Fire Recovery Action Program
The San Dieguito River Park was severely impacted by the Witch Creek Fire, including the loss of the Park and Ranger headquarters and the restored Sikes Adobe Historic Farmhouse. Nearly 50,000 acres, or over 60%, of the Park’s Focused Planning Area was burned; almost all rich chaparral and coastal sage scrub that will take years to recover. While fire plays an important role in the health of native vegetation communities, aspects of the Witch Creek Fire — such as high winds and the extent of the burn area – made it necessary to closely monitor the recovery of natural areas.
We worked with biologists and other technical experts to determine the best use of resources during the recovery phase, including mapping intact or refuge habitat areas, identifying priority areas for revegetation and aggressive control of invasive species. Because much of the burn area supported special status species before the fire, we were particularly concerned about the recovery of native habitat and its effect on the survival of threatened or endangered species over the long-term.
Conservancy Fire Recovery Projects
The Conservancy initiated the following fire recovery projects:
- Evaluation: Leading a scientifically based process to evaluate fire impacts in the River Valley and develop a program of recovery actions, such as the mapping of refuge areas not burned by the fire and measures to support natural restoration
- Volunteers: Recruiting and managing volunteers for fire recovery work, such as patrolling trails and clearing debris
- Funding: Coordinating the program – with the River Park – to obtain Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding for reimbursement of fire-related costs not covered by insurance
- Habitat Restoration: Obtaining funding to actively restore and expand critical habitat areas to ensure the survival of the coastal cactus wren, a species in decline even before the 2007 fires. A $186,000 grant was received from the San Diego Foundation’s After-The-Fires Fund to support this important effort as well as protect recovering habitat areas and control invasive plant species moving into burn areas.
Fire & Safety Preparedness
Fire preparedness begins at home. The recommended 100’ buffer zone of defensible space extends out from your house, not from your property line, so learn what you can do to first make your house and outbuildings safer:
- inside & outside the structure (for example, windows, eaves, chimneys etc.)
- immediately next to the structure (for example, patio furniture, deck material, wood piles, etc.)
- in your yard
Click image to enlarge diagram. To learn more, see the September 2009 Currents newsletter.
If you have native vegetation on your property within the 100′ buffer zone, it can be preserved as valuable wildlife habitat by correctly thinning or modifying by 30-50%. Clear cutting natural areas will rapidly introduce weedy non-natives that can increase the fire risk near your home. It is also important to not reseed with non-native plants and to use weed-free mulch or straw wattles. If your buffer zone extends into public open space areas, please contact the appropriate managing entity of that land for assistance.
For a comprehensive guide to fire preparedness, see the Summer 2008 issue of Forestland Steward published by CAL FIRE and UC Cooperative Extension. Useful for urban and rural homeowners, the guide includes a Homeowner Wildfire Assessment, tips on making it easier for fire engines to find your home and an excellent Evacuation Checklist to prepare your family and your home for a wildfire. Also, to learn about gardening with native plants, read the Native Plant Landscaping to Reduce Wildfire Risk guide from the California Native Plant Society.
