What Fuels Wildfires?

What fuels So Cal wildfires?

California Chaparral Ecosystem  Coastal woodlands and grasslands of So Cal have precipitation of 12 to 40 inches per year  Climate is hot and dry in summer, rainy and mild in winter  Plants have adapted by conserving water, have small, waxy leaves

California Scrub Oak  The name of the chaparral ecosystem was derived from the Spanish word for scrub oak, chaparro  This is a small evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubby oak, which may be small and compact, or grow several meters high, depending on terrain and local conditions  Its acorns were an important Native American food source  The name of the chaparral ecosystem was derived from the Spanish word for scrub oak, chaparro  This is a small evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubby oak, which may be small and compact, or grow several meters high, depending on terrain and local conditions  Its acorns were an important Native American food source

Fire-prone plant community  Chaparral is fire-prone  The plants produce volatile oils that help them to retain moisture, but evaporate when the weather turns hot  Escaping gases form a cloud above shrubs that explodes when touched by flame, flying embers

Santa Ana Winds  Winter rains bring a flush of new growth in chaparral  When the plants dry out in the summer and fall,  Lightening, arson or human carelessness may spark fire  Santa Ana winds can move a wildfire at speed of 40 miles (60 km) per day  Dense clouds of burning embers can blow across firebreaks, spreading fire  Winter rains bring a flush of new growth in chaparral  When the plants dry out in the summer and fall,  Lightening, arson or human carelessness may spark fire  Santa Ana winds can move a wildfire at speed of 40 miles (60 km) per day  Dense clouds of burning embers can blow across firebreaks, spreading fire

Danger to Houses  Housing developments have been built amidst chaparral-cloaked hills  Fire danger has risen with population growth  Probability of accidental fires grows as more people come to live in chaparral ecosystem

Land Use Planning Needed  Landscape with average of 45 humans per square kilometer is most prone to burn  Lower density has less human activity  Higher density leaves less wild land to burn  As CA population grows, planning will be needed