SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Wildlife experts said a fire that ignited more than half of a state park south of San Jose, Calif., was beneficial to the environment.
The experts said the fire at Henry W. Coe State Park, which was 95 percent contained Sunday night, prepared the park to grow new vegetation in the spring, the San Jose Mercury News reported Monday.
"The park is not destroyed. The fire is actually beneficial to the environment," said Stuart Organo, supervising ranger at Coe.
"Next year after the rains have fallen in the spring, there is going to be more grass and vegetation for deer and other animals to browse on," Organo said.
The blaze had burned through 47,760 acres as of 7 p.m. Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Moonlight fire in Plumas County, Calif., grew from 42,000 acres in size Saturday to 52,000 acres Sunday, the Sacramento Bee reported.
U.S. Forest Service spokesman Mark Beaulieu said the fire's expansion is being fueled by heated air that rises and creates winds that fan the flames.
"Especially with such dry fuels," Beaulieu added. "We have real low air humidities up here."
Beaulieu warned that gusts exceeding 30 mph may send smoke toward the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.
