Learn how fire is used to manage the natural landscape at the Central Coast Good Fire Fair on Saturday, Oct. 10. The fair is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton in Santa Cruz County.
“Community members are invited to see a live prescribed burn in an old growth redwood grove, and learn how coastal ecosystems depend on fire,” said event co-organizer David Benterou, UC ANR Fire Network researcher for Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Monterey and San Benito counties.
Children and adults can learn more about fire with hands-on experiments. See live fire demonstrations, meet local organizations using prescribed fire, take quizzes to win prizes and learn tips to help protect your home from wildfire.
Weather permitting, wildfire experts will light prescribed fires in the redwood grove.
“Beneficial fire can be used to reduce fuels and wildfire risk, promoting resilience of our iconic forests and the communities within them,” said Brian Woodward, UC Cooperative Extension forest advisor for the Santa Cruz Mountains, who is co-organizing the fair. “Many of our forests haven’t seen fire in more than a century. Prescribed fire is an incredible tool to reintroduce fire in a safe and ecologically beneficial manner.”
At the Central Coast Good Fire Fair, kids can explore a wildland fire engine. The local prescribed burn association also will lead fire behavior demonstrations, such as lighting a fire and then using a leaf blower to demonstrate how wind makes fire move faster.
Representatives of California State Parks, CAL FIRE, Indigenous groups, UC ANR Fire Network and the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association are scheduled to have exhibits.
Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase from food trucks.
The Central Coast Good Fire Fair is sponsored by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Fire Network and California State Parks.
The event is free, but parking at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park costs $10. No registration required.