Wildfire Wednesday #31: Real Estate and Wildfire Risk - Fire Has a Role - Firewood for Elders

Hi FAC NM Members,

Good news. If stored properly, some of the flammable vegetation that you may have cleared from the 30’ area around your house will make great firewood as we head into the colder months. I hope you all are healthy, safe, and warm.

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday features:

• An online discussion about the real estate industry’s response to increased wildfire risk

• Fire Has a Role: An Educational Campaign

• Success Story: EMNRD Forestry Division and Partners Provide Fuelwood to New Mexico Native American Tribes During COVID-19 Restrictions

 Best,

Gabe

Calling all Real Estate Agents

Bigger, hotter, and more frequent wildfires are causing increasing amounts of infrastructure destruction, economic hardship, and trauma across the United States. Join the Urban Land Institute (ULI) for a discussion on why wildfire risks and impacts are increasing around the U.S. and how the real estate industry is responding with building design, land use policy, and community resilience solutions. The webinar will feature private- and public-sector experts who are implementing wildfire resilience solutions in their markets and who will share best practices and lessons learned. The webinar will also feature key findings from a new ULI report on wildfire resilience and real estate, to be published Fall 2020.

Webinar Friday, October 30th, at 11:00am mountain time.

To Register for the Webinar, Click Here.

Fire Has a Role

For those of you that missed the presentation at WUFS last week, be sure to check out Fire has a Role. Fire Has a Role is a wildfire awareness campaign focused on sharing the benefits of fire. They have an interactive educational trailer that can be brought to events to help share information with the public about the ecological role of fire.

You can connect with Fire Has a Role by clicking here

EMNRD Forestry Division and Partners Provide Fuelwood to New Mexico Native American Tribes During COVID-19 Restrictions 

SANTA FE, NM – The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Forestry Division, and its cooperators are working in partnership with New Mexico’s Native American Tribes, Pueblos, and Nations to help elderly and other residents unable to gather fuelwood due to a court-ordered injunction against forest management in Mexican spotted owl habitat and COVID-19 restrictions.

To read the full story, click here.

Wildfire Wednesdays #30: Wildfire Wednesdays Live - Summary of Funding Opportunities

Hi FAC NM Members,

Our thoughts are with Mora and Colfax County communities that are being effected by the Luna Fire burning on The Carson National Forest. We especially recognize the hard work of our first responders during the 2020 fire season.

We can all support our first responders by opening up discussion about wildfire preparedness in our communities and by taking action to get good fire back on the landscape. Talk to your neighbors about the difference between prescribed fire and wildfire. If you don’t know what to say, use the FAC NM network to find the best available information about your concerns.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

• Wildfire Wednesday Live: Meet Research Ecologist Ellis Margolis

• A Summary of Funding Opportunities for Wildfire Mitigation

Thanks!

Gabe

Wildfire Wednesdays Live: Meet Research Ecologist Ellis Margolis

Join us tonight at 6 p.m. (MT) to learn more about how dendrochronology (the study of tree rings) informs our understanding of fire’s role in forest ecosystems! We will be monitoring and answering questions during the Wildfire Wednesday Live Event hosted by the Greater Santa Fireshed Coalition.

To access the livestream, click here. https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF

Featured Speaker: Ellis Margolis, Ph.D. - Research Ecologist at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) New Mexico Landscapes Field Station, based in Santa Fe, NM. #WildfireWednesday

 

A Summary of Funding Opportunities for Wildfire Mitigation

This is an excellent resource. Have you wondered how to get funding to complete wildfire mitigation projects in your community?

Take a look at the attached document to see a list of funding opportunities that are available to you in New Mexico. Be aware that some of these opportunities are internal to agencies and would require collaboration with your local agency representatives. Reach out to others in the FAC NM network if you have questions about how to approach these various programs.

To view the full summary, click here.

Wildfire Wednesdays #29: Becoming a FAC NM Leader - Pyne Article - Virtual Fire Summit

Hi FAC NM Members,  

There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon for FAC NM in 2021. In the wake of the uncharacteristically destructive 2020 wildfire season, we all want to develop the community connections and wildfire mitigation projects that will keep us safe in 2021. To help us make strides towards a community wildfire resilience, help FAC NM identify and recruit community leaders this Fall and Winter! Full details are below.  

This Wildfire Wednesdays features:  

• Information on recruiting or becoming a FAC NM Leader for your community 

• Why We Must Learn to Live with Fire: An Article by Stephen Pyne 

• 2020 Virtual Wildland Urban Fire Summit Next Week: Join for Free! 

Thanks,  

Gabe 

Becoming a FAC NM Leader  

FAC NM Leaders take a greater role in helping their communities improve their fire adaptation. A FAC NM Leader is someone you or your neighbor can look to for advice on what to do to reduce wildfire risk. FAC NM Leaders are the engine of the FAC NM Network. Experience has shown that collaboration is one of the most effective ways to reduce wildfire risk. Sharing resources, whether they be financial, labor, or ideas, helps FAC NM Leaders have an outsized impact in their communities. Collaboration only works if there are active participants. Organizing community chipper days, responding to a question on the FAC NM forum, sharing a success story about a neighborhood firewood removal program are all examples of how FAC NM Leaders can help drive the FAC NM Network. 

To help guide FAC NM Leaders through the process of becoming and acting in this important role in their communities, FAC NM members collaborated to create the FAC NM Leader Guidebook. The Guidebook will empower FAC NM Leaders to find solutions and next steps, not necessarily provide them. It provides an overview of a few well-established methods for assessing wildfire risk, identifying community assets, proactively planning for widlfire preparedness, and other useful planning tools. The Guidebook, nor the FAC NM Leader program in general, is meant to replace any already established programs or tools.  

How to join the network as a Leader: 

In summary, the process to become a FAC NM Leader is: 

1.      Join the FAC NM Network as a member on https://facnm.org/directory and select that you would like to become a Leader. 

2.      Complete the short FAC NM Leader form, (click the button below) 

3.      Connect with a FAC mentor (facilitated by FAC NM staff) 

4.      Complete the FAC NM Leader Assessment and review with FAC mentor 

5.      Upload completed FAC NM Leader Assessment to the “FAC NM Leader Assessments” forum category on www.facnm.org. 

6.      Congratulations, you’re now a FAC NM Leader! Keep up the good work!  

Our Burning Planet: Why We Must Learn to Live with Fire 

KYLE GRILLOT/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

By suppressing all wildfires and incessantly burning fossil fuels, humans have upset the role that fire has historically played in providing ecological balance. We need to rethink our view of fire and accept its presence by changing how we manage lands and plan our communities. 

