The Changing Forest Fire Patterns in Central and Northern California

Large wildfire occurrence has increased noticeably throughout central and northern California over the last 10-15 year. Climate more conducive to fire spread and changing vegetation (fuel) complexes are readily cited causes of this. This presentation describes the historical context for large wildfire occurrence in northern California using a newly discovered dataset and compares that to contemporary occurrence. Additionally, it explores the contribution of forest change, climate, and ignitions on observed patterns of large wildfire occurrence. Lastly, it will address forest and fire management strategies for mitigating effects of future fires.

Speaker: Brandon Collins, US Forest Service & UC Berkeley