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Overview
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
Synopsis
"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
Editorials
From the Publisher
"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