In his article “Our Burning Planet: Why We Must Learn to Live with Fire,” environmental and fire historian Stephen Pyne describes three important paradoxes:  

1. The more people attempt to take fire out of places that have co-evolved or co-existed with it, the more conditions change that worsen the fire scene. 

1. Despite the expansion of feral flames, so abundantly recorded in global media, the amount of land burned on Earth continues to shrink. 

1. As we ratchet down our binge-burning of lithic landscapes by cutting our use of fossil fuels, we will have to ratchet up our burning of living landscapes. 

To read the full article, click here. 

2020 Virtual Wildland Urban Fire Summit: Join for Free 

Join this informative event, next week. 

Fire season is a challenging time let alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local governments, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations that have a passion for fire prevention will host a virtual NM Wildland Urban Fire Summit (WUFS) on Thursday, October 22 and Friday October 23, 2020. The event provides a continuous effort among community leaders, fire responders, and government personnel to share the latest techniques, cohesive strategies, and resources for wildfire adaption and economic resiliency, wildfire preparedness, and planning.   

Registration is open until the day of the summit at no charge. Registration is available at https://www.nmcounties.org/calendar/.   

Wildfire Wednesdays #28: Wildfire Wednesdays Live - Forest Birds and Megafires

Hi FAC NM Members,

Tonight we are debuting Wildfire Wednesdays Live! Pop some popcorn or grab your favorite snack and tune in to the first speaker of the series. But first, if you are only on our mailing list, please take 2 minutes to sign up to FAC NM as a member. This helps us build the community connections that are essential to wildfire resilience. Click here to join the network as a FAC NM member.

This week’s Wildfire Wednesdays features:

• Information about the first Wildfire Wednesdays Live with speaker Jame Melonas, Forest Supervisor and community leader for The Santa Fe National Forest.

• An article from The Audubon Society about how megafires effect forest birds, such as owls and woodpeckers

Best,

Gabe

Tonight at 6pm: Wildfire Wednesdays Live Speaker Series!

Please join us for the kickoff of Wildfire Wednesdays Live tonight, October 7th at 6:00pm. James Melonas, The Santa Fe National Forest Supervisor, will give a (re)-introduction to the concept of a ‘Fireshed.’

To access the livestream, click here. https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF

The event will be streamed over the Santa Fe National Forest’s Facebook page. Go to the page to watch!

FAC NM is excited to feature Wildfire Wednesdays Live. This speaker series shares weekly presentations with forestry and fire personalities around the Santa Fe area that can inform our local conversations about wildfire prevention and preparedness. Although many aspects of these presentations will only apply to The Santa Fe landscape, they may provide useful education elsewhere and potentially spur additional endeavors by others in the FAC NM network. Please join us for the kickoff of Wildfire Wednesdays Live tonight, October 7th at 6:00pm. Come for the speakers, stay for the interactive Q&A in the chat.

Recent ‘Megafires’ Imperil Even Fire-Loving Forest Birds

Many birds, such as owls and woodpeckers, thrive in forest habitats created after fire. But the hotter, bigger, more destructive megafires out West might be too much even for them. A recent article by Deborah Petersen with The Audubon Society tells the story of how over 20 years of Spotted Owl Research in California was used to better understand how Spotted Owls respond to fires. This research provides a window into what might occur in the future if more fires continue to grow in frequency and severity, which they are predicted to.

To read the full story, click here.

Wildfire Wednesdays #27: Wildfire Wednesdays Live! - FAC NM Leader Profile - Era of Megafires -

Hi FAC NM Members,

Fall provides an important time to reflect. After a busy spring and summer, let’s take some time to acknowledge what worked and what didn’t in our wildfire preparedness and community resilience activities. This is how the network can grow and adapt through time. Please share your stories with us at FAC NM!

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday features:

• Wildfire Wednesdays Live Speaker Series: Debut October 7th, 6:00pm

• FAC NM Leader Profile: Sean Ludden, Cuidad Soil and Water Conservation District

• A 20-minute version of Paul Hessburg’s Era of Megafires

Best,

Gabe

Wildfire Wednesdays Live Speaker Series Debut!

FAC NM is excited to feature Wildfire Wednesdays Live. This speaker series will share weekly presentations with forestry and fire personalities around the Santa Fe area that can inform our local conversations about wildfire prevention and preparedness. Although many aspects of these presentations will only apply to The Santa Fe landscape, they may provide useful education elsewhere and potentially spur additional endeavors by others in the FAC NM network. Presentations will be livestreamed through The Santa Fe National Forest Facebook and weekly links will be provided in our regular Wildfire Wednesdays newsletters. Please join us for the kickoff of Wildfire Wednesdays Live on October 7th at 6:00pm. Come for the speakers, stay for the interactive Q&A in the chat. Save-the-date and stay tuned for more information.

FAC NM Leader Profile: Sean Ludden, Cuidad Soil and Water Conservation District

All the uncertainty and unexpected changes of 2020 have forced us, and the ways we interact, to adapt. Sharing information about forest management and wildfire preparedness during covid-19 social distancing guidelines has been no exception.

In response to social distancing challenges, FAC NM Leader Sean Ludden with Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District, began thinking creatively about how he could reach members of his community in the Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque, NM (East Mountains) about forest and fire management while meeting social distancing guidelines.

To read the full story about FAC NM Leader Sean Ludden, click here.

Era of Megafires: Now Available to the Public

Trailer for Era of Megafires, for full film, click the link below

Megafires, wildfires over 100,000 acres, are currently burning our western landscape. How did we get here and what can be done about it? Dr. Paul Hessburg, research landscape ecologist for the US Forest Service, has spent the last 40 years learning about how we got here and what can be done about it.

Watch the full film here: https://vimeo.com/313468778

Wildfire Wednesdays #26: Virtual WUI Summit (WUFS) - How do Homes Burn?

Hi FAC NM Members,  

With so many motivated individuals involved in the FAC NM network there is always something to share through Wildfire Wednesdays. This week I am excited to help promote The 2020 virtual Wildland Urban Fire Summit. If you or those in your community would like to share information or an event through Wildfire Wednesday, please reach out.  

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday features:  

• Information about the 2020 Virtual Wildland Urban Fire Summit 

• A Video by the National Fire Protection Assocition (NFPA) about how homes ignite from wildfire. 

Stay connected,  

Gabe 

The 2020 Virtual Wildland Urban Fire Summit: Register Today! 

Fire season is a challenging time let alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local governments, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations that have a passion for fire prevention will host a virtual NM Wildland Urban Fire Summit (WUFS) on Thursday, October 22 and Friday October 23, 2020. The event provides a continuous effort among community leaders, fire responders, and government personnel to share the latest techniques, cohesive strategies, and resources for wildfire adaption and economic resiliency, wildfire preparedness, and planning.  

