Wildfire Wednesdays #63: Fire Technology

Happy Wednesday FACNM community!

While nothing can replace the boots on the ground efforts of firefighters against wildfires, recent technological advances are helping to support and increase safety of these efforts. Today we wanted to share with you some of the new technological advances that are helping fire professionals predict and combat wildfires across the globe.

This Wildfire Wednesday features information on:

• How drones are being used to fight fires

• Technology being introduced to increase firefighter safety

• Silicon Valley’s increased focus on fire technologies

• Our upcoming member event and how to attend!

Have a good week,

Liz

Drones & Wildfires

Credit: Steve Peterson

It has been just two years since the Wildfire Management Technology Advancement Act was signed into law, allowing for increased capacity in drones being used on the front lines against wildfires. Drones are being used to drop incendiary devices to create fuel breaks and backburns, map fires with thermal imaging, inspect flight paths for retrofitted jets that release retardant over fires, and provide high-resolution images of fire behavior. Drones can access areas that manned-aircrafts can’t due to size and safety concerns, they can also fly at night and when visibility is low due to smoke which makes them even more valuable in the fight against wildfire. To learn more, read this article from National Geographic: Fireball-dropping drones and the new technology helping fight fires or this article from Discovery: Wildfire Technology - Tackling the Spread of Wilderness Fires with Digital Technology.

Additionally, check out the video below from the Smithsonian Channel that shows how a “predator” drone used infrared technology to locate a missing fire crew and protect critical infrastructure in a 2013 wildfire in Yosemite National Park.

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Firefighter tech

Source: Parasim

• Qwake - This helmet-mounted communication device for firefighters “provides aid in navigating fire hazard zones by combining augmented reality (AR), thermal imaging cameras (TICs), cellular and wireless network technologies, camera tracking, GPS localization, and data collection.” (Qwake Technologies Awarded Air Force Contract to Adapt AR Solution for Smokejumpers and Special Operations)

• PARASIM - This parachute training simulator uses a 3D virtual reality display and suspension harness to mimic the conditions of an actual jump. “Controls, real world scenes, malfunctions, wind profiles, various weather conditions, and a full library of terrain types add up to a realistic experience.” This technology can help smokejumpers prepare for parachuting into wildland fires.

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Silicon Valley Fire Technology Investments

California has seen devastating wildfires in recent years. In 2020, 4.2 million acres burned across California, a number that is expected to be exceeded this year. The proximity of Silicon Valley, the global technological hub, to many of the California wildfires has led many developers and investors to turn their attention towards fire prevention and fighting technology. While many of these technologies are solely being utilized in California for now, we would expect at least some of these products and platforms to be available across the US in the upcoming years. Here are some examples of some of the technological advances coming out of Silicon Valley right now (from California wildfires: Fighting bigger blazes with Silicon Valley technology & As wildfires approach Silicon Valley, tech firms struggle to find the backing to fight them)

Source: Zonehaven

• Zonehaven: This “Community Evacuation Interface” is a map-based software that connects maps, fire and police departments, dispatchers, and residents to provide reliable information about evacuation updates and preparation resources. This platform is already serving 3.2 million people in over 170 fire districts in California.

• Rain System: This startup is making a network of drones that can detect and drop retardant on wildfires before firefighter arrive.

• Buzz Solutions: This software platform uses visual data and algorithms that can detect failures within power grid systems that can lead to wildfires. The software “assesses the likelihood of asset degradation, line health, vegetation encroachment, and future hotspot areas” so repairs can be made prior to wildfires starting.

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Upcoming Member Event!

Did you know that FACNM members have access to resources and events such as our upcoming workshop on August 20th? To join the FACNM network, visit our website, click on the “add” button and enter your email and information.

Wildfire Wednesdays #62: Causes of Wildfires

Hello FACNM community!

We hope you’re all staying healthy during this period of increased smoke across much of New Mexico (check out this map to see fire and smoke distribution across the US). While wildfires are a natural part of our ecosystems, only 10-15% of the global wildfires we experience today are from natural causes. Human-caused fires behave differently than naturally-occurring wildfires and are responsible for 97% of fires that threaten homes in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). Human-caused wildfires have expanded the total area burned across the United States and have more than tripled the length of the wildfire season. In 2020 there were approximately 2,743 human-caused fires that burned 368,729 acres in the Southwest alone.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

• Information about the most common human causes of wildfires

• Measures to reduce risk of wildfire from those human-causes

• A link to an upcoming webinar of interest

Have a great week!

