Our Forest
While it is true that forest fires are destructive, they are also one of nature's ways to keep a forest healthy. The forest is naturally thinned by the burning off of unhealthy and dead trees, this also promotes new growth. The problems occur when you add humans to the mix. Houses and structures that have been built in or close to a forest must be protected, so Fire Fighters are given the task of controlling and limiting the extent of the fires. This has the unfortunate side effect of creating an unhealthy forest, but as long as people are allowed to build in or near the forest this is something that must be dealt with.
Forest Fires can happen at anytime of the year in the San Bernardino National Forest but usually occur in the Summer and Fall. Most of these fires are human caused, either by accident or by intent. Though most are relatively small and quickly controlled, under the right conditions some become devastating fire storms.
The month of October is especially vulnerable to large fires and has become a time of heightened anxiety among the residents of the forest. It is during this month, as the seasons transition between Summer and Winter, that we normally get the Santa Ana Winds (North Winds). These winds can have a sustained wind speed of 40-50 MPH with gusts of 60-70 MPH (even higher through some of the canyons). These winds can quickly turn a 2-3 acre fire into a 1,000 acre fire in a few short hours.
Some Recent Large Forest Fires in the San Bernardino National Forest
2003
Old Fire
91,281 acres
993 homes destroyed
Grand Prix Fire
59,448 acres
135 homes destroyed
Forest Fires can happen at anytime of the year in the San Bernardino National Forest but usually occur in the Summer and Fall. Most of these fires are human caused, either by accident or by intent. Though most are relatively small and quickly controlled, under the right conditions some become devastating fire storms.
The month of October is especially vulnerable to large fires and has become a time of heightened anxiety among the residents of the forest. It is during this month, as the seasons transition between Summer and Winter, that we normally get the Santa Ana Winds (North Winds). These winds can have a sustained wind speed of 40-50 MPH with gusts of 60-70 MPH (even higher through some of the canyons). These winds can quickly turn a 2-3 acre fire into a 1,000 acre fire in a few short hours.
Some Recent Large Forest Fires in the San Bernardino National Forest
2003
Old Fire
91,281 acres
993 homes destroyed
Grand Prix Fire
59,448 acres
135 homes destroyed
(Note: The Grand Prix and Old Fire merged; The Grand Prix Fire crossed into the Angeles National Forest and became known as the Padua Fire in that area. Both fires also burned large areas outside the national forest boundaries. The totals include all areas burned.)
2006
Heart/Millard Complex Fire
25,000 acres
0 homes destroyed
Heart/Millard Complex Fire
25,000 acres
0 homes destroyed
(The word "Complex" means that the named fire is actually made up of multiple fires. The Heart/Millard Fire merged with another fire, the Sawtooth Complex Fire and became known collectively as the Heart/Millard/Sawtooth Complex Fire. Together these fires burned an approximate total of 90,000 acres, though most was not within the national forest boundaries. A total of 58 homes were destroyed)
2007
Butler II Fire
14,039 acres
0 homes destroyed
Slide Fire
12,759 acres
272 homes destroyed
Grass Valley Fire
1,247 acres
174 homes destroyed
2009
Sheep Fire
7,128 acres
1 home destroyed
Butler II Fire
14,039 acres
0 homes destroyed
Slide Fire
12,759 acres
272 homes destroyed
Grass Valley Fire
1,247 acres
174 homes destroyed
2009
Sheep Fire
7,128 acres
1 home destroyed
In 1891, the Forest Reserve Act was passed which enabled the president to designate forested areas as "Reserves". In 1893, The San Bernardino Forest Reserve was established. In 1907, the name was changed to the current San Bernardino National Forest.
Today, the San Bernardino National Forest encompasses a total of 823,816 acres. 676,666 acres are actual national forest lands and 147,150 acres are privately held lands within the national forest boundaries. Also within this total there are 8 designated wilderness areas with a total of 151,341 acres.
There are 71 animal and 85 plant species that are threaten, endangered, or sensitive within the national forest.
The forest includes the San Bernardino, San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, and Santa Rosa Mountain Ranges (though they are separated from the main forest and are located in Riverside County, 32,248 acres of the San Jacinto Mountains and 13,787 acres of the Santa Rosa Mountains are administered by and considered part of the San Bernardino National Forest). The highest peak within the forest, and in Southern California, is Mount San Gorgonio at 11,503 feet.
The forest is a contrast of extremes, from multi-million dollar homes around Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear to wilderness areas where you can rough it. The forest extends from lowland areas into the mountains, and from the deserts to the north and east to the urban areas of San Bernardino County to the south.
During the summer hundreds of thousands of people make use of the numerous lakes, hiking trails, and camp grounds that dot the forest.
In the winter, hundreds of thousands head to the mountains, where snow levels can reach down to 3,000 feet (sometimes even lower) and 4 ski resorts await their arrival.
If you are planning to visit the San Bernardino National Forest, please go to the U.S. Forest Service-San Bernardino National Forest web site and Rimoftheworld.net (Links) for information about conditions, restrictions, and requirements.