Registration is open until the day of the summit at no charge. Registration is available at https://www.nmcounties.org/calendar/.  

How do Homes Burn Down in Wildfires? 

Hint: They're not typically overcome by flames. As historic wildfires sweep the western United States, this episode of Learn Something New by NFPA Journal examines the facts of home wildfire ignition and some of the things homeowners can do right now to protect their properties. 

To check Check out this awesome video and find ways that you can protect your home, click here.  

Wildfire Wednesdays #25: Wildfire Podcasts - Virtual Wildland Fire Conference - COCO Grant Opportunity

Hi FAC NM Members,

Strengthening the wildfire resilience of our communities is an incremental process that requires having challenging conversations year round, even when there is not wildfire smoke in the air. As FAC NM members we are helping to start these conversations in our communities and amplifying the importance of community building and wildfire mitigation. As we move into the cooler months, we encourage you to open up a conversation about potential wildfire effects with those in your community. Help us grow the network and amplify the need for wildfire preparedness across the state!

This Wildfire Wednesdays newsletter includes:

• Two podcasts that provide interesting and useful information about wildfire

• Information about the 2020 Colorado Wildland Fire Conference

• The Action, Implementation, and Mitigation grant program

Thank you!

Gabe

Wildfire Podcasts

If you haven’t already explored the world of podcasts, a podcast is a series of spoken word audio files that a user can download or listen to online – basically a radio-show you can listen to whenever you want. Podcasts are a great way to learn about new ideas and serve as great conversation starters. Here are a couple podcasts that do a good job of talking about wildfire and wildfire preparedness.

Hot and Dry is an excellent podcast about how climate change is affecting the Southwest and what we can do about it. Episodes discuss how we can live with wildfire, prescribed and managed fire, the wildland urban interface (WUI), The Rio Grande Water Fund, and much more.

To begin listening to Hot and Dry, click here.

Life Kit: 6 Ways to Get Ready for a Wildfire is a 14 minute NPR podcast that features an interview with FAC NM member Porfirio Chavarria who is a Wildland Urban Specialist with The City of Santa Fe Fire Department. This short podcast provides clear, step-by-step guidance for wildfire preparedness.

To listen to Life Kit: 6 Ways to Get Ready for Wildfire, click here.

Colorado Virtual Wildland Fire Conference

Discover Your Role: Reducing Wildland Fire Risk

September 30th, 8:15am – 2:30pm; October 1st, 8:15am – 1:00pm

One of the only good things about social distancing is being able to attend amazing workshops and events virtually. In just a couple weeks, The Southern Rockies Fire Science Network is hosting the Colorado Wildland Fire Conference and you can join into the event from your couch.

To learn more about this event and to register online, click here

Action, Implementation, and Mitigation Grant Opportunity!

COCO has released the Concept Paper and Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Fall 2020 Action, Implementation and Mitigation (AIM) grant. COCO will be accepting Concept Papers though October 8, 2020 until 5:00 PM MT. Click here for the RFP and instructions. Download the Concept Paper here or from the AIM Grant Page.

To learn more about this grant opportunity, COCO is hosting the Fall 2020 Grant Announcement Webinar on September 17, 2020 at 11:00 AM MT. If you are not yet registered, please register here.

Please share this opportunity with colleagues and organizations working on reducing their community's wildfire risk. For more information, please visit co-co.org.

Wildfire Wednesdays #24: Wildfire Hazard Explorer - Living with Wildland Fire: Virtual Learning Opportunity

Hello FAC NM Members, 

The devastating wildfires burning in California, Oregon, and Washington serve as a grim reminder of the risk of wildfire across the west. Thank you all for continuing to stay engaged in making incremental progress toward wildfire adaptation and helping us bring new people and perspectives into this effort.  As we head into the fall, it is a great time to open up conversations about our community’s wildfire risk with those that live nearby.

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday features:  

• A New Interactive Wildfire Hazard Explorer by The National Association of State Foresters 

• A virtual shared learning series: Living with Wildland Fire 

Stay Safe,  

Gabe 

Online Wildfire Hazard Explorer 

The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) has gone live with their Wildfire Hazard Explorer portal at https://hazexplorer.com/home.  The NASF developed this portal so that a user could easily locate links to available risk assessments, hazard maps, burn probability maps and similar data.  This tool is a great way to gain a deeper understanding of your community’s wildfire risk and to communicate that risk to those that live nearby.

This hazard explorer tool was made possible through funding from the U.S. Forest Service provided.  NASF will continue to host the portal and keep it updated as new information becomes available.  This effort complements the recent work to develop the https://wildfirerisk.org/ tool.   

The western region of the Fire Leadership Council presents: A Living with Wildland Fire Shared Learning Experience

Assessing Firesheds for Prioritization, Planning and Investment 

Tuesday, September 29, 2020 - 3pm MT 

Dr. Alan Ager will be updating us on the advancements in the development of this national “fireshed” dataset and how it can be used to assist decision-makers in prioritizing, planning and investing in cross-boundary, large landscape-level treatments in alignment with the Cohesive Strategy concept of sharing risk and responsibility to achieve landscape resiliency, fire adapted communities and a safe, effective wildfire response. 

Click here to register 

Wildfire Wednesdays #23: After the Wildfire New Mexico - Stories from The Medio Wildfire

Hi FAC NM Members,

Although firefighters are continuing to wrap up wildfires from the 2020 season, the majority are contained. At this point, Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams are beginning to assess post-fire conditions with goal of analyzing how wildfires impacted the landscape, determining if there are values at immediate risk, and recommending emergency treatments. This is part of the recovery process from wildfire, and is an important part of being fire adapted.

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday features:

• The After the Wildfire New Mexico website for post-fire resources

• Some perspectives on The Medio wildfire that burned close to Santa Fe

Best,

Gabe

After the Wildfire

Experiencing a destructive wildfire can be devastating. This guide was written to help New Mexico communities recover after wildfire. It includes information on how to mobilize your community, a list of resources available to communities and individuals for assistance, and a technical guide with information about post-fire treatments to address the catastrophic effects of a wildfire on the land and to prepare for potential flooding. If you are reading this guide before a wildfire occurs, use it to help you plan ahead.

This guide is intended to provide useful information during this difficult time, and to start you on the road to recovery.

To visit After the Wildfire New Mexico, click here.

For more post-fire resources, check our New Mexico Fire Information, click here.  

Stories from The Medio Wildfire

The Medio Wildfire, which burned around 5 square miles just north of Santa Fe, has been a visible reminder of the risk that New Mexico communities face from wildfire. Many hope that this wildfire will raise consciousness around wildfire risk and encourage homeowners, agency representatives, firefighters, and others to work together for wildfire preparedness.

