Forest Service rekindles burn practices with local tribes
In the early morning on Dec. 19, 2023, in the Long Meadow section of Sequoia National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service joined with members of the Tule River Tribe (Tule) and members from other local tribes to take part in a Tachi Yokuts Tribe (Yokuts) cultural tradition that had not been performed on Forest Service land for over 100 years.
In the early morning on Dec. 19, 2023, in the Long Meadow section of Sequoia National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service joined with members of the Tule River Tribe (Tule) and members from other local tribes to take part in a Tachi Yokuts Tribe (Yokuts) cultural tradition that had not been performed on Forest Service land for over 100 years.
Forest Service warns of budget cuts ahead of a risky wildfire season – what that means for safety
These are some of the reasons why an announcement from U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore on Feb. 8, 2024, is raising concerns. Moore told agency employees to expect budget cuts from Congress in 2024. His letter was thin on details. However, taken at face value, budget cuts could be interpreted as a reduction in the firefighting workforce, compounding recruitment and retention challenges that the Forest Service is already facing.
These are some of the reasons why an announcement from U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore on Feb. 8, 2024, is raising concerns. Moore told agency employees to expect budget cuts from Congress in 2024. His letter was thin on details. However, taken at face value, budget cuts could be interpreted as a reduction in the firefighting workforce, compounding recruitment and retention challenges that the Forest Service is already facing.
Indictment of US Forest Service ‘burn boss’ in Oregon could chill ‘good fires’ across the country
A “burn boss” with the U.S. Forest Service is facing unprecedented criminal charges for an escaped prescribed burn in rural Oregon, which may complicate nationwide goals to set low-intensity fires that can thin out excess vegetation and dead wood in overgrown forests to improve forest health and lower the risk of uncontrollable wildfires igniting.
A “burn boss” with the U.S. Forest Service is facing unprecedented criminal charges for an escaped prescribed burn in rural Oregon, which may complicate nationwide goals to set low-intensity fires that can thin out excess vegetation and dead wood in overgrown forests to improve forest health and lower the risk of uncontrollable wildfires igniting.
In Oregon, a youth program prepares vulnerable landowners for wildfires
This is the Community Wildfire Protection Corps, a three-month paid program for young adults ages 19 to 26. It’s backed by state wildfire funding, and run by the Northwest Youth Corps.
The goal is to build fire-safe buffers around homes and infrastructure, with a focus on landowners who are older, disabled or without financial means. In the process, organizers also hope to train some of the next generation of wildland firefighters.
This is the Community Wildfire Protection Corps, a three-month paid program for young adults ages 19 to 26. It’s backed by state wildfire funding, and run by the Northwest Youth Corps.
The goal is to build fire-safe buffers around homes and infrastructure, with a focus on landowners who are older, disabled or without financial means. In the process, organizers also hope to train some of the next generation of wildland firefighters.
Managing fire is vital to the health of our forests
The NWFP, which holds sway over 24 million acres, follows the model in which humans do not interfere with nature. This “preserve” model does not take into account that nature is dynamic, and disturbance is essential to ecology. The popular credo “take only pictures, leave only footprints” fails as land management policy. In particular, the NWFP did not take into account that forests on both sides of the Cascades, but especially the east side, had long been separated from their historic condition and lost much of their resilience and biodiversity. This is the very condition identified as important to spotted owls — dense, multistoried canopies with high vulnerability to crown fire.
The NWFP, which holds sway over 24 million acres, follows the model in which humans do not interfere with nature. This “preserve” model does not take into account that nature is dynamic, and disturbance is essential to ecology. The popular credo “take only pictures, leave only footprints” fails as land management policy. In particular, the NWFP did not take into account that forests on both sides of the Cascades, but especially the east side, had long been separated from their historic condition and lost much of their resilience and biodiversity. This is the very condition identified as important to spotted owls — dense, multistoried canopies with high vulnerability to crown fire.
Many California native plants adapt to fire. Some are threatened by it.
For the native flora here in California, fire is an essential part of their life cycle.
Every year the rainy season brings growth, and plants bloom and set seed, before the dry season brings decay. Fire is like a reset to the whole system, Evan Meyer, the director of the Theodore Payne Foundation, said. “Fire is … as much of the landscape as rain,” Meyer added, “the plants are adapted to it and they expect it.”
For the native flora here in California, fire is an essential part of their life cycle.
Every year the rainy season brings growth, and plants bloom and set seed, before the dry season brings decay. Fire is like a reset to the whole system, Evan Meyer, the director of the Theodore Payne Foundation, said. “Fire is … as much of the landscape as rain,” Meyer added, “the plants are adapted to it and they expect it.”
The perverse policies that fuel wildfires
Gradually, it became clear that fire suppression was wrecking many of the forests it was intended to save. (Among the trees whose seeds require fire to germinate are giant sequoias.) These days, O’Connor writes, the Forest Service likes to boast that it oversees the country’s biggest prescribed-fire program, which burns almost 1.5 million acres a year. But this isn’t nearly enough to make up for what’s become known as the “fire deficit.”
