Spotfire!

Blow-up conditions, fire-freed rocks blasting downhill, and stealthy snags falling without warning remain dangerous on all fires and keep ethical wildland firefighters vigilant for safety. But the privilege of being there often allows intimate observation of rudimentary ecosystem change. 

Grizzly Bear territory in the past, no doubt. Will it become Grizzly territory again? Right now in this area, young subalpine fir and a lot of lodgepole pine seem to be crowding out the white bark pine that Grizzlies favor as food sources.

Lots of wildland fire workers enjoy being a part of the virtuous fire cycle and pridefully protect human structures. But many times unknown circumstances compromise their safety. 

From the air, we got a good look of the millions of years old interplay of wildland fires’ creative destruction and promise of rebirth, renewal and vibrant growth on this landscape of piñon, juniper, and sagebrush. We also saw the encroaching fossil fuel infrastructure that sprawled as gigantic spider webs of pipelines binding derelict carcasses of rusting storage tanks and decaying pump jacks.

I had the pleasure and privilege of representing FUSEE at a 6-day mindfulness retreat for 24 wildland firefighters (current, former, and retired) in mid-January at Great Vow Zen Monastery. Helena put in much of the leg work on FUSEE’s behalf with the three facilitators in planning and leading up to the retreat. Late into the planning process, I asked if I could join and I was tasked with going to observe and help determine whether this would be a good thing for FUSEE to continue to sponsor and support in the future. I also have a background in mental health, prior to my administrative and nonprofit law work, and I worked in few different roles for mental health organizations after majoring in Psychology in college.

Wildland fire workers’ “Ethics” contemplates “Ecology” within the Golden Rule. Sometimes institutional biases prevent participants from doing the right thing, still wildlands abide.

From the plane I saw the herd of elk below. Our airplane and jumpers floating into the meadow jumpspot must have disturbed them. The elk herd began to stampede.

As a society, we cannot function well if misinformation comes from the President of the United States. If Trump chooses to be ignorant or half-informed on issues, that’s our problem. When he shares false narratives with the public to divide people and promote conservative interests over the public interest, we must call him on it and make sure people know he is misleading us. 

The recent fires burning suburban areas of Los Angeles have raised political tensions during widespread property damage and human suffering. Trump used the fire disasters as a wedge issue and to demand that California implement unrelated pro-industry policies. He even demanded that California institute voter suppression laws (voter ID requirements) of the sort that helped him to get elected in swing states. He implied he would withhold federal disaster aid unless his conditions were met.

Maybe after the endless Russiagate recitations America is experiencing “scandal fatigue” with regard to President Musk, or Trump, or whoever is driving this crazy train. Why else would Trump get a pass on the very real scandal emerging from his first two weeks in office?

When Santa Ana winds made a late appearance early in January and found an abundance of available desiccated vegetation, it should have not been surprising that fires would occur. When they did, bringing enormous property damage and lives lost, prominent conservatives attributed the perceived inadequate response to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. They argued that prioritizing DEI initiatives somehow compromised the effectiveness of firefighting efforts.

They came because they grieved a loved one, friend, or fellow wildland firefighter lost to accident or suicide. They came because they grieved the loss of love. They came because they grieved lost time with family members, especially growing children and ailing family members, while on assignment. And they grieved for the earth in a thousand ways.

They came from everywhere: Oregon, Idaho, the Southwest, the Midwest, and Alaska--the latter in most notable numbers. The Alaska Fire Service is embracing mindfulness as valuable skills training for their wildland firefighters. In increasing numbers, fire management agencies are paying travel and training expenses for their employees to attend mindfulness retreats that can last a week or more.

Frontline wildland fire workers usually stay “United” in solidarity for survival when facing danger or “bad deals.” They help each other and enjoy the hardship and hilarity endemic to wildfires. 

Blistering deserts, steep, tall mazes draped in tangled, stoic forests, the Gila can be unforgiving. That’s why you’re gotta trust your wildland firefighting partner to support and be there for you.

Sunset Boulevard lies in ruins in Pacific Palisades where hydrants ran dry, millions are without power, and authorities say the worst is still to come. Some inhabitants are surrounded by large fires, and over a hundred thousand residents are under evacuation orders. There are at least 1,100 structures lost with tens of thousands more in harms way.