There have been many news articles about the Medio fire. We would like to share some articles that have done a good job telling the story of the Medio fire from different perspectives.

An article by Ceder Attanasio, with the Associated Press, puts the story of the Medio wildfire within the context of increasing wildfire nationwide and highlights the importance of community mitigation. To read the Attanasio’s article about the Medio fire, click here.

Another article, “A Closer Look at the Medio Fire,” by Leah Cantor, provides an in depth description of the fire management tactics that were used to fight the Medio fire and the role that fuel reduction treatments, prescribed fire, and community mitigation played in shaping the decision making space of the incident command team. To read “A Closer Look at the Medio Fire,” click here.

Finally, an article by the NM Political Report, describes how indigenous activists from The Three Sisters Collective created a citizen led solution to help people suffering from the effects of wildfire smoke. To read the article about The Three Sisters Collective’s response to the Medio wildfire, click here.

Wildfire Wednesdays #22: Wildfire Wednesdays #22: DIY Smoke Filter - Accurate Wildfire Information Websites

Hi FACNM Members,

Smoke is in the air and wildfire season is still underway. With drought across northern New Mexico, fuel moistures are abnormally low, and wildfires continue to burn within the dry fuels.

Although northern New Mexico received a close to normal amount of snow during the 2019-2020 water year, the timing of that snow was early in the season, creating the dry, late summer conditions that firefighters are working within.

To help you stay informed and provide some relief from smoke, this Wildfire Wednesday includes:

• Instructional video for creating a DIY HEPA air filter for around $25

• Webpages for finding accurate, up-to-date wildfire information

Best,

Gabe

Find Relief from Wildfire Smoke: Create a DIY Smoke Filter for around $25

With wildfire smoke from New Mexico and nearby Colorado wildfires, you may be looking for some relief. Although The Fireshed Coalition coordinates a HEPA filter loan program, we are currently out of filters for loaning out. Below are some alternative options for managing the health effects from wildfire smoke in your home.

• Make your own HEPA filter with parts from a local hardware store for about $25. To view a video produced by a University of Michigan Health experts, click here.  

• Follow precautions to stay safe from smoke without a HEPA filter. To read some ways that you can limit your exposure to smoke, click here.

• Purchase a HEPA air cleaner. To view some useful information about purchasing a HEPA filter for your home on our website, click here.

Wildfire Information across New Mexico

For the most accurate and up-to-date information on wildfires and fire restrictions across New Mexico subscribe to the New Mexico Fire Information mailing list by visiting nmfireinfo.com. New Mexico Fire information is an interagency effort by federal and state agencies in New Mexico to provide timely, accurate fire and restriction information for the entire state. The website is updated as new information is available.

To follow a wildfire incident longer-term,  after it has been described on New Mexico Fire Information, you can visit The Incident Information System at inciweb.nwcg.gov. The Incident Information System, commonly referred to as inciweb, is an interagency all-risk incident information management system that was designed to: 1. Provide the public a single source of incident related information, and 2. Provide a standardized reporting tool for the Public Affairs community. This tool has an interactive map viewer that allows you to see all the wildfires that are active across the state and across the entire country.

Wildfire Wednesdays #21: Aspen Regeneration - Fall Fire and Fuels Youth Corps

Hi FACNM Members,

Part of being a Fire Adapted Community is understanding the forests that surround our homes and communities, including the role of wildfire within these forests. This understanding can help us learn what to expect during fire season, and make us better prepared to respond and recover from wildfire in our area. Aside from protecting lives and property, we may also gain a more nuanced understanding of the effects of wildfire and other ecosystem disturbances within these forested systems.

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday features a new resource about Aspen regeneration in forests across the Rocky Mountains of Northern New Mexico.

Best,

Gabe

Aspen Next Generation

In the Rocky Mountains of Northern New Mexico, Aspen trees are especially important, and have an interesting relationship with wildfire. Aspen trees are a favorite to many New Mexicans because they add beauty to landscapes, foster high diversity and productivity of understory plants, provide habitat to many species, and burn with moderate fire behavior.

Some are concerned that Aspen trees and stands are not regenerating well in New Mexico; young cohorts are scarce in many areas. The Aspen Next Generation (ANG) Project aims to foster the future of aspen by pulling together insights from landowners, agency personnel and scientists across southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The report features place-based conversation summaries that include Chama and the Jemez Mountains of northwestern New Mexico, Vermejo Park in north central New Mexico, and the Culebra Range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in south central Colorado.

To read the insights gathered in their report: click here.

The Forest Stewards Fall Fire and Fuels Crew

As wildfire activity in the Southwest winds down with the arrival of the monsoon season, other parts of the country are just getting going. As a result, many firefighting resources in the Southwest are deployed to other parts of the country, limiting local capacity to implement prescribed burns during prime burn windows. Prescribed fire is a necessary tool used by land managers to reduce wildfire risk and restore resilience to forests. The fall FSYC fire and fuels program helps fill this gap in capacity. This Monday, August 17th, the Forest Stewards Youth Corps began their training for the Fall 2020 season.

The fall FSYC program prepares participants for careers in natural resource management by providing them with training and certifications in:

• National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Basic Wildland Fire Fighting (S-130/190)

• Wildland fire chainsaw use (S-212)

• CPR and first-aid

• Defensive driving

• Forestry

• Leadership development

• Job skills such as resume and cover letter writing, and

• New Mexico Forest Worker Safety.

The Forest Stewards Guild is currently hiring one more crew member to the Mountainair crew. If you know someone in this area between 18-25 that is a certified type II wildland firefighter, please contact Gabe at 509-844-3048.

Wildfire Wednesdays #20: Prescribed Fire on Private Land - Healthy Soils Webinar

Hi FACNM Members  

As we head into the late summer, many land management agencies and private forest owners are preparing to implement prescribed fire. Prescribed fire is a useful tool to help reduce surface fuel loads, decrease wildfire risk, improve understory vegetation growth, and improve forest health in many forest types across New Mexico. The process of planning and implementing prescribed fire is challenging, but not impossible, for private landowners.  

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday features: 

• A Forest Stewards Guild publication titled “Prescribed Fire on Private Land in New Mexico” 

• A webinar series about soil health in Piñion-Juniper woodlands 

Best,  

Gabe 

Prescribed Fire on Private Land in New Mexico 

If you have ever wondered about the legal framework for implementing prescribed fire on private lands in New Mexico, please check out the 2019 report by The Forest Stewards Guild titled, “Prescribed Fire on Private Land in New Mexico.” This report is an update to their 2017 report titled, “Controlled burning on private land in New Mexico,” and describes the many programs and authorities that can help a private landowner restore low-severity fire to their property. New Mexico’s state government is working hard to help private landowners gain the support and legal protection required to use prescribed fire as a land management tool.  

