Evidence of Prescribed Burn

If you compare the habitat in between the two sides of the Ridge Trail to the habitat outside of the Ridge Trail loop, you can see the difference in plant hight and density. The Scrub habitat you are currently looking at relies on a fire cycle to prevent trees from getting too tall and blocking the sun from smaller ground plants, and also provides nutrient recharge when the ash mixes back in with the sandy soil.

Historically, this fire cycle would happen naturally through wildfires started by lightening strikes. If an area had enough plant matter build up (dead/decaying/overgrown plants) the area would burn. The plants adapted to rely on the fire not only for the access to sun, and nutrient rechage, but in many cases to also spread their seeds for new growth.

Once more people moved into the area, fire suppression was thought to be the best way to keep people and property safe. However, the consequences of doing so led to a massive increase in fuel buildup which made wildfires more intense and harder to suppress. Not to mention the decline in plant and wildlife diversity, and the alteration of the habitat itself.

More recently, the management technique of Prescribed Burning has enabled wildland firefighters to improve the health of the habitat as well as the safety of the surrounding human population. By conducting Prescribed Burns, wildland firefighters simulate the natural fire cycle to stimulate healthy Scrub habitat and reduce the fuel buildup. Thereby drastically decreasing the risk of naturally occuring wildfires.