  Mediterranean ecosystems such as those found in California, Central Chile,
Southern Europe, and Southwest Australia host numerous, diverse, fire-adapted
micro-ecosystems. These micro-ecosystems are as diverse as mountainous conifer
to desert-like chaparral communities. Over the last few centuries, human
intervention, invasive species, and climate warming have drastically affected
the composition and health of Mediterranean ecosystems on almost every
continent. Increased fuel load from fire suppression policies and the continued
range expansion of non-native insects and plants, some driven by long-term
drought, produced the deadliest wildfire season on record in 2018. As a
consequence of these fires, a large number of structures are destroyed,
releasing household chemicals into the environment as uncontrolled toxins. The
mobilization of these materials can lead to health risks and disruption in both
human and natural systems. This article identifies drivers that led to a
structural weakening of the mosaic of fire-adapted ecosystems in California,
and subsequently increased the risk of destructive and explosive wildfires
throughout the state. Under a new climate regime, managing the impacts on
systems moving out-of-phase with natural processes may protect lives and ensure
the stability of ecosystem services.
