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Protecting the wildland-urban interface in California: Greenbelts vs thinning for wildfire threats to homes

Bulletin, Southern California Academy of Sciences
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3160/0038-3872-119.1.35

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Abstract

This study utilized native chaparral and sage scrub shrubs to evaluate the impact of light summer irrigation on live fuel moisture content (LFMC) and predicted fire behavior. As to be expected LFMC varied markedly throughout the year being over 100% in winter in all species and treatments but differed markedly by treatment in the summer and fall. For most species lightly irrigated plants had the highest LFMC in the summer and fall, followed by thinned treatments and controls. These differences in moisture content coupled with structural differences in the vegetation contributed to expected differences in flame length and rate of spread. Lightly irrigated native shrubs planted around homes can reduce fire hazard and at the same time increase faunal diversity and other desirable features of utilizing native vegetation.

Suggested Citation

Keeley, J., Rubin, G., Brennan, T.J., and Piffard, B., 2020, Protecting the wildland-urban interface in California: Greenbelts vs thinning for wildfire threats to homes: Bulletin, Southern California Academy of Sciences, v. 119, no. 1, p. 35-47, https://doi.org/10.3160/0038-3872-119.1.35.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Protecting the wildland-urban interface in California: Greenbelts vs thinning for wildfire threats to homes
Series title Bulletin, Southern California Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.3160/0038-3872-119.1.35
Volume 119
Issue 1
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher Southern California Academy of Sciences
Contributing office(s) Western Ecological Research Center
Description 13 p.
First page 35
Last page 47
Country United States
State California
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