Gradually, it became clear that fire suppression was wrecking many of the forests it was intended to save. (Among the trees whose seeds require fire to germinate are giant sequoias.) These days, O’Connor writes, the Forest Service likes to boast that it oversees the country’s biggest prescribed-fire program, which burns almost 1.5 million acres a year. But this isn’t nearly enough to make up for what’s become known as the “fire deficit.”
In Oregon, a New Program Is Training Burn Bosses to Help Put More “Good Fire” on the Ground
More states and private landowners recognize the importance of prescribed burns to improve forest health and reduce the severity of wildfires, but the lack of firefighters trained to ignite and manage the blazes has slowed progress.
More states and private landowners recognize the importance of prescribed burns to improve forest health and reduce the severity of wildfires, but the lack of firefighters trained to ignite and manage the blazes has slowed progress.
Planning to cut old growth: Proposed revisions to the Northwest Forest Plan could eliminate valuable protections
One notable change is the inclusion of additional national forests in the Klamath and eastern Cascade regions that tend to have dryer and more fire-dependent forest ecosystems than those in the original NWFP.
One notable change is the inclusion of additional national forests in the Klamath and eastern Cascade regions that tend to have dryer and more fire-dependent forest ecosystems than those in the original NWFP.
Timber company sues Forest Service for not putting out 2020 Beachie Fire before blowup
An Oregon timber company has sued the U.S. Forest Service for $33 million for not putting out the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire before it turned into a raging inferno.
An Oregon timber company has sued the U.S. Forest Service for $33 million for not putting out the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire before it turned into a raging inferno.
Indigenous stewardship of forests topic of Feb. 7 Oregon State Science Pub
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Indigenous stewardship of Pacific Northwest forests as a way of increasing forests’ climate resiliency, particularly related to wildfires, will be the topic of Oregon State University’s Science Pub on Feb. 7.
Cristina Eisenberg, a community ecologist and associate dean for inclusive excellence and director of Tribal initiatives in Oregon State’s College of Forestry, and Ashley Russell, a faculty research assistant who works with Eisenberg, will give the talk at 6 p.m. at the Old World Deli in Corvallis. It can be viewed in person or online.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Indigenous stewardship of Pacific Northwest forests as a way of increasing forests’ climate resiliency, particularly related to wildfires, will be the topic of Oregon State University’s Science Pub on Feb. 7.
Cristina Eisenberg, a community ecologist and associate dean for inclusive excellence and director of Tribal initiatives in Oregon State’s College of Forestry, and Ashley Russell, a faculty research assistant who works with Eisenberg, will give the talk at 6 p.m. at the Old World Deli in Corvallis. It can be viewed in person or online.
Climate changing: Research shows times for ‘prescribed burns’ in the West shifting
Deciding when and where to conduct prescribed burns is becoming increasingly important as the climate warms, and, according to a recent study, the timing and frequency of appropriate weather will also play a larger role.
Prescribed burns are an essential tool land managers use in reducing fuel availability for extreme wildfires, and conditions favorable to prescribed burns will become far less frequent in much of the West, especially the Southwest, according to a study published in October 2023 in Communications Earth & Environment.
However, the study found that parts of the northern Rocky Mountains will have more days to use prescribed burns, especially during the early and late winter months.
Deciding when and where to conduct prescribed burns is becoming increasingly important as the climate warms, and, according to a recent study, the timing and frequency of appropriate weather will also play a larger role.
Prescribed burns are an essential tool land managers use in reducing fuel availability for extreme wildfires, and conditions favorable to prescribed burns will become far less frequent in much of the West, especially the Southwest, according to a study published in October 2023 in Communications Earth & Environment.
However, the study found that parts of the northern Rocky Mountains will have more days to use prescribed burns, especially during the early and late winter months.
Lessons learned from the Bighorn Fire
Even though the fire burned more than 120,000 acres, people's properties were kept safe and as a whole, the fire was deemed a success in that regard.
Tim Ingalsbee with the Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology said, "What they knew from the get-go is that there would be some benefit to fire, and so we are still trying to contain that fire and keep it away from communities." That is exactly what happened.
Even though the fire burned more than 120,000 acres, people's properties were kept safe and as a whole, the fire was deemed a success in that regard.
Tim Ingalsbee with the Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology said, "What they knew from the get-go is that there would be some benefit to fire, and so we are still trying to contain that fire and keep it away from communities." That is exactly what happened.
Our tinderbox world: Wildfires and risk reduction
“The following websites and organizations can help you identify and implement a number of concrete actions that could protect your community or your own family and residence from wildfires:…Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology (ecological fire management), Indigenous Peoples Burning Network…”
“The following websites and organizations can help you identify and implement a number of concrete actions that could protect your community or your own family and residence from wildfires:…Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology (ecological fire management), Indigenous Peoples Burning Network…”
Reactions from PNW on nationwide directive to protect old-growth forests
The United States Forest Service, under the directive of the United States Department of Agriculture, has announced plans to apply consistent standards to the conservation, restoration and maintenance of old-growth across the country’s national forests.
It’s a first of its kind standard that many say is necessary, given threats from climate change and varied management practices.
“I would say it's historic,” said Josh Hicks, director of conservation campaigns with The Wilderness Society.
