Trees in Celebration
Trees in MemoryHonor your friends and loved ones with the gift of trees.Tragedy Strikes Plumas — On Consecutive HolidaysWildfires in the Forest Destroy 88,000 Acres of Trees
Spectators in Indian Valley could see billowing clouds of smoke to the northeast during September’s Moonlight Fire. Photo © Matt Padilla.
Years of unrelenting drought have left many western American forests vulnerable. In 2007, when lightning struck several times near Antelope Lake in Plumas National Forest on the afternoon following Independence Day, the parched vegetation immediately ignited. Unseasonably high temperatures and a chronic lack of precipitation fed the fire’s rapid growth. Continued lightning strikes set fires that spread quickly to some 23,000 acres of wooded land. Skilled responses from dedicated firefighters brought the blaze under control within the week. Because of the firefighters’ immediate, well-disciplined actions, barriers contained the blazes and prevented them from spreading to buildings in the Antelope Lake Recreation Area. Antelope Lake, a secluded lake with approximately 15 miles of shoreline, lies in the northeastern region of Plumas. Pines and firs envelop the area. Around the lake small coves provide shelter for a number of species of migratory birds. Spring witnesses the arrival of pastel wildflowers, eventually followed by autumn’s more brilliant golds, burnt umbers and burgundies when the deciduous trees’ leaves change. The area offers a wide range of recreational activities. Many visitors come for the fishing, swimming and water skiing. Others, craving the tranquility of the forest, hike, backpack, or go birding. Families often come to enjoy horseback riding on nearby backcountry road. Organized festivals and children’s activities appeal to younger guests. Ongoing activity characterizes the region. When fire struck the recreation area, it put all this — and more — at risk. |
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