“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Proverbs 13:12

It had a metal roof, thick plaster adobe style (straw bale) walls, no exposed wood, boxed in eaves (Hardyplank), dual pane windows, no curtains, 100’ clearance to mineral soil in all directions, and the forest understory cleared for hundreds of yards all around. The Cuyamaca Rose had the best chance for survival on the mountain. Yet it burned to the ground. It was in a tall old-growth mixed evergreen forest, and a very hot fire, obviously a "firestorm" in the tree crowns. It appears that with the heat, the structure fire started on the inside; a piece of furniture, a pillow, a towel, the tablecloth (who knows?) ignited, perhaps spontaneously - and it was all over. Unbelievable, but unfortunately, true.

About six weeks before the loss, our friend Betty Birdsell told me “Its the most beautiful home I have ever seen.” All the elements of the surrounding wilderness were used inside... stone, milled woods, timbers, logs, adobe, red clay, earth-tone tiles, western decor. As a family, we had big dreams for many good times in that place.

So we had a rough week.

But others have had a rough week too and my heart goes out to everyone who lost a home. And my heart breaks for those who lost their loved ones in this fire. Tears will be shed for quite some time in those cases. Our prayers……

I pray that families and lives will heal quickly. And I am certain of the land’s ability to heal as well.

These notes on land management are not written from an academic high horse. I have had a life-long love affair with the back-country of San Diego County and an intimate relationship with a certain 10 acre parcel of wilderness, my “North Peak Canyon Ranch.” My place is surrounded by tens of thousands of wild acres. The land is burnt, but still wild. I pray that it will stay wild, but I know that indiscriminate tree cutting, grading, planting, and seeding could change the face of the landscape and not for the better.

Big fires start as small fires. Big impacts on the land can start as small mistakes made by people who mean well, trying to help the land heal, but without knowledge of long term ecological consequence.

At Tree of Life Nursery, we have received numerous calls and inquiries about “What to do after a fire.” These are our thoughts……..

What “to do” after a fire. It’s simpler than you think.

Southern California wildfires, fall 2003
The 2003 fires were unprecedented because of the extensive area, intense heat (in certain parts), timing, and the complexity of the fire events. There is no single jurisdiction responsible for land and resource management after the fires. A concerted effort by all affected land managers should address the potential for localized erosion problems (as necessary) without compromising the integrity of the ecosystem. Decisions and actions taken now could severely affect the natural lands - immediately, long term, and permanently. We need to be very careful.

CEDAR FIRE
This fire moved through several vegetation types and ecosystems in a huge, contiguous area. Migration patterns, wildlife movement, and many factors will affect plant colonization from seed. Latent (dormant) seed on site or new seed imported by animals (from where?) will begin the early stages of herbaceous cover as the ecosystem starts to heal. Many woody shrubs will sprout from the base, though they are burned to the ground or have only dead branches. Many trees, especially oaks may appear dead, but will actually sprout new leaves and branches from old wood. In most cases, the best thing to do is NOTHING. Seeding will not help the land and it could actually be very harmful. The soil surface should not be disturbed, as valuable seed, bulbs, and root systems in addition to many beneficial microorganisms lie just below the surface. The above-ground vegetation relies on a healthy below-ground ecosystem, especially after a catastrophe.

Southern California’s coastal, chaparral, woodland, and forest vegetation is flammable for a reason. Fire is an integral part of these ecosystems. The natural plant communities evolved with fire and cannot exist without fire. As a society, we need to learn to live safely in this environment. A big part of this realization is learning to cope with the problems on and around our land after the fire.

Q: Will the natural plant communities recover?
A: Yes, and in most cases, they will be healthier than before the fire.

Q: How long will it take?
A: Recovery happens in stages and each stage is important. The first stage is perhaps the most important. Full recovery of coastal stage scrub and chaparral is about 5-10 years, woodland, 10-15 years, mixed evergreen forest (mountains) 20-30 years to achieve new, immature stands with good composition, a few old fire survivors still present. A healthy forest full of healthy wildlife will continue for at least another 30-50 years. At 100 to 120 years, it begins to resemble “old growth.”

Q: What can I do to speed the process?
A: Nothing. In fact, this is a wonderful opportunity to observe and document the process. Each stage is beautiful in its own way.

Q: What about erosion?
A: If the first rains are gentle, much of the ash will compact and glue to the surface. If heavy rains come first or very early, a lot of ash may be transported down the slopes.

Q: Will seeding immediately after a fire help?
A: No. Even if there were no ecological consequences, seeding is a bad idea. The seed is left on the surface of ash where it will not germinate. The soil is too cold, the days are too short for germination. Wildlife, especially birds, (though perhaps scarce) are all too ready to eat the seed, since the local resource has been burned. Any seed that survives the winter usually ends up at the toe of the slope when spring germination begins.

Q: What about grasses?
A: Most grass species for “erosion control” are cool season annuals. They are inexpensive, and therefore popular after a fire. If they germinate at all, they will choke out native species, interrupting the first (most important) stage in recovery. The grasses will die in the spring/summer heat and be unsightly, weedy, and flammable. They are of little value to wildlife. They may even re-seed, making the problem worse year by year. In addition, the seed lot may be contaminated with noxious weeds, which you will never get rid of.

Q: Wouldn’t it be OK to seed with native species?
A: In theory, yes, and in some cases, yes. If the area to be seeded was a weed lot before the fire, this might be a good chance to try to get natives back on the site. If it was native vegetation that burned, native seed, bulbs, and roots are in the soil and will come back on their own. It that case, seeding is not necessary. In fact, the wrong composition of species, or the wrong genetic make-up could cause a lot of damage to the natural area in its early stages of recovery.

Q: Are there cases when native seeds or plants should be planted after a fire?
A: Yes, usually in instances where native plants were absent before the fire and the new goal is to create a naturalistic plant community on bare earth. This would be a step in the right direction.

Q: What are the advantages of not seeding?
A: You get to watch and marvel as nature’s processes unfold. Nature’s results are always a success. You will have a healthy landscape. You save a lot of money and effort.

Q: What about landscape plants?
A: Of course, we promote the idea of naturalistic garden design. For landscape areas (as opposed to wild lands), native plants and seeds are ideal for all the same reasons it is best to leave wild lands alone. Beauty, wildlife habitat, involvement in self sustaining plant community-based design, and cost savings will reward all who appreciate native plants in the garden or in the field.

Feel free to call or write with your comments.
Sincerely,

Mike Evans
President, Tree of Life Nursery

“You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn bush, will grow the pine tree;
and instead of the brier, the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD’s renown,
As an everlasting sign
That will not be destroyed.”
Isaiah 55: 12-13