• Afternoon clouds cover the distance peaks of the iconic Boney Mountain

    Santa Monica Mountains

    National Recreation Area California

Fuels Management

Fuels management is challenging in the Santa Monica Mountains due to the intermix of parkland and development, and because of the nature of the ecosystem itself.  Homes are placed amongst wildland vegetation that is capable of intense fire behavior. Santa Monica Mountains’ wildfires have caused loss of life, serious injuries to firefighters and destruction of homes. Yet this same vegetation is a limited and highly valued resource that forms the foundation of the Mediterranean Coast ecosystem. Even though our ecosystem is healthy, it becomes fuel for fire every summer and fall.

Park fuels management in the Santa Monica Mountains’ is focused and strategic. Our objective is to minimize impacts to natural resources and to maximize the effectiveness in protecting lives and property.

A time-tested method to protect lives and property is to perform fuel modification and create a defensible space. Adequate defensible space can prevent home ignition from direct flame impingement and radiant heat, while providing a safer environment for firefighters. Defensible space treatments are required for Park structures.

 

In addition to its defensible space program, the park has a strategic fuels program with landscape-scale treatments. These projects are located at choke points in fire corridors and along major evacuation routes and are intended to limit fire spread.  They are focused in annual grasslands that are mowed every summer and thus do not damage native shrublands.

 

The park service is dedicated to identifying information gaps and incorporating current science to improve its fuels management and community wildfire safety programs. Recognizing the role of embers and urban fuels in wildfire structure losses has meant better recommendations to communities and more effective fuels treatments. Proposed hazards mapping will also allow refinement and increased effectiveness of fuels treatments.

 
Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center
Fuels management work done around the
Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center.

Did You Know?

Rangers from California State Parks and the National Park Service discuss program ideas.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area was established in 1978, but the National Park Service did not own public parkland in the area until 1980.  National Park Rangers devised clever ways to promote the national park goals without land by creating thriving partnerships with many agencies.