-Firestorms, drought, and heavy rainstorms are all common weather phenomena in Mediterranean climates such as southern California. 

-The rains have increased “fire follower” plants and new growth on chaparral shrubs and trees.  Plants slow the rain’s energy and downhill water flows.  And they are providing impressive spring wildflower shows throughout the county!

-In previously-disturbed burned areas, weedy non-native plants are replacing the chaparral and coastal-sage scrub plants.  When they dry out, they ignite easily and spread wildfire much more quickly than chaparral.

-Oak trees and streamside trees were usually scorched but not killed, and most will resprout 1-2 years later from their base or along the branches. 

-In San Diego’s forests, soil moisture and streamflows are far above average.  This will increase seed germination and seedling growth in burned areas, although seed survival may still be low in many forested areas where the fires burned very hot.  It will take decades or centuries for the old-growth forest to return. 

-In unburned areas, trees now have more soil moisture and their health will improve.  This will reduce bark beetle populations and tree mortality rates.  Many trees died over the years of the drought, and there is still high mortality in San Diego’s conifer forests.  

-Logging of dead trees along key evacuation routes and around homes in selected communities is delayed in areas with water-saturated soils, to comply with state forest practice regulations.

-When reducing natural vegetation within 100 feet of the house, remove grasses, weeds, and dead branches.  Prune the lower half of small branches of each shrub to shape it into an umbrella.  Continue pruning until there is less than 50% canopy cover (shrubs shade or cover half of the ground.  This leaves places for wildlife, slows rain intensity, and reduces erosion.

-There are soil erosion and landslides in some areas where brush reduction was done improperly.  Do NOT remove roots, scrape the soil, or clear the land.