The United States Forest Service, under the directive of the United States Department of Agriculture, has announced plans to apply consistent standards to the conservation, restoration and maintenance of old-growth across the country’s national forests.
It’s a first of its kind standard that many say is necessary, given threats from climate change and varied management practices.
“I would say it's historic,” said Josh Hicks, director of conservation campaigns with The Wilderness Society.
More protections coming for old-growth forests under federal plans
America’s oldest trees, most of which are in the West, will get added protection from wildfire and climate change under updated forest plans from the U.S. Forest Service.
In announcements over the past week, officials from the Forest Service said they would begin the process of amending forest management plans affecting all 128 of the agency’s forest and grasslands, including the Northwest Forest Plan governing federal forests in northern California, Oregon and Washington. The amendments, both nationally and in the Northwest, are meant to bolster forest health to combat climate change and to further protect the last of the nation’s old-growth trees, many of which have been threatened by growing wildfires, drought and diseases.
America’s oldest trees, most of which are in the West, will get added protection from wildfire and climate change under updated forest plans from the U.S. Forest Service.
In announcements over the past week, officials from the Forest Service said they would begin the process of amending forest management plans affecting all 128 of the agency’s forest and grasslands, including the Northwest Forest Plan governing federal forests in northern California, Oregon and Washington. The amendments, both nationally and in the Northwest, are meant to bolster forest health to combat climate change and to further protect the last of the nation’s old-growth trees, many of which have been threatened by growing wildfires, drought and diseases.
Debate intensifies over conservation of PNW’s old growth forests
The fight over the future of the last old and mature forests in America intensified Tuesday when the Biden administration called for preservation of old-growth trees.
The administration, after creating an inventory of the nation’s old growth, wants to amend 128 forest land-management plans to conserve and steward 25 million acres of old-growth forests and 68 million acres of mature forest across the national forest system.
For the Pacific Northwest — home to much of the nation’s remaining old forests — an effort is already underway to overhaul and update key old-growth protections in the Northwest Forest Plan of 1994, one of the world’s most ambitious conservation plans. More than 1 million acres of old and mature forest in Washington, Oregon and Northern California that were explicitly set aside for logging within the boundaries of the plan are under scrutiny.
The fight over the future of the last old and mature forests in America intensified Tuesday when the Biden administration called for preservation of old-growth trees.
The administration, after creating an inventory of the nation’s old growth, wants to amend 128 forest land-management plans to conserve and steward 25 million acres of old-growth forests and 68 million acres of mature forest across the national forest system.
For the Pacific Northwest — home to much of the nation’s remaining old forests — an effort is already underway to overhaul and update key old-growth protections in the Northwest Forest Plan of 1994, one of the world’s most ambitious conservation plans. More than 1 million acres of old and mature forest in Washington, Oregon and Northern California that were explicitly set aside for logging within the boundaries of the plan are under scrutiny.
Next Thanksgiving, Smokey Bear should talk about climate change
In an excellent story timed to Smokey’s 75th birthday in 2019, HuffPost reporter Chris D’Angelo made the case that the federal fire-prevention campaign “may be a net negative for the environment.” He talked with experts who told him that the bear’s “only you can prevent wildfires” message had obscured the important role that natural fire plays in healthy forest ecosystems.
In an excellent story timed to Smokey’s 75th birthday in 2019, HuffPost reporter Chris D’Angelo made the case that the federal fire-prevention campaign “may be a net negative for the environment.” He talked with experts who told him that the bear’s “only you can prevent wildfires” message had obscured the important role that natural fire plays in healthy forest ecosystems.
Fighting wildfires: Young people are going into fire service and science careers
More frequently, those living in fire-prone areas are turning to groups who have coexisted with fire for generations. Controlled, intentional burns and other strategies enable the landscape and wildlife to thrive, mitigating climate change and offsetting future wildfires. “The way that I was raised, we look at resources as relatives. It is our obligation to take care of them,” Mahseelah says. “Our tribe practiced fire management long before we were on the reservation. Fire is medicine, it's rebirth, regeneration, cleansing. It is needed.”
More frequently, those living in fire-prone areas are turning to groups who have coexisted with fire for generations. Controlled, intentional burns and other strategies enable the landscape and wildlife to thrive, mitigating climate change and offsetting future wildfires. “The way that I was raised, we look at resources as relatives. It is our obligation to take care of them,” Mahseelah says. “Our tribe practiced fire management long before we were on the reservation. Fire is medicine, it's rebirth, regeneration, cleansing. It is needed.”
Two years with America’s elite firefighters
A report published this year by the University of Washington concluded that on average, the base monthly pay of federal firefighters, including hotshots, was about 41 percent less than their counterparts in state agencies.
The pay disparity is at the heart of the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, legislation that would raise the base pay of entry level federal firefighters by 42 percent. The bill is currently pending before Congress.
A report published this year by the University of Washington concluded that on average, the base monthly pay of federal firefighters, including hotshots, was about 41 percent less than their counterparts in state agencies.
The pay disparity is at the heart of the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, legislation that would raise the base pay of entry level federal firefighters by 42 percent. The bill is currently pending before Congress.