Quote:
Originally Posted by slodave
... As with all the fires around our area, there will be new growth and plants that haven't been seen for 100 years or that were thought to be extinct. Lack of fire, prevents certain seeds from propgating and also prevents certain plants from thriving, due to the other plant life. For all of the bad that has come out of these fires, good has come as well. These fires are needed from time to time. Unfortunately, we live in these areas as well, but that is part of living on this planet - fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, volcanoes.
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Los Alamos, NM burned in May of 2000 after an (un)controlled burn by the Park Service. While it was sad to see the mountain denuded of all of the Ponderosa pines there's been an explosion of woodpeckers, flickers and bluebirds in the last 6 or so years.
Fire is natural -- it's just a shame that it's been supressed so long that what were common, trivial ground fires are now huge crown fires that nearly sterilize everything. If the fire's hot enough, the remaining ash on the ground becomes hydrophobic. Big floods to follow.
In Los Alamos the fire had a pretty cohesive effect on the community. We had tremendous turnout for trail work and mulching/seeding days in the forest. The USFS was amazed at the response and said they'd use it as a model for the future. Many of the families that lost their houses said it was a great way to cope - to do some work to help everyone after so many had helped them.
Hopefully CA will see some of the same...