Liz

Most common human-causes of wildfires

Source: Utah Fire Info

• Abandoned campfires: “On average since 2001, abandoned campfires have started 44% of the human-ignited wildfires in the Southwest. In contrast to lightning, which may be more likely on a ridge (and then burn down slope), human ignitions are often linked to roads and recreation sites in valleys. Fires that start in valleys or lower slopes can burn up slope easily and hence grow faster.” (Source: Increasing Wildfire Awareness and Reducing Human-Caused Ignitions in Northern New Mexico). Over Mother’s Day weekend this year (2021), nearly 30 abandoned campfires were found by fire prevention patrols in Santa Fe National Forest alone.

• Burning debris: Nationally, the majority of human-caused wildfires result from escaped fires from debris burning (Source: Human-started wildfires expand the fire niche across the United States)

• Arson: Arson is a leading cause of wildfire in several heavily populated States, including California and Florida (Source: Wildland Arson: A Research Assessment). From 2010-2014 the U.S. Department of Interior reported that 23% of reported wildfires were attributed to arson. Research suggests that arson ignitions are responsive to law enforcement actions, weather and climate, and labor market variables (Source: Increasing Wildfire Awareness and Reducing Human-Caused Ignitions in Northern New Mexico).

• Powerlines: “The total number of acres burned by powerlines (nearly 178,000 acres) is more than the sum of acres burned by wildfires ignited by arson, children, debris burning, equipment use, and smoking over 15 years... A study in southern California found that electrical line wildfires can often be larger than wildfires caused by other types of ignitions because the high winds that can cause line faults also makes firefighting more difficult” (Source: Increasing Wildfire Awareness and Reducing Human-Caused Ignitions in Northern New Mexico).

Number of wildfires by type of human ignitions in the Southwest (Source: Increasing Wildfire Awareness and Reducing Human-Caused Ignitions in Northern New Mexico)

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Human-caused wildfire risk reduction

• Abandoned campfires: To have a safe campfire (after checking that it’s allowed under current fire restrictions) you should adhere to the following advice from the Cal Fire Campfire Safety page:

  • Cut wood in short lengths, the fire should be no larger than necessary.

  • Never leave a fire unattended.

  • Always keep a shovel and bucket of water nearby.

  • Use the “drown, stir, and feel” method to drown the fire with water, stir the water into remaining embers and ash, mix thoroughly, and feel the area with the back of your hand.

Source: Klamath Falls News

• Burning debris: Prior to burning any debris you need to check to restrictions in your area and you may need to obtain burn permits. You can burn debris safely by taking these precautions from the Cal Fire Residential Landscape Debris Burning Safety and Southern Foresters Tips for Safe Debris Burning pages:

  • Check to see what weather conditions are expected. Outdoor burning should be postponed if shifts in wind direction, higher winds or wind gusts are forecasted.

  • Clear all flammable material and vegetation down to bare mineral soil within 10 feet of the outer edge of pile or burn barrel.

  • Landscape debris piles should be in small 4 feet by 4 feet piles.

  • Keep a water supply and shovel close to the burning site.

  • A responsible adult must be in attendance until the fire is out.

• Arson: “Wildfire hotspot modelling, which identifies high potential for arson, can help law enforcement efficiently allocate resources to reduce arson incidents” There are some precautions that individuals and communities can take in order to reduce risk of arson in their area (Increasing Wildfire Awareness and Reducing Human-Caused Ignitions in Northern New Mexico)

  • Reduce hazardous fuels and eliminate attractive hazards such as piled fuels.

  • Monitor weather and climate drivers of wildland arson success and model predictors of arson such as the socio- economic drivers of arson and other crime rates.

  • Establish arson reward programs

• Powerlines: While most of the fire prevention measures associated with powerlines fall to energy companies, there are some efforts individuals can make to reduce the likelihood of powerlines causing a wildfire:

  • Immediately report any powerlines that are fallen, sparking, or ablaze.

  • If you notice encroaching vegetation near your powerlines, and they are not on your property, immediately call your local electric company to inform them of the potential hazard. DO NOT attempt to trim vegetation around a powerline yourself, this needs to be done by professionals.

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Webinar of Interest

Recent fire regimes of the bi-national Madrean Sky Islands- implications for collaborative, transboundary fire management

Presenter: Miguel Villarreal, Western Geographic Science Center, USGS
Date: July 20, 2021 11am AZ/12pm MDT

“In this webinar I will share results of a recent study of contemporary fire regimes over a 32-year period (1985-2017) in the Madrean Sky Islands of the U.S. and México. Our research team evaluated the size, severity and return interval of recent fires in relation to a conceptual model of historical fire regimes for the major biotic communities. During the study period 335 fires burned approximately 28% of the study area, with re-burns occurring on over 25% of the burned areas. The greatest variation in fire regimes, including fire size, frequency, and severity was observed in places with the most diverse human activities and land uses – particularly in the mountain ranges adjacent to the U.S.- México border. Average severity of recent fires was low despite some extreme outliers in cooler, wetter environments. Fire frequency was also higher than historical expectations in these cool and wet environments that support forest types such as Spruce-Fir, indicating threats to these systems possibly attributable to drought and other factors. In cooler and wetter environments in more remote areas of México, pine-oak forests burned with fire frequencies close to historical. In contrast, fires were absent or infrequent across large expanses of lower elevation Woodlands and Grasslands due possibly to overgrazing, which reduces abundance and continuity of fine fuels needed to carry fire. Our findings provide a new depiction of fire regimes in the Sky Islands that can help inform fire management, restoration, and regional conservation planning, fostered by local and traditional knowledge and collaboration among landowners and managers.” 

