benefits may be anticipated. In fact, on a global scale,
most terrestrial ecosystems are adapted to survive fire and some even require
fire as a system rejuvenator. Catalina is no different. Many of the native plants
on Catalina are fire adapted and able to withstand fire, or actually require
fire for maximal seed germination. |
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