|
The Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission issued its final report, "On Fire," on September 27th. The 340 page report offers 148 policy recommendations that would spur long-awaited, much-needed reforms in fire management. Several proposals would lead to transformational change. “Enabling Beneficial Fire” and “Supporting and Expanding the Workforce” are the two of the most exciting themes that break new ground in policy debates. Bill Tripp, the Karuk Tribe’s Director of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and a longtime member of FUSEE’s Advisory Council, served on the 50 member Commission. His contributions to the Beneficial Fire section are clearly evident. Tribes are repeatedly recognized as the original land stewards who must be further empowered to use beneficial fire. FireGeneration Collaborative, an organization of young firefighters and fire students that FUSEE proudly sponsors, provided testimony to the Commission. FireGen’s call for a larger, more diverse, inclusive workforce that better reflects the communities it serves appears prominently in the report’s Workforce section. The Commission’s final report is now in the hands of a gridlocked Congress. What is needed now is sustained advocacy to push hard for policy implementation. As an independent voice in the fire space, FUSEE can speak freely with both politicians and the press, and will be working hard to make “On Fire” recommendations become realities. Hats off to Commission members for providing such great fuel for all torchbearers for a new fire paradigm!
|
