Surface fuels in recent Phytophthora ramorum created gaps and adjacent intact Quercus agrifolia forests, East Bay Regional Parks, California, USA

•Phytophthora ramorum has had significant impacts on coastal forests of coastal California.•We sampled surface fuels and vegetation structure in SOD-caused gaps and intact stands.•Surface fuels were greater in gap plots than intact forest plots.•Vegetation characteristics did not differ significantly, except for coast live oak.•This research clearly shows that Phytophthora ramorum is increasing surface fuels.