How controlled fires have helped prevent mega-fires for centuries | Just The FAQs

Here's how Native Americans used controlled burns to maintain forests and why it's needed now more than ever.
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SALINAS, Calif. – The Carmel Fire rolled up to the vineyards Jack Galante owned up until a month ago.

It burned the edges, sent enough smoke in the air to potentially taint the grapes, then backed off and kept moving, eventually destroying 73 structures and damaging seven, many were million-dollar Sky Ranch homes.

This all happened about five years after Galante and Cal Fire put to bed a request to do a prescribed burn in that area, which could have mitigated the intensity of the blaze. Galante said he didn't know why it died, but believed it had something to do with Cal Fire's bureaucracy.

A Cal Fire representative, though, said the residents of Sky Ranch shot the proposal down. Residents didn't want a controlled fire near their homes.

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11 comments

  1. To the kind American people that’s reading this。You are unique and likable, stay happy and healthy during this pandemic,bless you.
    I am from China, my dream is to reach 10k. I been struggling to get there.

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