In today’s lecture, we are going to look at the specific fire interactions of the West Coast. I am going to focus on one of my favorite species, the giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum). These massive trees require a natural fire regime for multiple reasons. From seed release, germination, and early tree development to the removal of ladder fuels, fire plays an integral role in sequoia recruitment.

Fire suppression and climate change leading to more frequent, more intense droughts have led to the rapid alterations of West Coast fire regimes. Without natural fire regimes, insanely intense, huge canopy fire ensue which changes ecosystem processes. These ecosystems need more natural fire regimes, which is why workers of the United States Forest Service are carrying out prescribed burns and letting natural fires ensue to emulate pre-settlement fire regimes.