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 BLM's Fort Ord public lands, you may see vegetation that has been trimmed back from roads or trails to form fuelbreaks.� BLM strives to maintain fuelbreaks in strategic locations that will allow firefighters to battle fires. To preserve a natual recreation setting and to minimize habitat impacts, BLM works hard to only cut what is necessary when clearing fuelbreaks.