Planning for Fire and Protecting Species

To a firefighter, the rain we get in winter is the start of an annual cycle that leads to wildfires. First rain, then vegetation, then dry weather, then dry vegetation, then fires. Brush clearance is one of the time-honored ways of protecting human settlements in advance of fire season. But in Big Sur, where the green is part of what makes it one of the most beautiful spots on earth, fire safety advocates have to tread carefully.