Wildfire Resilience
Over the course of 2020, nearly ten thousand fires in California burned over four million acres. Each year, we’re experiencing new records of loss and destruction and as we adjust to this new reality, we are learning from scientists, researchers, firefighters, and those with Traditional Ecological Knowledge about the ways that we can work together to create wildfire resilient communities.
Below are a few resources to help you get started on your path to Wildfire Resilience:
Watch Poppy Hour episodes about wildfire in Southern California:
- Cultural Burns with Richard Bugbee (Luiseno)
- Wildfire with Dr. Jon Keeley, a fire ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, and Henry Herrera, a Forester with CAL FIRE
Learn: Free Classes! We are developing regional Landscaping for Wildfire Resilience classes. If you or someone you know lives in Rancho Cucamonga or Santa Clarita and would like to schedule a free talk, please email erin@thedodorepayne.org
Snail Mail: Sign-up for a free TPF Guide on Gardening for Wildfire Resilience (12-page booklet).
Wildfire in Southern California
Wildfire is an inherent part of life in Southern California. It is both an essential element of our local ecology that contributes to the rich biodiversity of the region as well as a very real and dangerous threat to people and property. Fire has been part of this land for millions of years, but during the past century, its frequency has increased due to climate change and a growing population. As we adjust to this new reality, we are learning from scientists, researchers, and firefighters about the ways that we can each take individual action to create wildfire resilient communities.
This guide will introduce you to the basics of wildfire in Southern California through the lens of California native plants and offer easy actions you can take at home to create and maintain a wildfire resilient landscape. Follow the links below to discover more about Fire Ecology, Post-fire Regeneration, the Wildland-Urban Interface, Wildfire Resilient Landscaping, and TPF’s La Tuna Fire Story.
This program was made possible in part by Edison International.
Illustrations by Edward Lum.