The BLM is committed to preventing wildfires from spreading into neighboring residential areas.  Fires, however, are a natural part of California's ecosystem and are actually essential to the health of maritime chaparral habitat.

As you visit the Fort Ord National Monument, you may see vegetation that has been trimmed back from roads or trails to create fuelbreaks.  BLM strives to maintain fuelbreaks in strategic locations that will allow firefighters to safely manage fire.  To preserve a natural setting and minimize habitat impacts, BLM works hard to only remove what is necessary when creating fuelbreaks.