Click here to register for this webinar NOW!

Click here to view journal article on which this webinar is based.

Call for Presentations: New Mexico Virtual Wildland Urban Fire Summit

Call for Presentations New Mexico Virtual Wildland Urban Fire Summit

October 28 - 29th, 2021

Proposals due August 13th, 2021

For full information, including topics for consideration, click here.

Wildfire Wednesdays #61: Fire-Adapted Gardening & Landscaping

Hello FACNM community!

We hope you all had a great holiday weekend and Fourth of July. Although we’re well into gardening season here in New Mexico the blooms we’ve seen around our community lately have inspired us to write a garden/landscaping-focused post! There are many ornamental and native plants that thrive in our yards across New Mexico and you can incorporate these plants and other design concepts into your garden to make your property more fire-adapted.

This Wildfire Wednesday includes information on:

• Landscaping your defensible space

• “Fire Wise” plants for New Mexico

• NM Cooperative Extension & County Extension services

Happy gardening!

Liz

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Landscaping Defensible Space

Often when we think of defensible space we are focused on removing plant material from our property, but you can still have many plants and creative landscaping in a fire-adapted yard! Check out some advice from F.C. Dennis’ Fire-Resistant Landscaping fact sheet for how to appropriately landscape your defensible space around your home.

Defensible space landscaping design tips from F.C. Dennis:

• Landscape according to the recommended defensible-space zones. That is, the plants near your home should be more widely spaced and lower growing than those farther away.

• Do not plant in large masses. Instead, plant in small, irregular clusters or islands.

• Use decorative rock, gravel and stepping stone pathways to break up the continuity of the vegetation and fuels. This can modify fire behavior and slow the spread of fire across your property. It is highly recommended that the first 3-5 feet away from the house be gravel, flagstone, pavers, or some other non-flammable material.

• Incorporate a diversity of plant types and species in your landscape. Not only will this be visually satisfying, but it should help keep pests and diseases from causing problems within the whole landscape.

• In the event of drought and water rationing, prioritize plants to be saved. Provide available supplemental water to plants closest to your house.

• Use mulches to conserve moisture and reduce weed growth. To reduce fire danger, it is best to use a non-organic mulch such as pea gravel or stone, but leaf mold or compost is also acceptable. Mulch can be organic or inorganic. Do not use pine bark, thick layers of pine needles or other mulches that readily carry fire.

• Be creative! Further vary your landscape by including bulbs, Garden art and containers for added color.

Image credit: F.C. Dennis Fire-Resistant Landscaping; Fact Sheet No. 6.303

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Fire Wise Plants for New Mexico

The New Mexcio locust plant (photo: USDA Forest Service)

Once you’ve designed or altered your yard to be more fire-resistant you may want to plant some new species that will support your defensible space! The Santa Fe Botanical Garden has great information about “Firescaping” and which plant species are appropriate for our yards in New Mexico, click here to learn more.

Also, Check out this Fire Wise Plant Materials guide from the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service to learn more about Firescaping and for a list of all recommended trees, shrubs, flowers and ground covers for your yard!

Prickly Pear Cactus (Photo credit: Amy Stone, OSU Extension)

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NM Cooperative Extension

NM Cooperative Extension and your County Extension offices are one of the best resources available for guidance and information about your garden and property. The Cooperative Extension Service exists to provide “practical, research-based knowledge throughout New Mexico”. Not only do they have a variety of information, publications, and videos on their website but they encourage you to reach out directly to your County Extension office if you have questions. Click here to discover which County Extension office can help you with your garden or landscaping project.

Different County Extension jurisdictions across New Mexico (https://aces.nmsu.edu/county/)

Wildfire Wednesdays #60: Take Action!

Hello FACNM community!

We hope you’re enjoying the rainy weather we’ve been fortunate enough to have across much of Northern New Mexico this week! We’re grateful for a little moisture on the ground before this upcoming weekend’s festivities and hope everyone will stay diligent with some fire restrictions being lifted across the state.

Did you know that there are different levels of engagement you can have with the Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico Learning Network? Receiving this newsletter is a great start and if you’re feeling ready to become a little more involved and connect with other individuals in our community we’re here to tell you how! If receiving this newsletter is enough for you, we also have an way for to you take a small action to increase your fire preparedness in our community.

