Irvine Ranch Conservancyâs Dedication to Wildfire Prevention
Photograph courtesy of Irvine Ranch Conservancy
The first Saturday in May is Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, a national campaign to reduce the frequency and severity of wildfires. Orange Countyâs two major fires last year burned a third of the land that the Irvine Ranch Conservancy manages, including Limestone Canyon and two restoration projects the conservancy had worked on for more than a decade. âWildfire is the single greatest threat to the long-term health of these plants,â says Michael OâConnell, the conservancyâs president and CEO. âThese lands are adapted to burning once every 70 to 100 years. Theyâre currently burning every seven to 10 years.â The organization has a dedicated Fire Watch program, which monitors areas prone to wildfires during Santa Ana winds, Red Flag Warning days, and other days with potential fire danger such as the 4th of July.