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Commissary Fire on the Santa Fe National Forest. Source: US Forest Service.
Using Fire When You Can
In New Mexico and Arizona, firefighters are managing several fires for "resource objectives." What does that mean? It means in places where fires are not threatening lives and property, firefighters can use low intensity fire activity to help restore landscapes, encourage regeneration of tree species, improve wildlife habitat and watershed health by allowing fires to reduce ladder fuels, clean up forest floors and open tree canopies. Read more here.
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6,000 gallon fuel truck to support fire suppression. Source: Burns Municipal Airport.
Solving Fire Response Challenges
the Cohesive Strategy Way
Last year, the Burns Municipal Airport ran out of Jet-A fuel nine times during fire activity in central and eastern Oregon, pushing retardant aircraft farther across the state for refueling; losing critical time and resources to fight fires.
Through the creative, collaborative efforts of the BLM in Oregon and Washington, D.C., the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Burns Fire Department and the Burns Municipal Airport, air tankers will be able to refuel locally thanks to the procurement of a 6,000 gallon fuel tender. The acquisition will result in an improved firefighting response which will positively contribute to the protection and restoration of resilient sagebrush landscapes and rangelands (sage grouse country), and protection of fire-adapted communities. Read more here.
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25 Projects Selected for $3 Million in Grants
The California Fire Safe Council is awarding $3.3 million to projects across the state to improve landscape resiliency and create fire adapted communities. The grants will support hazardous fuels reduction, prevention, education and outreach. Read more here.
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Idaho Governor Butch Otter discusses drought and wildfire. Source: Kathryn Reed.
Western Governors Talk Drought,
Wildfire & Sage-Grouse
The 2015 meeting of the Western Governors' Association was hosted in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The Governors remain committed to finding solutions that affect natural resources across the West. Hot topics included drought, wildfire, and sage-grouse. Read more here.
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From Misinformation to Facts:
The West Fork Fire Tour
from www.facnetwork.org
2013's West Fork Fire Complex on the Rio Grande National Forest in Colorado threatened two towns and the headwaters of the Rio Grande River. It also stirred up a variety of misinformation about how the fire was managed and the effects on the landscape.
Two years later, the social, economic and environmental impacts of that fire are still a concern to stakeholders who are working to improve watershed, forest and community health in the region. This prompted the San Juan Headwaters Forest Health Partnership to initiate a tour of the burn area for the public to see and learn about the fire, what the situation is today and what is planned for the future. Read more about how this successful tour increased the understanding of this fire event and fostered a greater communication between stakeholders here.
In support of Creating Fire Adapted Communities, we will be featuring highlights from the FAC Net blog in each newsletter. Photo: Bill Trimarco, FireWise of Southwest Colorado.
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Upcoming Learning Opportunities
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