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.

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

* A discussion of the effect of climate change on fires in natural landscapes

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

“Carle does an excellent job of telling complex social, biological, and physical stories in a way that makes them not only accessible, but also interesting.”—Neil G. Sugihara, coeditor of Fire in California's Ecosystems

“A welcome contribution to the California Natural History Guides series that integrates the natural and cultural history of fire in California in an engaging style.”—James K. Agee, author of Steward's Fork and Fire Ecology of Pacific Northwest Forests

Follow Daivd and Janet Carle as they travel the 38th Parallel around the world

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