Crime & Safety
Volunteers Needed for OC Fire Watch, Irvine Ranch Conservancy
A year after the Canyon Fire and Canyon Fire 2, restoration & preventative efforts continue to make an impact on Orange County's open space
(Orange County, Ca) — If science has shown that positivity and optimism help humans overcome sickness and disease, surely the path of positivity can help heal the earth as well.
Orange County’s beautiful landscape endured such trauma last October during the Canyon fires that those entrusted with helping the land heal are asking action-oriented residents to step forward and please help in the healing process.
IRVINE RANCH CONSERVANCY BLOGS ABOUT CRITICAL RESTORATION PROJECTS UNDERWAY IN CANYON FIRE 1 & 2 BURNED AREAS; VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Find out what's happening in Orange Countywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Experts are asking the public to help in two ways as Orange County marks the one year anniversary of the devastating Canyon Fires last year.
“Joining Orange County Fire Watch is one of the most crucial things a volunteer can do right now to protect Orange County's neighborhoods and open spaces from wildfire,” said Orange County Fire Watch Program Manager, Tony Pointer (orangecountyfirewatch.org). “If we come together as a community to get involved and try to reduce accidental or intentional human ignition sources, we can help preserve and protect Orange County’s wilderness and the surrounding community.”
Find out what's happening in Orange Countywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“The 2017 canyon fires affected Weir Canyon, Blind Canyon, parts of Fremont Canyon Nature Preserve and beyond, with assessment restoration efforts starting almost immediately after the fires were contained. All habitat types including coastal sage scrub, chaparral, grassland, oak woodlands, and riparian were affected by the fires, and most areas are showing signs of improvement and are expected to recover,” says the Irvine Ranch Conservancy (www.irconservancy.org)
“The problem is not the fire itself but the frequency and scale at which fires ignite,” said Dr. Nathan Gregory, Irvine Ranch Conservancy Science and Stewardship Director. “The natural cycle for fires in Southern California is every 50 to 100 years historically. However, these vast fires are occurring much more frequently due to invasive grasses brought in by previous grazing and accidental or intentional human causes. Our restoration efforts are helping to restore the land, but groups like Fire Watch are equally important to help stop ignitions before they occur.”
IRVINE RANCH CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CURRENT RESTORATION EFFORTS, FIRE WATCH PROGRAM
Current restoration efforts include gathering and processing acorns for planting to ensure long-term health for woodland trees. In the wake of the canyon fires, communities of oak trees show signs of new growth and much of the ground vegetation is flourishing. The Conservancy also offers stewardship programs to harvest and cultivate local plants and seeds that will be used on restoration sites throughout the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, according to the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.
JOIN FORCES WITH CALIFORNIA FIREFIGHTERS TO SAVE OUR LANDS WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY FIRE WATCH PROGRAM
The Orange County Fire Watch Program aims to reduce wildland fire ignition sources on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and surrounding areas. Fire Watch program volunteers and staff monitor the perimeters of high-risk areas of Orange County, serving as visual deterrents while reporting suspicious or dangerous behaviors or activities. Volunteers also assist with early detection and reporting of ignitions. Fire Watch is facilitated in partnership with OC Parks, City of Irvine, City of Newport Beach, Irvine Ranch Conservancy and Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), the Irvine Ranch Conservancy says.
Orange County Fire Watch volunteers must complete all the requirements of an OC Parks volunteer or an Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteer, including a background check, and receive training on the history of wildland fires in Orange County, wilderness fire behavior, safety procedures, and recognizing and reporting dangerous situations. The Orange County Fire Watch Network is deployed during Red Flag conditions where periods of high temperature, low humidity and high winds lead to a high fire risk, the Irvine Ranch Conservancy says.
For more information on Fire Watch visit orangecountyfirewatch.org and to learn more about joining a stewardship program visit www.letsgooutside.org/stewardship.
Photos Courtesy Copyright OCFA.org
###
