Each summer, as we look to the skies, smoke permeates the region from wildfires burning near and far. Our time outdoors becomes limited and concern grows for the health of those close to us and the places we love.
What practices and tools are available to manage fire while allowing fire to play its ecologically vital role as an agent of disturbance?
A number of regional partners that collectively strive to protect our region got together and asked this question. Through a two-part event series, we explored the importance of prescribed fire and how the historical use of fire ties to the work moving forward.
We selected two feature documentaries and followed each one with a panel discussion. During these conversations, we examined how past forest management has contributed to the growth of megafires and how different approaches can better prepare and protect communities. It was a good reminder that all of us, as members of the community, need to be fire aware.
West is Burning Panel Discussion - Recording
Watch the West is Burning Film at:
https://landmarkstories.arizona.edu/screening
password: wildfire
About the film: The West is Burning is a feature-length documentary that reveals the scale of wildfire issues facing the Western United States. The film examines the history of forest management and social conflict that led to the current conditions, which coupled with longer fire seasons, are causing unprecedented destruction. Climate projections anticipate increasing wildfire impact across Oregon’s treasured forested landscapes on both the east and west sides of the state. In the film, unlikely partners come together to improve forest stewardship efforts
Panelists include:
John Punches, Extension Forester for Oregon State University - Moderator
Liz Jessee, Walla Walla Emergency Manager
Mark Klicker, private landowner
Dr. Kerry Kemp, Forest Ecologist with The Nature Conservancy
Resources mentioned during the event:
Walla Walla County residents can sign up for Walla Walla Emergency Management Citizen Alerts at www.wwemd.info
Fire District 4 will help homeowners with assessing property and make recommendations. Phone number: 509-529-1282
Best one-stop point persons for forest risk reduction technical assistance and information about financial assistance:
Oregon (Umatilla County and nearby): Justin Lauer, Acting Unit Forester, Pendleton Unit – Oregon Dept. of Forestry, 541-276-3491
Washington (Walla Walla County and nearby): Andrew Naughton, Natural Resources Specialist, Southeast Region, Washington Department of Natural Resources, 509-899-7711
Catching Fire Panel Discussion Recording
Watch Catching Fire: Prescribed Burning in Northern CA on Youtube at:
About the Film:
Catching Fire tells a compelling story of how a small but committed group of local, tribal, state and federal land managers are bringing back the use of prescribed fire as a tool to protect communities and ecosystems across Northern California. It examines the use of fire by the Karuk Tribe of California, and the connection between the rise of megafires across the West and the last century of fire suppression. Drawing on interviews with fire scientists, tribal and federal land managers, and fire savvy residents from across the North State, this film provides insight on how our relationship to fire can be restored through strategic use of fire as a powerful management tool.
Panelists included:
John Punches, Extension Forester for Oregon State University - Moderator
Kathy McCovey, Archeologist, Karuk Basketweaver, & Cultural Practitioner (featured in the film)
Jeff Casey, Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Fire Management Officer
Andrew Addessi, Supervisory Forester with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR’s) Department of Natural Resources
and Wenix Red Elk, Education & Outreach Coordinator with the (CTUIR’s) Department of Natural Resources.
Resources mentioned during the event:
Granite Gulch Fire - Runtime 6 minutes. The lightning-caused Granite Gulch Fire was reported July 28, 2019 in a remote part of the Eagle Cap Wilderness within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The wildfire was successfully managed to restore natural resources within the Eagle Cap Wilderness.
Wenix mentioned this book: Indians, Fire, and the Land in the Pacific Northwest by Robert Boyd
Andrew referred to this document: First Foods Upland Vision
If you would like to learn about additional resources, contact katy at katy@bmlt.org
Thank you so much for watching! We look forward to providing more content in the future.
These virtual film events are hosted in partnership with Blue Mountain Land Trust, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, My Blue Mountains Woodland Partnership, Oregon State University Extension, Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition, Northern Blues Cohesive Strategy Partnership, The Nature Conservancy, and the Umatilla National Forest, part of the Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
