FireScape Mendocino Workshop Highlights Collaborative Approach for Fire and Fuels Management

Chris Mallek, Forest Ecologist, Fire Management on 2019 East Fire

WILLIAMS, CA - A diverse group of over 50 people attended the FireScape Mendocino (FSM) workshop on Fire and Fuels Management that was held at the Granzella’s Inn Conference Room in Williams on Tuesday, Nov.  19, 2019.

There were participants representing the following stakeholders:  California Conservation Corps, air and water regulators, Forest Service, Resource Conservation Districts, BLM, Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, Native American Tribes, recreation groups, conservation organizations, CALFIRE, Prescribed Fire Burn Associations, Fire Safe Councils, local government, private land owners, University of California Cooperative Extension, and other interested parties.

Lenya Quinn-Davidson on Community Burning

The morning presentations and discussions covered post Ranch Fire recovery of natural and cultural resources, repair and reopening of roads, trails, and campgrounds, and ongoing volunteer efforts to clear trails and repair other damaged facilities.

Frank Aebly, District Ranger, on North Shore Restoration Project

Mendocino National Forest District Ranger, Frank Aebly, gave a presentation on the North Shore Restoration Project that has a goal to provide a resilient landscape that restores the ecological integrity and connectivity of habitat by promoting a mix of composition, structure, and functional processes.  The Project is designed to promote continued production of ecosystem services and provide fuel reduction and protection within the North Shore Wildland Urban Interface.

District Silviculturist Radek Glebocki presented information about post-fire projects totaling 2,900 acres on the Grindstone Ranger District. The projects will include removing standing dead and dying trees in preparation for planting Douglas-fir, sugar pine and ponderosa pine seedlings.

Forest Ecologist Chris Mallek gave a presentation on the 2019 East Fire and explained the rationale and decision-making process that is involved with managing a fire for resource objectives in the wilderness.

In the afternoon, Lenya Quinn-Davidson and her team from the University of California Cooperative Extension and the Humboldt County Prescribed Burn Association, discussed efforts to create community-led organizations that help build capacity and mobilize residents to protect their homes, property, and communities from intense wildfire.

These local community-based wildfire groups work closely with local fire officials to design and implement hazardous fuel reduction projects that help minimize impacts from wildfires.  Such grassroots projects are mostly performed by land owners and neighbors.

Wrap up discussions showed that participants left the workshop with a greater degree of shared understanding about current and future fire, fuels, and forest management approaches in the region.

The workshop also provides attendees with the opportunity to identify potential partnerships with additional people, organizations, and programs who they can collaborate with to implement multiple shared values in fire, fuels, and forest management contexts.

FSM looks forward to 2020 where more information can be exchanged at community workshops and field trips.  Facilitating community-based prescribed fire training opportunities is also a goal for FSM next year. Thanks to all who attended.

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POST RANCH FIRE RECOVERY - Duty to Engage

Observing/Discussing Ranch Fire Impacts

Core-Team members from FireScape Mendocino toured portions of the Ranch Fire that burned over 400,000 acres on the Mendocino National Forest.   The field trip focused largely on reviewing fire impacts to vegetation, cultural resources, and recreation facilities, with discussions about how FireScape can continue our collaboration with the Forest Service in responding to the fire’s effects.

FireScape Mendocino Core-Team Field Trip

The Ranch Fire was part of the Mendocino Complex Fires that scorched both public and private lands during the “not yet over” 2018 Wildfire Season.

Discussing Burn Severity at Field Trip Stop

FireScape Core-Team members believe the recovery phase of wildfire can bring communities together just as effectively (and at times, even more effectively) than the time before a wildfire.

Temporary Closure of Designated OHV/Multi-Use Trail

As the Forest Service continues to engage in critical post wildfire recovery efforts such as hazard tree removal and soil stabilization activities, FireScape Core-Team members believe that FireScape should help facilitate communication between the agency and the local stakeholder community. Part of this role includes FireScape’s participation in identifying, scoping, and securing approvals for recovery actions, based on collaborative input from our stakeholders.

Hazard Tree Closure Sign

As severe and fatal wildfires continue to impact people, private property, and public lands, let us remember that Wildfire is our Future and WE have a solemn duty and responsibility to engage in a substantive and proactive manner in post wildfire recovery efforts and projects.

Less Severe Burn in Pre-Fire Fuel Reduction Project Area

Watch for future updates from FireScape on post wildfire public engagement opportunities.