To read the full report, click here.  

Healthy Soils Webinar Series 

Soil health determines the trees that grow and the type of fire regime within New Mexico’s forests. To understand how soil health connects to forest systems like Piñion-Juniper woodlands, check out the Healthy Soils webinar series starting tomorrow Thursday, August 13th. 

Jan-Willem Jansens of Ecotone Landscape Planning is hosting a webinar series with The Forest Stewards Guild. This series will provide some soil science basics and help you feel more comfortable monitoring soil health. There are three webinars:

1) Defining Healthy Woodland Soil (Zoom link): 12:00pm -1:30pm, Thursday, August 13th

2) Measuring Woodland Soil Health: 12:00pm - 1:30pm, Thursday, August 27th

3) Managing Woodlands for Soil Health: 12:00pm - 1:30pm, Thursday, September 10th

Click the links above to register for the webinars.  

Wildfire Wednesdays #19: Wildfire and Pollinators - Support Navajo Nation Elders

Hi FACNM Members,

With the monsoon rains in New Mexico, we hope that many of the wildfires start cooling down, and our communities and ecosystems can begin to recover. Wildfire is a natural disturbance in many of New Mexico’s forests. Depending on the fire behavior and severity, we often see species and ecosystems respond well to wildfire. Fuel reduction thinning and prescribed fire are powerful tools that help keep fire behavior and severity within the range that ecosystems are adapted to recover from.  

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday includes: 

• A briefing paper about the relationship between native pollinators and wildfire 

• An opportunity to support The Navajo Nation in a time of need. 

Best,  

Gabe  

Briefing Paper: Pollinators and Wildfire 

Birds and bees and...wildfire? As an introduction to the studies being conducted on pollinating insects and birds and their relationship to wildfire, the Forest Stewards Guild is releasing another briefing paper covering why pollinators are important, and how they are affected by fires of differing severity. Be sure to check out this newest addition of to our series of Briefing Papers! 

To read the briefing paper, click here.  

Support the Navajo Nation in a Time of Need 

In addition to recovering from and actively fighting wildfire, The Navajo Nation is disproportionately struggling with the covid-19 pandemic. One way that you can help is by contributing to the “Chizh for Cheii,” or “wood for grandpa” fund that supports firewood delivery to Navajo Nation elders. Many people on the Navajo reservation, especially elders, live with no running water and electricity. These people rely on firewood to heat their homes, and with winter around the corner and firewood in short supply, they need your help.  

To view the “Chizh for Cheii” go fund me page, click here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/chizh-for-cheii 

Wildfire Wednesdays #18: Fire Restrictions Rescinded - Call for Presentations!

Hi FACNM Members,  

With monsoon rains starting across the state, we are beginning to see a much-needed decrease in fire risk. I hope you all are enjoying the cooling effect of these seasonal rains and the pulse of vegetation growth that comes with it. As we transition into the fall, many land management agencies hope to get some much needed prescribed fire into our fire-adapted forests to restore forest health and protect our communities from future wildfire.  

This Wildfire Wednesday includes 

• An update on fire restrictions on public lands in NM 

• A call for presenters for this year’s Virtual Wildland Urban Fire Summit 

Keep up the good work!  

Gabe 

Fire Restrictions Rescinded! 

Great news! Many land management agencies are beginning to lift some fire restrictions, allowing fire campfires on public lands in time for fall camping. Still, always know before you go and be sure to check ahead of time to make sure this is the case where you are planning to visit. Visit NMFireInfo.com for updates and to firerestrictions.us/nm to see what's still restricted and what has been lifted. 

Here are some updates on fire restrictions: 

• BLM NM statewide rescinded 7/28 

• NM State Forestry rescinded 7/24 

• Northern Forests (Cibola, Santa Fe and Carson) to rescind Stage 2 restrictions today, 7/29.  The Lincoln and Gila had already gone out last week. 

• Park Service units are rescinding, but be sure to check for details. 

• Tribal lands remain in restrictions and they may not be open to the general public due to the pandemic. 

Virtual Wildland-Urban Fire Summit (WUFS): Please Submit Presentation Ideas! 

The New Mexico Wildland Urban Fire Virtual Summit planning committee is soliciting presentations for the upcoming summit to be held October 22-23, 2020. 

This year’s theme is “All Lands, All Neighbors (for wildfire resilience.” If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please email awebb@nmcounties.org for more information on how to submit a proposal.  The proposal deadline is July 31. 

Stay tuned here for more on the summit and save the date: October 22-23, 2020!  The NM Wildland Urban Fire Summit is New Mexico’s premiere venue for wildfire preparedness and planning. Join your peers, community members and leaders, fire service, businesses and nonprofits, colleges and universities, and federal, state and local government to: Create a network of experts and peers that will assist you in your fire resiliency goals, learn new and innovative ways to adapt your community to a wildfire environment, and share successes and lessons learned from “living with fire” in New Mexico. 

Wildfire Wednesdays #17 - Living with Wildfire Webinar - Pinon Juniper Synthesis - Home Hardening Webinar

Hello FACNM Members,

Although we’ve been getting monsoon rains in parts of New Mexico, the accompanying lightning has also led to more natural ignitions of wildfires. For the most part, these fires have been suppressed quickly by firefighters since they are accompanied by moisture that slows the spread, but it shows that we truly are living in fire adapted ecosystems where wildfires have always had a place! This week spend some time catching up on webinars or take a deep dive into the fascinating world of Pinon-Juniper landscapes.

This week we have:

• Bachechi Open Space Webinar Recording – Living and Adapting with Fire, presented by your blog writer Gabe Kohler of the Forest Stewards Guild

• Pinon Juniper Synthesis –  Ecology, Ecohydrology, Restoration, and Management

• Upcoming Home Hardening Against Wildfire webinar- Tahoe Home Retro Fit Workshop

Best, Sam 

Living with and Adapting to Wildfire

In case you missed it, check out this webinar recording titled Living and Adapting with Fire. As part of Bachechi Open Space’s Backyard Science webinar series, this talk features an introduction to the fire ecology of various forested systems (bosque and mountain areas) that are common to northern New Mexico. Explore what it means for landscapes and houses to be fire adapted. Understand the ways communities can learn to live safely within areas where fire can run wild. Presenter, Gabe Kohler, is a program coordinator with The Forest Stewards Guild that works on increasing engagement with Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico (FACNM).

