The Aftermath

On 7/10/16 PDT 1:35 PM, Savageduck wrote:
On 2016-07-10 20:25:25 +0000, PeterN said:

On 7/9/2016 11:50 PM, Savageduck wrote:
This is what our neighborhood looks like after our fire.
https://db.tt/VHYNod4U
https://db.tt/l9XTaSIV


Glad you and you house are safe.From what I read, the vegetation will
regenerate, if floods don't wash the soil away before the roots grow in.

Floods! In my corner of California we would be happy with any rain.


Been away for a few weeks, so am shocked, then relieved to know how
close it came to you, Mon. Le Canard!

Next Spring may be extra glorious!

We have major fires where I live, but my house is surrounded by well
watered orchards. Still not fun with it raining ash, power outages, and
worries over other's livestock.

On Mon, 11 Jul 2016 10:33:38 +0100, newshound
wrote:

On 7/10/2016 9:34 AM, Eric Stevens wrote:
On Sun, 10 Jul 2016 02:46:23 -0400, "J. Clarke"
wrote:

In article 2016070922284396220-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMmecom,
says...

On 2016-07-10 05:15:11 +0000, Eric Stevens said:

On Sat, 9 Jul 2016 21:39:28 -0700, Savageduck
wrote:

On 2016-07-10 04:36:30 +0000, Eric Stevens said:

On Sat, 9 Jul 2016 20:50:05 -0700, Savageduck
wrote:

This is what our neighborhood looks like after our fire.
https://db.tt/VHYNod4U
https://db.tt/l9XTaSIV

It will be interesting to see what it looks like this time next year.

If we get any rain this Winter, this time next year it should be green
starting to dry to golden brown for Summer.

... and the trees?

Unless they are totally charred the California Live Oaks are pretty
resilient. They don't burn like conifers which are loaded with fuel.

Depends on the conifer. Some conifers are pyrophytic--they need fire to
reproduce.


All that suggests that fires are part of the natural cycle. In which
case its better to have more frequent and smaller than to let the fuel
accumulate to feed larger fires. This is much the same as fires in
Australia. Fires are natural and we have to live with them. Putting
them off and letting the fuel burden accumulate just makes for bigger
fires when they inevitably occur.


And fires are one of the things which helps to hold oxygen levels down
to the present value.

And help maintain CO2 above the minimum level required to sustain
life.
--

Regards,

Eric Stevens

On Mon, 11 Jul 2016 07:40:46 -0700, John McWilliams
wrote:

On 7/10/16 PDT 1:34 AM, Eric Stevens wrote:
On Sun, 10 Jul 2016 02:46:23 -0400, "J. Clarke"

Unless they are totally charred the California Live Oaks are pretty
resilient. They don't burn like conifers which are loaded with fuel.

Depends on the conifer. Some conifers are pyrophytic--they need fire to
reproduce.

All that suggests that fires are part of the natural cycle. In which
case its better to have more frequent and smaller than to let the fuel
accumulate to feed larger fires. This is much the same as fires in
Australia. Fires are natural and we have to live with them. Putting
them off and letting the fuel burden accumulate just makes for bigger
fires when they inevitably occur.

The US Forest Service subscribes to that knowledge, at least in some
areas. Carrying it out, though, is another matter. Some people freak
out at the thought of any flame anywhere. Plus those damn trees we
imported from down under are very flammable when dry.

And they *need* fire to propogate. Mind you, I understand they are not
the only plant which needs fire to propogate.
--

Regards,

Eric Stevens

On 7/11/16 PDT 4:06 PM, Eric Stevens wrote:
On Mon, 11 Jul 2016 07:40:46 -0700, John McWilliams
wrote:

On 7/10/16 PDT 1:34 AM, Eric Stevens wrote:
On Sun, 10 Jul 2016 02:46:23 -0400, "J. Clarke"

Unless they are totally charred the California Live Oaks are pretty
resilient. They don't burn like conifers which are loaded with fuel.

Depends on the conifer. Some conifers are pyrophytic--they need fire to
reproduce.

All that suggests that fires are part of the natural cycle. In which
case its better to have more frequent and smaller than to let the fuel
accumulate to feed larger fires. This is much the same as fires in
Australia. Fires are natural and we have to live with them. Putting
them off and letting the fuel burden accumulate just makes for bigger
fires when they inevitably occur.

The US Forest Service subscribes to that knowledge, at least in some
areas. Carrying it out, though, is another matter. Some people freak
out at the thought of any flame anywhere. Plus those damn trees we
imported from down under are very flammable when dry.

And they *need* fire to propogate. Mind you, I understand they are not
the only plant which needs fire to propogate.


Famously, at least in Yosemite, the oaks there need fire to sterilize
the ground and allow the acorns to germinate and grow.

But fire is useful for more than propagation: reducing the fuel load as
mentioned earlier. Also, may knock out foreign species, allowing
natives to return in strength.