UPDATE: From a reader: “I drove through heading north about 1pm and the burn looked well-contained. 73 degrees and very little wind.”
As of 10 am, it is being ignited. I got this report from a friend at River Inn: “Pretty calm here – when I drove down at 7:00 this morning, prescribed burn advisory signs were in place along the highway, and BSF was present near Molera. Looks like a “go”, Confirmed by BEU. It is taking place. It is to be “only” 90 acres. Besides the usual creating a fire break and preventing more intense fires, the other purpose given by the State Park is: “The project aims to restore the Coastal Prairie Plant Community in Andrew Molera State Park that has diminished due to competition from non-native grasses, encroachment by scrub, and lack of frequent, low intensity fires.”
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Hoping it goes well... without a hitch! 🙏
Friends of mine, Nancy Kelly and Kenji Yamamoto, created a documentary on the history and merits of prescribed burns. It is called I’m A Burner, and the screening at the Mill Valley Film Festival is this weekend. Worthy of a look.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RMwoeMmuImY
The primatives only burned it because they didn't have the means to plant and irrigate it.
Here is a really good article on the native use of prescribed fire for those interested: https://www.history.com/news/native-american-wildfires
well bless their hearts, they pulled it off !
my PTSD was well triggered but I must confess it apparently worked smoothly and without issue, well done to them !
I'd still rather it happened in a barely-dry-enough springtime , but every step in the right direction is progress, eh ?
Richard, I just want to say that I appreciate your speaking out a few weeks ago during the all too concerning post-heatwave prescribed burn. Thank you for your conscientiousness! I’m so glad it worked out well today.
The practice of prescribed burns is primative for primative reasons using a primative tool.
Consistent rain transforming the arid landscape into a biodiverse well balanced habitat for flora and fauna is the ideal climate change solution, forest undergrowth that decays as self prescribed by the forest and mycelium is water dependant, anyone that has been in a forest after a rain knows the smell of health, a burn scar does not smell healthy, it bakes the soil and requires moisture, preferably consistent rain to rehabilitate the mycorrhizal network.
Do we need prescribed burns..? Grrr!
it is unfortunate; at this stage of neglect, yes.
Is there a better way..? Yes, water, more water, clean water, life giving, life balancing water.
https://betterplaceforests.com/blog/articles/understanding-the-mycelium-and-mycorrhizal-networks
Biggest Little Farm.
A lot of armchair experts in our neck of the woods... Kudos to Cal Fire and State Parks for following best practices and getting good fire on the ground.
This is stuck in my craw: Big Sur, would you call an Esselen, Costanoan, Salinan, Chumash or any Naive American a "primative" to their face?
Native American