To Check out the webinar recording , visit https://www.facebook.com/BachechiOpenSpace/

Pinon-Juniper Management Synthesis

The Synthesis reviews the history of Pinyon and juniper woodlands, to provide the basis for understanding their ecology. Photo: R.Miller, Oregon State University

If you are live or work in Pinon Juniper landscapes this new synthesis will provide fresh insight into this important forest type. “This synthesis is a comprehensive review of the current knowledge of both persistent and newly expanded pinyon and juniper (PJ) woodlands that will be of interest to managers, researchers, and the public,” says Jeanne Chambers, a Research Ecologist with the Rocky Mountain Research Station and synthesis coauthor. Although this synthesis focuses on the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, much of the information will be applicable to New Mexico. Besides the full length report the authors and their partners have created a series of briefing papers on specific topics. Dive into the world of PJ in the links below!

• Science You Can Use – Overview of the PJ Synthesis  

• Ecology Fact Sheet

• History Fact Sheet

• Eco Hydrology Fact Sheet

• Management and Restoration Fact Sheet

• The ecology, history, ecohydrology, and management of pinyon and juniper woodlands in the Great Basin and Northern Colorado Plateau of the western United States. RMRS-GTR-403 – Full Document 

Upcoming Home Hardening against Wildfire Webinar- Tahoe Home Retro Fit Workshop

Jul 28, 2020 06:30 PM

Join experts from California and Nevada for this workshop hosted over zoom about retrofitting your home to be more resistant to wildfires.

Click here to register

Speakers include:

Christina Restaino - Assistant Professor and Natural Resources Specialist with University of Nevada, Reno Extension and the Director of the Living With Fire Program.

Susie Kocher - Forestry Advisor at the University of California Cooperative Extension Central Sierra and is a registered professional forester

Stephen Quarles - University of California Cooperative Extension Advisor Emeritus and the retired Chief Scientist for Wildfire and Durability, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety Research Center.

Wildfire Wednesday #16 - Backyard Science Webinar Series - Business Resiliency to Wildfire

Hello, FACNM

It’s the blog’s sweet sixteen today and at least in some parts of the state we’re finally getting some relief from the heat this week with some (hopefully monsoonal?!) storms. If the storms do strengthen and turn into monsoons we may be in for a reprieve from fire season, which will make a wonderful birthday present for this blog! If monsoons are coming this week or a month from now, we’ll welcome the change in the season, and a transition to work on different aspects of fire adaptation, because unlike a monsoon storm, adaptation to fire doesn’t happen all at once, but bit by bit!

Best, Sam

This week we have:

• Bachechi Open Space Webinar – Living and Adapting with Fire, presented by your blog writer, Gabe Kohler of the Forest Stewards Guild

• Business Resilience and Wildfire – read more about preparations for business resilience in the face of wildfire

Living and Adapting with Fire - Back Yard Science Series Webinar

presented by Bachechi Open Space

Tune into the Backyard Science Series this Saturday, July 18th, at 2:00 pm for a webinar titled Living and Adapting with Fire. This talk will feature an introduction to the fire ecology of various forested systems (bosque and mountain areas) that are common to northern New Mexico. Explore what it means for landscapes and houses to be fire-adapted. Understand the ways communities can learn to live safely within areas where fire can run wild. Presenter, Gabe Kohler, is a program coordinator with The Forest Stewards Guild that works on increasing engagement with Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico (FACNM).

To check out the talk this Saturday, visit https://www.facebook.com/BachechiOpenSpace/

Business Resilience and Wildfire

Living in a fire-adapted community means many things, but what does it mean for businesses and local economy? Wildfires pose a serious threat to a community’s continuity, and can have devastating effects on the small businesses that depend on it. As we know all to well with the current crisis, business resiliency and risk mitigation strategies help to defend communities from losses, and are especially important for small businesses as they experience the most risk due to wildfires. With the current increasing frequency and severity of wildfires across the region, people are coming together to collaborate and create strategies to keep businesses open in light of fires. In May of 2019, the Island Park Sustainable Fire Community in Idaho held a workshop to tackle this challenge; check out the link below! There may be some lessons for the current crisis here too.

https://fireadaptednetwork.org/business-resilience-round-up-fire-adaptation/

Wildfire Wednesdays #15 - Homeowner Mitigation Webinar - Invasives and Fire - Common Ground

Hi FAC Members,

The goal of our first Wildfire Wednesday newsletter was to provide curated resources to New Mexicans despite social distance. We have seen positive strides toward this goal. Thank you all for continuing to help grow this network and to share this information with your friends and loved ones. We are truly stronger together.

This edition of Wildfire Wednesday includes:

• A webinar by Sarah McCaffrey focused on what motivates homeowners to mitigate fire risk

• A look into the connection between invasive species and fire ecology

• An article describing how increasing wildfire risk is agreed upon across political lines

• Upcoming webinar tomorrow on wildfire response and recovery

Sincerely,

Gabe

What Motivates Homeowners to Mitigate Wildfire Risk?

USFS Research Social Scientist, Sarah McCaffrey

If you watch one webinar recording about wildfire preparedness this year make it last week’s keynote address from The Bill Lane Center for the American West, where Sarah McCaffrey takes an informed look at how landowners respond to outreach for wildfire mitigation. This webinar looks past “the imagined public” and uses rigorous social science methods to investigate what actually motivates homeowners to mitigate wildfire risk.

To view the webinar recording and learn how to improve your outreach to homeowners, click here.

Invasive Species and Fire Risk

Fire ecology investigates the complex strategies of flora and fauna employ to survive wildfire. We commonly think of ponderosa pine trees that grow thick bark to resist the impacts of fire. A deeper investigation though shows that these trees not only just survive fire but also perpetuate more fire by dropping flammable needles that allows fire to spread.

A wildfire moves through tamarisk (salt cedar).

In contrast other species like Cottonwoods that grow along rivers or sage brush on plateaus have different less harmonious relationships with fire. In these areas fires occurred much less frequently for many reasons but in part because the leaves that drop from sage and cottonwoods are less flammable than ponderosa needles.  

Now invasive species have changed this equation. In the case of sage ecosystems, cheatgrass has moved in. Cheatgrass is very flammable and will quickly recolonize an area after a fire, long before sage has a chance to reestablish. There is a similar story occurring in our bosques where invasive species such as tamarisk and Russian olive trees that are very flammable have invaded areas, and changed the fire ecology by adding fuel to the system, leading to fires that cottonwoods are often unprepared for.

Cheatgrass is an invasive species that often out competes native species and is highly flammable.

In both cases there are diligent restoration efforts occurring across the US to restore these ecosystems. However, make sure to take a look right around your home or property too. Just as these flammable invasive plants threaten our iconic sage flats and cottonwood galleries, they also are a wildfire threat near your home.

