Wildfire

The impacts of the last three years of drought are finally manifesting themselves throughout the Pacific Northwest. Douglas firs have been affected the most, dying off and peppering the landscape with burnt-orange needles. The die-offs come despite a rather wet winter, as recent drought and associated beetle infestations stressed the trees. In certain areas, cold, dry east winds from last winter froze the foliage of many coniferous trees, leaving trees green on one side and orange on the other.

In partnership with the Southeastern Cohesive Wildland Fire Strategy Coordinator, the office of the Southern Regional Extension Forester (SREF) is pleased to announce the updated Southeastern Strategy website, now with new resources that serve to increase landscape resiliency and community protection and ensure a safe, effective and risk-based fire response.

In 2015 the United States witnessed one of the worst fire seasons on record. Over 10 million acres burned as the result of unprecedented high temperatures and record low snowpack and rainfall in the American West.

By Greg Pilchak

On May 31^st, Alaska State Forester Chris Maisch testified at the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Field Hearing in Kenai, Alaska. Maisch detailed the impacts of the 2015 fire season and offered recommendations for minimizing the negative impacts of wildfire on public safety and recreation, while at the same time recognizing the role that wildland fire plays in forest ecosystems.

Last Thursday, Kevin Conran, Idaho Falls District Bureau of Land Management Fire Mitigation and Education Specialist, received the Silver Smokey Bear Award, recognizing his outstanding regional wildfire prevention service.

By Greg Pilchak

On Wednesday, May 25^th, leaders on the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee released draft legislation whose goal is to improve wildfire budgeting and forest management. The bipartisan legislation is the culmination of recent Committee efforts to examine and find solutions to problems such as “fire borrowing,” the speed of environmental reviews, and fire suppression strategies.

By Greg Pilchak

At the annual Governor Wildland Fire Briefing, Nevada fire officials met with the governor to plan for the upcoming summer fire season. It's one they expect to be especially bad this year. 

So firefighters are gearing up and feel confident that they're prepared with enough personnel and equipment this season. But they also want you to be ready for fire danger this summer. 

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group has announced the recipients for the 2015 Wildfire Emergency Medical Service Awards.

The annual awards program, sponsored by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s Incident Emergency Medical Subcommittee (IEMS), recognizes and honors individuals and/or organizations who have demonstrated outstanding work, actions or programs in emergency medical service for our Nation’s wildland firefighters.