Chaparral Wildfire:

1
Chaparral Wildfire The Changing Fire
Environment in Southern California
U.S. Geological Survey 2006 Congressional Briefin
g Series - Wildfire / Landslides
Mike Rohde Battalion Chief Orange County Fire
Authority
2
Millions of Californians live near chaparral
wildlands, creating one of the most fire prone
environments on earth
Distribution of chaparral in California 7 key
types Ceanothus Red Shank Chamise Manzanita Scru
b Oak Montane Mixed From Keeley, J.E. and F.W.
Davis. 2006..
3
California has a growing wildland fire problem!
Studies by the USGS and the California Department
of Forestry and Fire Protection show a direct
correlation between population growth and fire
frequency
(Data Keeley and Fotheringham)
4
USGS studies have redefined the fire regime for
Southern California and caused fire agencies
to rethink how we pre-treat fuels to protect
structures.
2003 26 lives, 4,676 structures 739,000 acres
lost
R.Krause photo
5
More frequent fire has had negative environmental
consequences, and long-term beliefs about
prescribed fire use in chaparral have been
challenged.
Native chaparral, Temecula, CA
Alien grassland, Escondido, CA
Chaparral fire regimes are unlike western forest
fires in timber types
6
Fuel type conversion caused by too frequent fire
is replacing native forest, shrub, and desert
ecosystems with non-native vegetation Contributi
ng to a cycle of ever-greater fire frequency,
destabilized watersheds, landscape change, and
natural resource loss.
These changes need further understanding and new
research, such as the proposed USGS Southern
California Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project
R.W. Halsey photo
7
The flood and debris flow sequence that follows
Southern California watershed fires has been as
lethal as the wildfires themselves.
16 people died in San Bernardino County,
Christmas Day- 2003, during flooding from hills
burned by the Grand Prix-Old Fires two months
earlier.
Photos California State University, Long Beach
8
What should the frequency and placement of
prescribed fire be to best achieve habitat and
fire hazard reduction needs?
R.W. Halsey photo
9
How are fuels and fire behavior changing?
Orange County Register photo
10
San Diego Union Tribune photo
California Fire Services must have access to, and
be a partner of future USGS study, and use this
research to guide utilization of limited fire
service resources to meet changing fire threats