More than 102 million trees, mostly conifers, have already died from drought and bark beetles in California. In some communities, up to 85 percent of the forest trees have been killed, becoming dry fuel, just waiting to go up in flames.

Susceptible trees and warm temperatures together promote explosive population growth of bark beetles, which kill trees as they reproduce under the bark. Warm/dry conditions also promote big wildfires because they dry out trees and other plants, creating more flammable landscapes.

California law requires that homeowners in SRA clear out flammable materials such as brush or vegetation around their buildings to 100 feet (or the property line) to create a defensible space buffer. The law also requires new homes to be constructed with fire-resistant materials.

In 1933, the federal government created the Civilian Conservation Corps, which put thousands of men to work building fire breaks and fighting fires. In 1935, the Forest Service established the so-called 10 a.m. policy, which decreed that every fire should be suppressed by 10 a.m. the day following its initial report.

Based on these studies, the Forest Service began experimenting with prescribed fires and with allowing naturally caused fires to burn. In 1978, the agency officially abandoned the 10 A.M. Policy, marking a significant shift in strategy from fire suppression to fire management.

California’s expansive forests have experienced a profound tree die-off since 2010, exacerbated by a long drought between 2012 and 2015. These pine trees are tough, though, and have evolved to withstand parched years in the drought-prone Golden State. The trees essentially became feeble.

Standing near an aluminum foil-wrapped welcome sign at Sequoia National Park in Northern California, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed a bill directing more than $15 billion to combat wildfires, drought and other climate change-driven challenges facing the state.

How to prevent forest fires

1. Don’t Set Off Pyrotechnics.
2. Carefully Dispose of Smoking Materials.
3. Camp Responsibly.
4. Mow the Lawn Before 10 a.m.
5. Make Sure Your Exhaust is Up to Par.
6. Stay on the Road.
7. Keep a Close Eye on Candles.
8. Create and Maintain Defensible Space.

Suppression allows weaker, more vulnerable trees that would have been weeded out by fire to survive. Suppression leads to less diversity of tree species, so beetles spread more quickly between trees. Suppression leads to equal/even-age stands of mature trees, which the beetles prefer.

Forest Service Stops Controlled Burns As Wildfires Ramp Up Controlled burns help reduce wildfire risk by clearing out overgrown vegetation. The U.S. Forest Service is suspending them, concerning fire scientists.

California’s government solely responsible for states forest management and wildfire debacle The inept government, political and regulatory policies of California have clearly driven the present forest management calamitous conditions with that failure leading to disastrous wildfires throughout the state.

Using locally developed and vetted fire plans prepared by CAL FIRE Units as a starting point, CAL FIRE identified priority fuel reduction projects that can be implemented almost immediately to protect communities vulnerable to wildfire.

In 1935, the Forest Service established the so-called 10 a.m. policy, which decreed that every fire should be suppressed by 10 a.m. the day following its initial report. Other federal land management agencies quickly followed suit and joined the campaign to eliminate fire from the landscape.

To prevent fires, the Forest Service came out in opposition to the practice of light burning, even though many ranchers, farmers, and timbermen favored because it improved land conditions. It must be remembered that at this time foresters had limited understanding of the ecological role of fire.