East Bay Dinner: author David Carle speaks on "Fire in California"

Thursday, October 23, no-host cocktails/social hour - 6:00 pm, dinner - 7:00, program - 8:00, Berkeley Yacht Club, 1 Seawall Drive, at the Berkeley Marina, one block north of the west end of University Avenue (ample free parking is available in the Marina parking lots).

Join David Carle for a program that will be both helpful and fascinating, as he explains, and shows, that fire is a natural force shaping everything that lives in California. Humans sometimes fight against the reality of wildfires, but a sensible alternative is to join the long list of "fire-adapted species" in this state. In David's Introduction to Fire in California, his third book in the "Californians and Their Environment" sub-series (within the California Natural History Guides published by UC Press), he asks: what is fire? How are wildfires ignited? How do California's weather and topography influence fire? How did the California Indians use fire? What can we do to protect ourselves, our families, and our property?

In the spirit of his highly acclaimed Introduction to Air in California and Introduction to Water in California, Carle has given a fascinating and concise view of another fundamental element of the natural world. The book's dramatic illustrations will make a compelling slideshow to help those of us living near naturally flammable wildlands better understand our place in the state's landscape and environment. Copies of Carle's book will be available for purchase.

A California state-park ranger for 27 years, Carle spent 19 years at the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve, where he participated in the historic effort to protect that inland sea east of the Sierra from the effects of water diversion to Los Angeles. Now retired, but still living by choice near the shores of Mono Lake, he is the author of six books, including Burning Questions, America's Fight with Nature's Fire, published by Praeger in 2002.

Cost of dinner and program is $23. per person, including tax and tip. For more information, call (510) 845-8055. To make a reservation, send your check, made payable to "Sierra Club", with your name, your telephone number, and the names of your guests, to Jane Barrett at:

170 Vicente Road
Berkeley, CA 94705.

Attendance is limited to the first 115 reservations received. Reserve early because these programs do fill up. Reservation deadline is Mon. Oct. 13th. There is no admittance for program only.