Saving the Beauty of a quiet forest
Dave Herrero
San Bernardino Mountains Region Assistant Preserve Manager
The Wildlands Conservancy
In the early morning hours of September 9th, sight became sound in the Bearpaw Reserve. The El Dorado Fire had crept down from the ridge and was slowly burning through the understory, working its way to within feet of us before being shoveled over or watered down. Occasional flare-ups lit the sky and a persistent tawny glow illuminated our work. But we mostly heard the fire; the persistent rumble of destabilized rock-fall and the crack of burned roll-off. It warned of a threat gaining strength above us.
The El Dorado Fire, which started Labor Day weekend, threatens Bearpaw Reserve days later. Photo by Dave Herrero.
Dawn broke, smoky and with significant understory burn, but still. There was a wind warning for later in the day, but spirits were high. We had worked long hours the previous two days to protect the quiet Beauty of Bearpaw. Ladder fuels had been removed and defensible space had been reinforced. We walked through the burn area with the incoming strike team and talked about mopping up hotspots along the trail. But we continued to hear the fire; the persistent rumble of destabilized rock-fall and the crack of burned roll-off, still warning of a threat gaining strength above us.
The winds came mid-afternoon on the 9th. Sound became sight as flames erupted through the canyon. The creeping fire had been stirred. The call came to evacuate. We stood on the highway and watched a handful of trees incinerate as the smoke slowly choked our view. It all appeared lost.
Bearpaw Reserve smoldering after the El Dorado Fire swept through. Photo by Dave Herrero.