Today, the San Bernardino National Forest encompasses a total of 823,816 acres. 676,666 acres are actual national forest lands and 147,150 acres are privately held lands within the national forest boundaries. Also within this total there are 8 designated wilderness areas with a total of 151,341 acres.
There are 71 animal and 85 plant species that are threaten, endangered, or sensitive within the national forest.
The forest includes the San Bernardino, San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, and Santa Rosa Mountain Ranges (though they are separated from the main forest and are located in Riverside County, 32,248 acres of the San Jacinto Mountains and 13,787 acres of the Santa Rosa Mountains are administered by and considered part of the San Bernardino National Forest). The highest peak within the forest, and in Southern California, is Mount San Gorgonio at 11,503 feet.
The forest is a contrast of extremes, from multi-million dollar homes around Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear to wilderness areas where you can rough it. The forest extends from lowland areas into the mountains, and from the deserts to the north and east to the urban areas of San Bernardino County to the south.
During the summer hundreds of thousands of people make use of the numerous lakes, hiking trails, and camp grounds that dot the forest.
In the winter, hundreds of thousands head to the mountains, where snow levels can reach down to 3,000 feet (sometimes even lower) and 4 ski resorts await their arrival.
If you are planning to visit the San Bernardino National Forest, please go to the U.S. Forest Service-San Bernardino National Forest web site and Rimoftheworld.net (Links) for information about conditions, restrictions, and requirements.
About Our Forest
Forest Fires
There are actually four different beetles that are collectively known as "Bark Beetles" in the San Bernardino National Forest, they are: the Western Pine Beetle, the Mountain Pine Beetle, the Jeffery Pine Beetle, and the Turpentine Beetle. These beetles always exist in our forest but usually at much lower numbers. Each of these beetles are tree specific, attacking only a specific type of tree or trees.
Continued drought conditions, air pollution (ozone), and other factors have caused many of the trees in our forest to become unhealthy and unresistant to Bark Beetle infestation. The killing of Woodpeckers by forest residents has also been cited as a contributing factor that has led to a Bark Beetle population explosion and feeding frenzy.
Unfortunately there is little that can be done to stop this destruction. Large numbers of trees have already died and more will continue to die until conditions improve.
Though it may take some time, those areas affected will eventually re-grow.
Continued drought conditions, air pollution (ozone), and other factors have caused many of the trees in our forest to become unhealthy and unresistant to Bark Beetle infestation. The killing of Woodpeckers by forest residents has also been cited as a contributing factor that has led to a Bark Beetle population explosion and feeding frenzy.
Unfortunately there is little that can be done to stop this destruction. Large numbers of trees have already died and more will continue to die until conditions improve.
Though it may take some time, those areas affected will eventually re-grow.
The Bark Beetle
West Nile Virus has spread rapidly through our squirrel and bird populations. Large areas of our forest appear more or less devoid of squirrels and the avian population has declined. There is nothing we can do but wait for the virus to run it's course. The survivors, we hope, will eventually repopulate the forest.
Humans are also susceptible to this virus. If you find a dead squirrel or bird and you want it tested for the virus, please call 1-877-968-2473.
Humans are also susceptible to this virus. If you find a dead squirrel or bird and you want it tested for the virus, please call 1-877-968-2473.
West Nile Virus
If current future climate models are correct, then the answer to that question is YES. The models predict continued northward advance of tropical and sub-tropical conditions. What this means for our area is severe droughts that will eventually turn our forest, and most of Southern California, into desert.
Can we stop this from happening? The answer to that question is unknown. Curbing the release of Green House Gases right now will probably lessen the effects but it may be too late to stop it entirely.
Can we stop this from happening? The answer to that question is unknown. Curbing the release of Green House Gases right now will probably lessen the effects but it may be too late to stop it entirely.
Mountain Pine Beetle
Jeffery Pine Beetle
Western Pine Beetle
Turpentine Beetle
Is Our Forest Doomed?
Recent studies of California's climate history by U.C. Davis doctoral student Jessica Oster and geology professor Isabel Montanez have indicated a connection between the amount of arctic ice and California's weather. Researchers looking back over about a 20,000 year history found that whenever temperatures rise in the arctic and the ice melts, century long droughts occur in California. Researchers are not completely sure why this happens. One theory is that as the arctic temperatures rise, the Jet Stream (high altitude winds), which is responsible for carrying precipitation to California, moves further and further north, moving the precipitation away from California. Their findings were published November 5, 2009 in the online journal "Earth and Planetary Science Letters".
If this connection proves correct, it means that things don't look very good for California and that we may not have long to wait. According to researchers, arctic ice has been melting at a rate of about 3% per year over the past three decades. Some models predict that the arctic ice may be completely gone by the year 2020.
If this connection proves correct, it means that things don't look very good for California and that we may not have long to wait. According to researchers, arctic ice has been melting at a rate of about 3% per year over the past three decades. Some models predict that the arctic ice may be completely gone by the year 2020.
A Connection Between Arctic Sea Ice and California?