Fire Science Brief: Pentimento: Fuels Reduction and Restoration in the Bosque of the Middle Rio Grande

Cheat grass advice from Waterwise LLC in Santa Fe

Attacking Invasive Cheatgrass at Its Root

Fighting Fire with Native Plants

The 2017 Eagle Creek Wildfire in the Columbia River Gorge

Common Ground: Agreement on Increasing Wildfire Risk Crosses Political Lines

A recent article from the Blue Mountain ecoregion in Northeastern Oregon provides useful insight into how political views may create a stumbling block for forest and fire management and suggests alternative ways of communicating the need for wildfire mitigation.

Despite overwhelming scientific and experiential data, climate change remains a divisive factor in forest and fire management. Beliefs about climate change are found to be strongly linked to a person’s political leanings. However, beliefs about future wildfire risks were found to be largely independent of political beliefs and people accurately agree about the rising frequency of large wildfires and expect this trend to continue. This finding presents an opportunity to engage diverse stakeholders in developing policies to mitigate increasing wildfire risk without invoking politicized beliefs about climate change.

To learn more about these findings, click here.

Tomorrow: Virtual Wildfire Series: Webinar on Response and Recovery

Jul 9, 2020 03:30 PM

The Bill Lane Center for the American West is hosting a panel discussion on the human dimensions of wildfire response and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our panelists Luke Beckman from the Red Cross, Alma Bowen from Nuestra Comunidad, and Charles Brooks from the Rebuild Paradise Foundation will discuss the challenges and best practices for evacuations, shelters, planning and coordination, and recovery efforts in our new reality.

https://west.stanford.edu/events/virtual-wildfire-series-response-and-recovery

Wildfire Wednesdays #14 - Fire Prevention - Smoke Resources - Hummingbirds and Fire

Hi FACNM Members,

With The Fourth of July this weekend, many people are excited to get out of their homes and recreate outdoors. I know I am. This is not a typical year -- fire danger and the risk of covid-19 remain high. Fireworks, campfires, and large groups put American lives at risk this Fourth of July. We support you in encouraging your friends and families to find alternative ways to celebrate The Fourth this year.

This edition of Wildfire Wednesday includes:

• Fire prevention messages that you can share on social media to encourage your friends and family to recreate responsibility this year.

• An introduction to the smoke resources page on FACNM

• An article that looks at the connection between hummingbirds and wildfire in fire adapted landscapes

Stay safe,

Gabe

Please Help us Prevent Wildfire! Use these social media posts!

Please help prevent wildfire by sharing these messages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or over email. If this simple step prevents one wildfire, it could save lives and will help keep our first responders safe during the 2020 fire season. Just add the flyer as a photo and use our suggested caption, or create one of your own. Then, like and follow the FACNM Facebook page so we can see your post!

Recreate Safely

Click Here to Download this Flyer!

Suggested Caption: Click Share and Help Prevent Wildfire: We all need your help to prevent wildfires this summer. The statewide average of human-caused wildfires in New Mexico is 48% of all wildfires and most of these fires can be prevented. Don’t drag chains, check spark arrestors on vehicles and equipment and for information about preventing wildfires over The Fourth of July weekend, visit https://nmfireinfo.com/   Suggested Hashtags: #recreateresponsibly #preventwildfire #nmfire #fireadaptednm

Know Before You Go

Click Here to Download this Flyer!

Suggested Caption: Click Share and Help Prevent Wildfire: Know Before You Go! Before you make plans to have any smores over the campfire check for current fire restrictions.  Campfires and fireworks are not allowed on most public and private land throughout New Mexico. For more information, call the Fire Restrictions Hotline: 1-877-864-6985 or visit https://firerestrictions.us/nm/ 

Suggested Hashtags: #recreateresponsibly #preventwildfire #nmfire #fireadaptednm 

Do Your Part, Don’t Let A Wildfire Start

Click Here to Download this Flyer!

Suggested Caption: Click Share and Help Prevent Wildfire: Firefighters and first responders are needed more than ever to keep America safe . Prevent wildfires by following fire restrictions, postponing debris burning, and using campfire alternatives.  

Suggested Hashtags: #recreateresponsibly #preventwildfire #nmfire #fireadaptednm 

Protecting yourself from Smoke during COVID

Smoke preparedness to protect you and your family has taken on a new importance with the compounding impacts of the respiratory illness from the coronavirus pandemic. Although not wildfire smoke specific, recent scientific studies from Italy and the UK (Conticini et al., 2020 & Travaglio et al., 2020) suggest that air pollutant exposure worsens COVID-19 symptoms and outcomes. This research is part of the reason why land managers have adjusted their tactics this year to try and limit smoke impacts on communities as much as possible. (see our interview with an FMO for more)

However, even with fire fighters doing their best, it is impossible to avoid smoke impacts from wildfires. If you are predisposed to respiratory ailments the best thing to do is prepare ahead of time, by monitoring smoke forecasts from www.airnov.gov and setting up a clean air room in your home to escape the effects of smoke. To do this, prevent smoke from entering and filter the air if possible. 

This page from the CDC captures some FAQs about wildfire smoke and the corona virus outbreak. Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19: FAQs

If you are thinking about setting up a Cleaner Air Shelter for your community the CDC has also released guidance: COVID-19 and Wildfire Smoke Cleaner Air Spaces

For much more information on how to prepare for smoke please visit our website. There we have information about protecting yourself from smoke, selecting an air cleaner, and more.

FACNM Smoke Resources  

The Forest Stewards Guild is also now restarting out HEPA Air Cleaner Loan Program in some locations with new policies to limit the spread of COVID-19.

FACNM Air Cleaner Loan Program  

Hummingbirds and Wildfire

Hummingbirds are some of the most beloved birds to observe; whether you are an avid bird watcher, a professional ornithologist, or simply a nature lover, these beautiful birds spark joy for all. As residents of fire-adapted ecosystems, you might wonder how our colorful friends fare with wildfire. The Forest Service released a literature review this year that summarizes the studied effects of fire on species of hummingbirds throughout the United States (see link below). In their paper, Alexander and associates found that most species of hummingbirds respond positively to fire, and that many hummingbird species show higher abundance in burned forests compared with unburned areas. In their review, Alexander et al. remark that while unnaturally severe fires pose serious risks, the positive benefits these hummingbird species are receiving from less severe fires are likely connected with the health of local fire-adapted plant and insect populations. Turns out, hummingbirds are among a wealthy community of fire-adapted organisms that benefit from natural, historically consistent fire.

To read more, click here!

Upcoming Webinars

Wildfire Series: Response and Recovery

The Human Dimensions of Wildfires

Thursday, July 9, 2020 - 2:30pm

Register for the Zoom Webinar

Join us for a panel discussion on the human dimensions of wildfire response and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our panelists Luke Beckman from the Red Cross, Alma Bowen from Nuestra Comunidad, and Charles Brooks from the Rebuild Paradise Foundation will discuss the challenges and best practices for evacuations, shelters, planning and coordination, and recovery efforts in our new reality.

