October 27, 2003
California Wildfires
Listening to the news this morning about the incredible wildfires in Southern California reminded me of my very favorite John McPhee book: In Control Of Nature. In this book, McPhee talks about three natural disasters: volcanic eruptions, floods and landslides, and how modern day humans have tried to constrain their impact. The section on landslides is an excellent primer on the reasons the fires in Southern California are so bad and how the consequences of the fires can mean massive mudslides.
The landscape in Southern California has been created to be one of the most flamable in the world and the ecosystem is shaped by earthquakes, wind, fire and water. The worst of the fire season in California is always in October and in Southern California are conjoined with the Santa Ana winds (hot and dry) that help the fires move and grow. The latest studies show that urban growth is now exacerbating the fire danger.
McPhee's story shows how the fires in autumn can be combined with torrential rains in the winter (the 100 year rains) to create huge mudslides, enough so that in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains are found huge football field sized man-made holes designed to catch the boulders that are sluffed off the mountains. The interaction between the vegetation, the fires, the soil and the rain is quite fascinating. And how although men are constantly attempting to tame nature, this is not always something we do well or wisely. This is one book that I definitely recommend.
Posted by Mary at October 27, 2003 04:41 PM | TrackBackAre the fires not in Arnie's Lands? Maybe the gods are commenting.
Posted by: Marie on October 28, 2003 07:18 AMI posted about this here. Mostly I link to various items by Mike Davis. He's written a top of stuff on perverse urbanization trends.
This seems to me to be further evidence of the growing need for industrial policy. It will presumably be sold to defend investments in housing and capital. Fine. We need it anyway.
Posted by: James R MacLean on October 29, 2003 06:34 PMOddly, I was reading that book just as the fires started. So, too, did I tell myself that this would prompt action the Healthy Forest monstrosity. Burning brush is not a forest fire.
Posted by: irezz on October 31, 2003 02:06 PM