What is fire? How are wildfires ignited? How do California's weather and topography influence fire? How did the California Indians use fire? In the spirit of his highly acclaimed "Introduction to Air in California" and "Introduction to Water in California", David Carle now turns to another fundamental element of the natural world, giving a fascinating and concise view of this complex topic. His clearly written, dramatically illustrated book will help Californians, including the millions who live near naturally flammable wildlands, better understand their own place in the state's landscape. Carle covers the basics of fire ecology; looks at the effects of fire on wildlife, soil, water, and air; discusses firefighting organizations and land management agencies; explains current policies; and, explores many other topics. This title features: 91 color illustrations and 15 maps; tips on what to do before, during, and after fires; an overview of major wildfires in California's history; and, a discussion of the effect of climate change on fires in natural landscapes. This is a book in the "Californians and Their Environment" subseries, dedicated to understanding human influences on the state's ecology and natural resources.
What is fire? How are wildfires ignited? How do California's weather and topography influence fire? How did the California Indians use fire? In the spirit of his highly acclaimed "Introduction to Air in California" and "Introduction to Water in California", David Carle now turns to another fundamental element of the natural world, giving a fascinating and concise view of this complex topic. His clearly written, dramatically illustrated book will help Californians, including the millions who live near naturally flammable wildlands, better understand their own place in the state's landscape. Carle covers the basics of fire ecology; looks at the effects of fire on wildlife, soil, water, and air; discusses firefighting organizations and land management agencies; explains current policies; and, explores many other topics. This title features: 91 color illustrations and 15 maps; tips on what to do before, during, and after fires; an overview of major wildfires in California's history; and, a discussion of the effect of climate change on fires in natural landscapes. This is a book in the "Californians and Their Environment" subseries, dedicated to understanding human influences on the state's ecology and natural resources.
Acknowledgments Introduction THE NATURE OF FIRE What Is Fire? The Fire Triangle Oxygen: Fire Breath, Fuel: Fire Food, Heat: Fire Energy Ignition Sources Fire Behavior Weather, Topography: Lay of the Land FIRE AND LIFE ACROSS CALIFORNIA Fire Regimes Seeds, Sprouts, and All of the Above Vegetation Types and Fire: Chaparral Shrublands, Conifer Forests, Oak Woodlands and Savannas, Sagebrush, Shrublands and Pinyon-Juniper Forests, Deserts, Grasslands, Wetlands and Riparian Woodlands Wildlife Soil, Water, and Air Climate Change FLAMES OF HISTORY California's Light-Burning Debate The Big Ones BURNING ISSUES Fighting Back: Tactics and Weaponry Making Peace: Restoring Fire The Chaparral Dilemma Fire Plans Logging versus Thinning GETTING READY: LIFE ON THE EDGE Wildland-Urban Interface Becoming a Fire-Adapted Californian Fire-Safe Planning: Before the Fire: Defensible Space Fire-Safe Planning: During the Fire: Outdoors, Indoors, After the Fire Kindling Change Online Fire Resources Glossary References Art Credits Additional Captions Index
David Carle worked as a California State Park ranger for twenty-seven years. He is author of Introduction to Water in California, Introduction to Air in California (both from UC Press), and Burning Questions: America's Fight with Nature's Fire, among other books
"The chapter on "Getting Ready: Life on the Edge" is worth the price of admission. It diagrams creating a defensible space around your home and what to do during a fire evacuation ... One way to thank the firefighters and volunteers is to become more informed about fire. This book will help."--Chico Enterprise-Record "Like a scary souvenir of 2008 [it] explains how and why. A pyro would slaver over its pictures."--East Bay Express "It tells everything readers need to know about wildfires: how they spread and what their effects are."--Palo Alto Weekly "Well written, yet simple enough for broad appeal."--Choice: Current Reviews For Academic Libraries
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