After the Fire

Hennicksons Ridge in 2005, six years after the 1999 fire. Photo: Bill Davidow

In 1990, I bought wilderness property in the Carmel Valley. Fire has been a frequent visitor.

In 1977, the Marble Cone fire, started by a lightening strike, burned brush on most of the southern slopes. There have been three other fires since then—1999, 2008, and in 2016, the Soberanes fire. The Soberanes fire burned for 83 days and consumed 132,127 acres.

Our property spans the top of Hennicksons Ridge. The south slopes face the Carmel River and are covered with brush with a firebreak running along the top of the ridge. Oak forests growing on the north facing slopes have escaped much of the fire damage.

Oak forests on Hennicksons Ridge. Photo: Bill Davidow

I’m amazed at how quickly the property has recovered from the fires. In 1990, I had difficulty finding evidence of the 1977 fire.

The south slopes of Hennicksons Ridge blaze with poppies. Photo: Bill David

I have always ...