"The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District will be burning vegetation in the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve through mid-March to improve fire resiliency. The district is conducting about 50 pile burns to reduce combustible vegetation without having to haul material offsite. The fires will be lit in the mornings in closed areas of the preserve. Crews will monitor the burns throughout the day and make sure they are fully extinguished by evening."
"By carefully returning fire to the landscape, we are doing our part to increase the land's resilience to wildfires and mimic the natural processes that the local ecosystem relies on to thrive. Ash and char from the pile burns return essential nutrients to the soil. Some seeds, like those of red maids, soaproot, mariposa lily, island manzanita and chamise, are called fire-followers and need heat or smoke of fire to germinate."
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District will conduct about 50 pile burns in Sierra Azul through mid‑March to reduce combustible vegetation and improve fire resiliency. Crews will light burns in closed areas, monitor them daily, and ensure fires are fully extinguished by evening; public trails will remain open though smoke may be visible on some weekdays. Pile burns return nutrients to soil and stimulate germination of some native seeds that require heat or smoke. Trained biological monitors check piles for wildlife, and burns proceed only under strict wind, temperature, humidity, and air‑quality conditions. The Los Gatos Chamber is accepting nominations for the Stars of Los Gatos Awards; winners will be honored at a March 28 gala.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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