Fire is a natural part of the southern California environment.
Pushed by Santa Ana winds, fires have historically moved from the San Gabriel and Santa Susana Mountains down through the Simi Hills into the Santa Monica Mountains. This pathway is now cut abruptly by urban development. Large wildfires, however do continue to occur. Although lightening-caused and aboriginal fire played an important role in maintaining the natural communities of the Santa Monica Mountains for thousands of years, fires began to be suppressed, beginning with Spanish settlement of California in the early 1800s. Later, as Smokey Bear and his wildfire prevention message spread, fires continued to be suppressed.