Panelists

• Alma Bowen, Executive Director, Nuestra Comunidad

• Charles Brooks, Executive Director, Rebuild Paradise Foundation

• Luke Beckman, Division Disaster State Relations Director, American Red Cross

Moderator

• Rebecca Miller, PhD Candidate, E-IPER

Wildfire Wednesdays #13 - FACNM Leader Profile - Forest and Wildfire Trivia Game - Wildfire Preparedness Pages

Hello FACNM Members

The same as every year around this time we are seeing and smelling smoke in the air from wildfires in Arizona, New Mexico, and beyond.  Until monsoon season begins and brings some long-awaited relief from the heat we can expect more wildfires to start.  As we wait for monsoons remember to keep up your preparedness or use the smoke in the air as a chance to remind some of your neighbors that now is as good a time as any to prepare for wildfire.

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday includes:

• A profile of a FACNM leader in the Timberlake Ranch community in Northwestern New Mexico.

• Forest and Wildfire Trivia Game, to be played over zoom!

• FACNM and Fireshed Preparedness Pages

Best, Sam

FAC Leader Profile: Mary Jo Wallen, Timberlake, NM

Enthusiasm and personal connection to the outdoors are powerful resources. By sharing these passions we can inspire others to take action towards a more wildfire adapted future.

To learn how FACNM leader Mary Jo Wallen got interested in wildfire mitigation and community organizing, click here.

Forest and Wildfire Trivia game!

Esme Cadiente at the Forest Stewards Guild put together a fun social distancing activity that you can play with your friends and peers. Forest and Wildfire trivia can be played over Zoom, google hangouts, or any other platform that allows you to share your screen and computer sound. You must have Spotify to access the music round, and PowerPoint to access the visual round. There are five rounds of eight questions:

1. Forest, Fire and tree trivia

2. Music round – Spotify list

3. Visual round - PowerPoint

4. Fictional forests and fires

5. Visual Round PDF – you can work on this at any time

After each round, the quizmaster will read the answers aloud and participants will report back their scores. The quizmaster will keep an excel doc to track scores. You will need to choose a quizmaster to conduct the trivia and then invite participants to join! This is a great way to connect with neighbors and friends in a time when we can’t connect in the personal way we are used to. You may also learn something about forests and fires!

Use these three files to play:

• Quarantrivia -See The Forest – Word Doc instructions and questions

• Round 3. Quarantrivia -See The Forest Visual Round  - PowerPoint

• Round 5 .Visual Round PDF

Cheers,

Esmé

FACNM Preparedness Page 

To help guide your actions toward wildfire preparedness, take a look at the Fireshed’s wildfire preparedness page. This page features resources that can help keep your home safe from wildfire, including A home hazard assessment, a wildfire preparation factsheet by NFPA, 10 tips for wildfire risk reduction, and a webinar on how to prepare your Home Ignition Zone for wildfire season. The page also has an entire section devoted to wildfire resistant building materials that can help guide you through home construction or renovation.  

Remember, even small actions like picking up pine needles can make a big difference to prepare your home for wildfire!

To take a look at all the useful resources on FACNM’s Prepare page, click here.  

Wildfire Wednesdays #12 - What is a Red Flag Day - Fire Ghosts Book Discussion - Campfire Alternatives

Hello Fireshed Members,

Creating communities that are adapted to living in wildfire-prone landscapes requires capturing the hearts and minds of many New Mexicans. To support this effort, we need useful information to guide our actions and creative materials that compel us to reimagine our role in fire adapted landscapes.

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday features resources to guide our wildfire preparedness actions as well as some creative approaches to help us reimagine what it looks like to live within a fire adapted landscape.

• A lesson in Fireline Factors: What does Red Flag Warning mean?

• An discussion focused around the book Fire Ghosts, that finds glimmers of beauty and enlightenment in the increasing destruction of wildfires in an era of climate change.

• Creative campfire alternatives for camping during fire restrictions

Best,

Gabe

What are Red Flag Warnings? 

By Porfirio Chavarria, City of Santa Fe Wildland Urban Interface Specialist

The National Weather Service defines Red Flag Warnings as:

A term used by fire-weather forecasters to call attention to limited weather conditions of particular importance that may result in extreme burning conditions.

Still scratching your head?  Here’s three bullet points to understand what a Red Flag Warning means. In addition to an area being in a dry spell for at least a week and in high to extreme fire danger, the criteria for the issuance of a Red Flag Warning by the National Weather Service is:

• Sustained wind average 15 mph or greater

• Relative humidity less than or equal to 25 percent and

• Temperature of greater than 75 degrees F.

Red Flag Warnings are issued for specific geographical areas delineated by the National Weather Service.  These areas are referred to as, “forecast zones”.  As with any imaginary line drawn on a map, fires and weather don’t recognize those lines.  But, they do help us make sense of and identify commonalities within those lines to tell a story.  In this case, a story about the potential for increased fire behavior. 

This is all well and good but, “How do I know if there is a Red Flag Warning in my area?”. Your local television and radio stations will also relay that information during their news casts.  The local National Weather Service Office website, weather.gov/abq  is an excellent source for a quick visual, and you can click on the links to get the detailed text forecast.

In summary, Red Flag Warnings mean the weather is hot, dry, and windy.  Any fire that starts under those conditions has the potential to spread quickly, and easily overwhelm firefighting resources. 

Get the alerts and create a wildfire action plan. When a Red Flag Warning is issued for your area Get Ready, and be Set, because you may need to Go!

Fire Ghosts, a virtual discussion with the authors Patricia Galagan & Philip Metcalf (d) hosted by Collected Works

Jun 25, 6:00 PM Online Event

Patricia Galagan, one of the authors of Fire Ghosts, a new book chronicling the Las Conchas fire and beauty and enlightenment found in the aftermath, will be in conversation with essayists William deBuys, Craig D. Allen and curator of photography at the New Mexico Museum of Fine Art, Katherine Ware and Ernie Atencio, regional director of National Parks and Conservation association (co-sponsors of the event)

For More information and to join the conversation please visit

https://www.collectedworksbookstore.com/events-1/philip-metcalf-patricia-galagan-fire-ghosts

Campfire Alternatives: Creative Ways to Follow Fire Restrictions and Still Have Fun

You can still have fun camping without a campfire. Although everyone prefers campfires, in a time where there are fire restrictions just about everywhere in New Mexico, it is a great time to get creative and test your outdoor skills by trying some of these creative campfire alternatives.

For extra outdoors points, brainstorm your own fun after-dinner activities that you can do while you are out in the woods with your friends and family.

One of my favorites is going to sleep early. Ha!

Click here to check out a video and blog post by Leave No Trace for some ideas to get you started.