Scorched desert
The York fire in the Mojave Desert is relatively small compared to other wildfires in California, but its impact on sensitive lands may persist for centuries.
As of early Friday, the York fire, which began on August 4th, has already scorched over 130 square miles, making it the largest wildfire in California this year.
With over 400 firefighters involved in battling the blaze, their primary concern is minimizing disruption to the delicate ecosystem of California’s Mojave National Preserve.
To mitigate the impact on the ecologically sensitive region, the firefighting crews have employed a cautious approach, avoiding the use of bulldozers and instead clearing fire lines by hand. This ensures the protection of the preserve’s 200 rare plant species.
Originating near the remote Caruthers Canyon area of the vast wildland preserve, the fire has spread into Nevada, crossing the state line and sending smoke eastward into the Las Vegas Valley.
Due to the ecological and cultural sensitivities at stake, firefighters have been working closely with federal officials to determine the appropriate equipment and techniques to be used.
The fire has also affected Nevada’s newest national monument, Avi Kwa Ame, with the exact extent of the damage still under evaluation.
In 2020, the Mojave National Preserve suffered the devastating Dome fire, which, although smaller than the current York fire, resulted in the loss of approximately 1.3 million Joshua trees, devastating one of the world’s largest Joshua tree forests.
Fires in the desert are uncommon due to the scarcity of ignition sources in the harsh terrain. While the Dome fire was caused by lightning, the cause of the York fire is currently under investigation, with authorities indicating that it started on private land within the preserve.
Above, an image depicts a large fire whirl at the York fire. These whirls, similar to dust devils, form due to the heat and energy generated by the wildfire and can reach heights of several hundred feet.
Mojave Desert fire: The recovery process for burned trees may take centuries.
Joshua trees
Once Joshua trees are consumed by fire, they perish, and new seedlings must be planted to restore their population.
Joshua trees exhibit rapid growth during their early years, averaging about 3 inches per year for the first decade and slowing down to half that rate in subsequent years. This means that a Joshua tree seed planted in 1987 would now stand at just over 5 feet tall.
The root system of a Joshua tree spreads across the surface and has deep roots that can extend over 30 feet underground.
Pinyon pines
Single-leaf pinyon trees grow at a slow pace. It takes approximately 60 years for a dominant tree to reach a height of 6.6 feet and around 150 years to attain a height of 28 feet. The growth rates can vary significantly among trees even in identical environments due to competition for limited water resources. Dominant trees may maintain consistent diameter growth rates for over 200 years. It takes about seven years for a pinyon tree to grow 12 inches. While pinyon trees can live for over 1,000 years, most stands range in age from 100 to 225 years.
Junipers
Despite having a growing season that lasts between 340 and 360 days, dominant juniper trees only grow 2 to 4 inches in height annually.
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