What is the impact of fire in Catalina’s wildlands?
• Natural fires on Catalina are very rare. Of the 299 fires recorded on the Island in the last 100 years, only six were caused by natural events, like lightning. • Catalina’s flora evolved with occasional fires. Seeds germinate from the seed bank in the soil and most trees and shrubs re-sprout from their bases. • There are also several unique “fire follower” species — plants that thrive within the nutrient-rich and low-competition conditions that follow a fire. Some of the more widely known fire-follower species that are native to the Island are Whispering bells, Fire poppies, and the Catalina manzanita.
• Natural fires on Catalina are very rare. Of the 299 fires recorded on the Island in the last 100 years, only six were caused by natural events, like lightning. • Catalinas flora evolved with occasional fires. Seeds germinate from the seed bank in the soil and most trees and shrubs re-sprout from their bases. • There are also several unique fire follower species plants that thrive within the nutrient-rich and low-competition conditions that follow a fire. Some of the more widely known fire-follower species that are native to the Island are Whispering bells, Fire poppies, and the Catalina manzanita. Some have said that fire is actually good for the ecosystem on Catalina • Actually, there were great losses from this fire, for example large stands of old oaks, numerous ironwood groves, and many mature and beautiful Catalina manzanita, to name a few that were burned. While many will survive and re-sprout, it will take years for them to achieve the splendor and beauty they had before the f
