Fires' Long-Term Impact On Environment

Wildfires Have Consequences For California's Landscape, Plants, Animals For Years To Come

(AP)  The wind-driven infernos that are scarring vast swaths of Southern California's landscape may leave more than just a temporary path of destruction when they are finally extinguished.

The wildfires could leave a legacy of environmental devastation that will be evident for years to come, scientists say, especially in areas that have been scorched several times recently. Some of the damage may never be reversed.

Invasive weeds and grasses could crowd out native plants and shrubs, accelerating erosion and leading to more frequent wildfires.

Pine stands that have been a signature feature of many mountainside communities could become just a memory in places.

Small birds, rabbits and other animals dependent on California's rapidly disappearing native vegetation will struggle to maintain a foothold, while some endangered species will find themselves locked into increasingly imperiled islands of refuge.

Scientists say it will take years to know the extent of the long-term damage. They also say that not all the news may be grim: Nature has a way of providing pleasant surprises.

The fires burning across San Diego County are covering much of the same territory stripped during the 2003 Cedar Fire, an area that had started the slow process of growing back.

After this week's blazes, those young, native shrubs may not come back because they are not mature enough to have dropped seeds. That could allow more flammable invasive plants to take root, experts said.

"If you want to get rid of native shrubland, this is how you do it," said Rick Halsey with the California Chaparral Institute, as he watched a hillside burn near his home in Escondido. "The problem now is you get a habitat covered by exotic weeds, and that can regenerate every single year and carry a fire every single year."

By midweek, the fires had blackened about 426,000 acres (172,400 hectares) from Ventura County to the Mexican border, feeding on bone-dry vegetation that included coastal shrubs, tree-covered foothills and the alpine stands around Lake Arrowhead.

California's natural landscape is engineered to benefit from periodic fires. Many native plants actually need fires to germinate.

But wildfires are on the rise, in both frequency and intensity, in part because of hotter, drier conditions.

If a fire recurs in an area within five to 10 years, the hardy native shrubs may not get the chance to mature and create seeds. Exotic weed-like grasses that germinate quickly can fill in areas faster than natives can recover.

Because those grasses have shallower roots, the potential for erosion and mudslides increases.

"It's like a fighter that gets knocked down and then gets knocked down again - he's less likely to get up," said Wayne Spencer, a biologist with the Conservation Biology Institute in San Diego, referring to battered native plants.

Researchers in San Diego have been conducting long-term studies on the 2003 Cedar Fire, which burned more than 273,000 acres (110,480 hectares) and was historic for its size and intensity.

Based on their findings, Spencer and other scientists have made general predictions about how the latest fires could affect the state's ecology.

"There's no doubt that it's going to be converted to a weedier, less pretty, fewer species, simpler environment than the one we inherited when we moved here," Spencer said.

Conservationists also bemoan the loss of older trees in the San Bernardino National Forest around Lake Arrowhead and ancient conifer forests on San Diego's Palomar Mountain. Spruce trees bearing large cones, centuries-old oaks and white fir trees have been lost and may not regenerate.

Scientists urge restoration projects so the forests will not be lost.

The loss of native vegetation also can hurt animals dependent on that habitat, such as the California thrasher and brush rabbit. Others that can thrive in a barren landscape, such as the rock wren, could benefit.

In San Diego County, home to numerous threatened and endangered species, the wildfires present a double tragedy. Suburban development has limited the range of many rare species of lizards and snakes to just a few, small reserves. When those burn, the species' survival is jeopardized.

By Associated Press Writer Noaki Schwartz

[algoresliar]

When Katrina hit, nobody even talking about short-term impact..... Why is that? Because you are so busy blaming Bush for not talking to God to avert the disaster? Well, Bush did not talk to God out of this one. Katrina hit, and it was all about poor black people as victims. San Diego burned down, you don''t want to talk about rich white people as victims? Why, is it because they all have brain to get out? Because they value their souls than their belongings? So now you just want to blame them for living there???????
Why dont you just say what you really mean.... 1 million people evacuate, they were supposed to be dead! Don''t take pity on these people. Look at how they build their houses. So much carbon footprints on this holy planet. Get rid of them. Why not just tell these folks to live in New Orleans so all those Katrina victims can live in San Diego?
If you liberals are so concern about pollution, why don''t you just all kill yourself, reduce the population so the rest of us don''t have to worry so much. That is the most graceful thing you can do to human.

[dubephnx]

Did you hear on the news report on how Fire Fighters and First Responders coordinate the teams "on the fly"? One of the Chief Coordinators allowed a News Reporter to ride along during his morning situation assessment survey, and in one of his calls from the field, the Coordinator responded with "The Crews come first, and the structures come second; Get your Guys out of there, and let the structures burn. Personal Safety comes first!"
This witnessing of wildfire Responders'' normal operations during dangerous wildfires merits repeating. These Teams do outstanding jobs in each and every emergency, and we all owe them some gratitude!
When you see the amounts of "on the fly" decisions AND actions these teams make and take during a disaster, you wonder how they handle all of the different things happening at one time. As a lot of us can barely chew gum and walk at the same time, it sometimes amazes me as to how these people can get so much done, in so little time. Remember, when these teams are in "defensive" positionings, they are studying the next steps of the fires, what roads and structures are in possible paths of the fires, where and when to take the next offensive or defensive positions and actions, etc; etc; etc!

[nothappyatall]

"When are these people going to finally decide the situation we are in all over is in peril and do something across the board?"

Better still- CAP the out of control birth rate in this country, NO MORE tax credits and other goodies for having children, charging parents the FULL costs for the kids they CHOSE to have, when the reductions begin the environment and everything else will be improved and ballanced.
The population has DOUBLED from 150 million in 1950 to 305 million and THAT is the root cause of every problem we have NOW.

[Syndicate]

There is no impact on the environment. Its like saying the rain will ruin the environment. People forget that fire is as natural as rain. It is part of the natural cycle of the environment. As are invasive speicies. So how can a natural cycle of the environment hurt the environment?

[ov442]

When are these people going to finally decide the situation we are in all over is in peril and do something across the board?
A) Disallow wood shake roofs & require homeowners to install non-flammable roofing in areas with forest. Require homeowners in potential wildfire areas to treat their roofs & surroundings with the new anti flame gel. Require a discount on their insurance.
B) Land management - Whats better? massive 1000 square mile wildfires wiping out whole communities, dead people/animals, billions in damages, billions in costs to fight it? or- manageing that stops the world of either - We let the whole forest sit and wait for a burn, or we let it sit till someone with lots of money comes to tear it down and develop it?
Management - Timber industry log off a 100 yard wide swath through every forest and section it off every 5 miles in forest width. Stretch the length of the forest.
Lay down a pair of concrete paths large enough to accomodate fire fighting equipment. Dig some deep wells and cap them off and install a valve and secure it.
This would create an easily accessible Giant Firebreak that would be wide enough to bring the fire fighters in to stop it at one section before it spreads to others.

The problems now are that they cant get to the fires and have to drop smoke jumpers with a few tools into the woods.
Fast access Roads to major sections of woods would Change all that.