Thanks to California’s Mediterranean climate, the Central Coast experiences warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Because of this, dead plant material builds up by the summertime, and acts as potential fuel for fires due to their slow decomposing processes.
Some fires, ignited by lightning or from human activities, have been part of our coast’s landscapes for millenia, and many species are adapted to fire –– or even dependent on it. Beyond prescribed fire, other types include “good” fire, which is connected to cultural burning..
But the more intense fires pose risks to the community, and other plant and wildlife species nearby. These potentially intense fires are combated through the use of “prescribed”, or controlled burns, which are fires lit intentionally under an array of environmental conditions, including wind speed, temperature, relative humidity, seasonality, and soil moisture.
Each prescribed burn is planned with goals and objectives in mind, developed by State Park staff and partners “who possess deep knowledge of fire behavior and local ecology,” as stated on the CA State Parks website. Burn plans are reviewed by CAL FIRE, and oftentimes the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department.
Some burns will be contained to piles of dead vegetation, in a process known as pile burning. These are typically set during the rainy season, when fire is unlikely to spread. Broadcast burning, on the other hand, is fire intentionally ignited through specific areas. This process requires vegetation to be dry enough to allow for the spreading of fire.
“As Californians, we don’t get to choose whether our landscapes burn, but we can influence when and how fire moves through the landscape in some situations,” the website says.
Fight fire with fire
Not only does prescribed burning remove fuel from the landscape –– which helps State Parks “conduct targeted stewardship of vegetation” and reduce the abundance of invasive plant species, –– it also aids in returning nutrients to the soil and stimulating plant growth.
State Parks decide when to conduct prescribed burns when favorable weather is present and fire suppression resources are available. They are timed specifically to meet certain desired fire effects, while minimizing impacts to plants and wildlife. The time of a controlled burn depends on the size of its scope, along with the vegetation that is being burned and how well the smoke disperses.
Grassland burns over several hundred acres or prescribed pile burns are often completed in a day, while broadcast burning in forests typically takes much longer.
Before proceeding with prescribed fires, small test burns are started to determine whether the area is safe to burn and see how smoke may disperse. A prescribed fire can also be cancelled at any time prior to or after its ignition.
How do prescribed burns affect animals and the local community?
According to the States Park website, “safety is always the first consideration,” when planning a burn. “Where fire can safely be applied, its anticipated effects on the plant and animal communities is the next consideration. After that, details of when and how to apply fire to the area to achieve the desired result are considered.”
One major question that comes up in regards to the conversation of prescribed burning is the effects on local wildlife.
Many animals are adapted to fire, and during burns either leave the area or seek refuge underground. While the vast majority of animals remain unharmed, there are cases when some are adversely impacted.
As stated on the State Parks website, most prescribed burning in the San Luis Obispo Coast District’s State Parks happens seasonally to specifically avoid periods of nesting when many local animals may be raising young and might be unable to leave a burning area.
State Park staff also work with SLO County Air Pollution Control District to mitigate and limit smoke production during prescribed burns, which can negatively impact the community.
Before igniting a prescribed burn, State Parks inform the community through updates to park websites and social media accounts, as well as signage in the parks and press releases. To find out in advance about prescribed burns conducted in state parks in the SLO Coast District, check this website or call the SLO Coast District Office at (805) 927-2065 if there are remaining questions.The CA State Park website also recommends checking CAL FIRE’s website and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department on social media for updates on prescribed burns and wildfire response in the area.
Photo Credit: Steven Myli
