I lead a lot of hikes in the redwoods and chaparral around California too. I mention fire just about every time, because it is evident that the forest burns all the time, but in State Parks you can tell the understory hasn’t burned in decades, if not longer. Loads of fuel on the ground in Big Basin (Which just burned last week) and Muir Woods.

If people wish t preserve redwood and pine forests, the forest must burn regularly. Some pine cone species cannot even open their own cones without fire.