Fires in Bracken Brae
For millions of years forest fires have cleaned the forests of the Santa Cruz mountains. Fires would remove flammable debris built up over years under the canopy of the towering redwoods and allow fresh vegetation to take over.
The loggers used to purposely light the forest on fire to clear away this underbrush so it was easier to harvest the fire resistant redwoods. They would do this in the late fall to prevent the fire getting out of hand. They were also experts in controlled burns and could do so safely.
As our firefighting force has grown, the San Lorenzo Valley has been successful in keeping property damage to a minimum by putting out the fires. Unfortunately, this prevents the undergrowth from burning away and our forests are becoming a wasteland for dead tree branches and dried leaves. We need to do what we can to provide defensible space and water in case of an emergency.
Below are some articles of fires that raged through Bracken Brae. I was able to determine that they did so by the names of the property owners mentioned against old parcel maps and newspapers.
August 2nd, 1873 – Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel
Fire sweeps across Boulder Creek. Austin Harmon was the property owner at this time.
August 25th, 1891 – Santa Cruz Sentinel
As a fire ripped through Bracken Brae, then owned by Lydia C. Cleveland, everything in its course soon became fuel for the fiery demon. The Bracken Brae bridge burns and those up toward the Boulder Creek golf course are cut off.
July 24th, 1917 – Santa Cruz Evening News
A fire is raging towards Bracken Brae so fire warden Moody cuts trails through the park and backfires.
Pictures from the fire of 2020
