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taking place in the 1960s. The Woodbridge Fire Department succeeded in extinguishing <br /> that fire which Mr. Brovelli believes was set by children. According to Mr. Brovelli these <br /> fires usually occurred in the fall (September) and only small acreages were consumed. Mr. <br /> Brovelli made no mention of grassland fires. <br /> Preliminary Stand-age Analysis of the Live Oak Forest <br /> Scott Mensing conducted a preliminary analysis of age and structure of the mixed oak <br /> forest by examining basal cross sections of five trees: one willow, one interior live oak and <br /> three valley oaks. The diameters of these trees and their dates of establishment are <br /> presented in table 4 below. Trees which lay down distinctive growth rings every year, such <br /> as valley oak and interior live oak, can be accurately aged. If these trees are wounded, for <br /> instance by fire, they develop distinctive patterns of callus tissue that leaves a scar. By <br /> counting the rings of the scarred tree, a precise date can be established for the fire. The <br /> oldest valley oak found at Buckeye so far was established in 1850 and measured about 22 <br /> inches in diameter. Fire scar tissue was found in this tree and the fire was dated to 1939, a <br /> very dry year. According to records, 9.3 inches of rainfall were measured at Lodi in 1939, <br /> almost 7 inches below normal. <br /> Table 4. Establishment dates of five trees from Buckeye Ranch <br /> Tree Species Diameter Establishment Age <br /> at Base Date When Cut <br /> (Inches) <br /> Willow 19.5 1970 19 <br /> Interior live oak 26.0 1949 40 <br /> Valley oak#1 20.0 1950 39 <br /> Valley oak#2 32.0 1949 40 <br /> Valley oak#3 21.5 1850 139 <br /> Buckeye Ranch Resource Plan (November, 1993) <br /> 64 <br />