Fire doesn’t always spell disaster, Santa Cruz County agencies hold first-ever Good Fire Fair
FELTON, Calif. (KION-TV)- In an effort to educate people about the importance of fire to California’s landscapes, the Inaugural Central Coast Good Fire Fair was held today at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
Officials want to teach people how to live alongside fire in the safest way possible.
However, a demonstration burn planned for today had to canceled due to heat alerts in the area.
Fire doesn't always spell disaster, that was the message coming from multiple Santa Cruz County agencies at the first-ever Good Fire Fair Saturday.
Officials covered topics like defensible space, how and when to burn properly, and why prescribed burns are crucial to the environment.
"We prescribe during conditions that are more moderate to do good things, to recycle the nutrients in the forest, to change what plants can grow or not grow, and to really stimulate all of our native plants and animals and maintain their habitats," Dr. Kate Wilkin assistant professor of fire ecology and management at San Jose State University said.
Many people agreed it's important for communities to know the benefits of prescribed burns.
"The prescribed burning world is kind of not very well known among the population," Ben Grove from Santa Cruz said. "It's something that, like the people who are working in the industry really have to fight hard with to broadcast to the public that prescribed events are happening and how important they are but it's getting a lot better."
There were many educational interactive activities for kids and families.
Cal Fire also demonstrated how a wildfire can spark using dried leaves.
A demonstration prescribed burn that was supposed to take place but had to be cancelled because of active heat alerts.
"When we have really low relative humidities, there's a lot more of a chance for it to spread on to other vegetation. and of course, with the heat, it was just not it was not ideal," Tara Zaragoza Forestry assistant to with Cal Fire Rescue said.
As wildfires continue to pose a threat, officials recommend people take steps ahead of time to protect themselves and their homes.
"By packing a go bag and getting your house prepared, getting your house hardened, it's a whole bunch of different things and one of the things that we try to tell people is don't be afraid of fire be ready for fire," Michael Horn Fire Safe Santa Cruz County said.
Cal Fire tells me the fire danger is extreme as of Saturday, October 5th and they're urging people to not use power tools outside in the heat of the day.