This Wildfire Wednesday features two ways to take action:

1. Become a FACNM “member”

2. Sign up for wildfire alerts

Keep reading to learn more about these actionable tasks. Hope you all have a wonderful Fourth of July and holiday weekend!

Liz

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Become a FACNM Member

If you’re interested in connecting with community leaders and professionals who are working towards making our communities more fire-adapted, becoming an official member of the Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico Learning Network is a great next step for you! Members consist of residents, retirees, fire professionals, emergency responders, researchers, architects, ranchers, hydrologists, foresters, and more! Membership costs nothing and you gain access to events, learning opportunities, and it connects you with a network of professionals who can support you in efforts to make your community more fire-adapted.

A breakdown of how our FACNM members self-identify within their community.

To sign up to become a member of the FACNM network click here to visit the directory page and select “Add”. You will then be added to our member list and receive updates about networking and learning opportunities.

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Sign up for Alerts

Signing up for wildfire alerts is a small, actionable task that will help ensure you are informed and prepared this wildfire season! Click on any of the pages below to sign up. We also recommend bookmarking this InciWeb site which shows all of the active wildfires across the USA so you can plan ahead and be prepared!

New Mexico wide:

• NM State Forestry Wildfire Alert email (only for state or private land, not federal)

• NM Fire Information (click on the + at the bottom of the page to add your email, shown on the right)

Santa Fe fireshed:

• Alert Santa Fe

Wildfire Wednesdays #59: Fire Professionals

Hello FACNM members!

This week we wanted to highlight and provide resources for one important group within our Fire Adapted New Mexico Learning Network: Wildland firefighters & fire professionals. These individuals are essential to protecting our forests and communities and they face both physical and mental risks associated with their jobs. We’re grateful for all fire professionals and are sharing resources we hope can support them both on and off the job. [Warning: this post references suicide].

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday includes:

• Background information on fire professionals for those who may be less familiar with the field.

• Information on physical health for fire professionals.

• Mental health resources for fire professionals.

• A link to a success story involving firefighters in the Medio fire.

Have a great week everyone!

Liz

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An Introduction to Fire Professionals

For those of us who may be unfamiliar with the many different types of fire professionals and what their jobs entail, The Forest Service’s People Working in Fire webpage provides good background information and great informative videos that can give you insight into the jobs and lives of firefighters.

Click Here to visit the People Working in Fire page

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Physical Health

Photo credit: Chris Tuite

The recent tragic death of Tim Hart, a smokejumper responding to a fire in New Mexico, demonstrates the inherent risk that fire professionals face on a daily basis. Firefighters additionally face increased rates of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, hearing loss, and other smoke-related illnesses - but there are steps that one can take to reduce risk. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is currently working on a research project to deepen our understanding of the relationship between firefighters and cancer rates, click here to read more about this research.

Here is some advice from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Firefighters and Cancer Risk webpage on how to reduce your risk of fire-related cancer (visit this page for more details on how to carry out these steps):

Photo Credit: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue

• Protect yourself at work. 

  • Reduce exposure to diesel exhaust from the fire apparatus.

  • Clean and care for PPE and SCBA properly.

  • Wash yourself as soon as possible after every fire.

  • Store PPE gear correctly to avoid contaminating other areas in the firehouse or apparatus.

  • Always be cautious at the fire ground.

• Talk to your doctor. As a firefighter, make sure your doctor knows your work or volunteer history, even if you are retired.

  • Discuss your risk of cancer with your doctor. Firefighters may need to start screening at an earlier age and do screenings more frequently than the general population. Ask about ways to reduce your risk of cancer, such as good nutrition, physical activity, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol.

  • The Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative provides cancer screening recommendations for firefighters.

  • NFPA 1582: Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments also provides health information for firefighters.

• Record your exposure. The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) recommends that firefighters keep a personal record that tracks exposures and incident responses.

• Follow healthy lifestyle behaviors. Good nutrition, physical activity, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol can decrease your risk of cancer and other diseases. For more information about healthy lifestyle recommendations, download or order the free fact sheet Healthy Behaviors.

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Mental Health

In the recent Workforce Resilience Ignite Talk Series “Wildland Firefighters Mental Health and Well-being” (video included below), fire professionals discussed the mental health risks associated with the job and the difficulty of “fitting in” when off-assignment. It was particularly inspiring to hear from Mark Titus, a fire professional who shared his journey of recovery from PTSD after his initial reluctance to seek help. It is not uncommon for firefighters to struggle with PTSD, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts or difficulties in relationships but there are resources available to help address and manage these challenges.

Click on the programs below for mental health resources specifically for fire professionals:

Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance

The Code Green Campaign

Share The Load Program

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health crisis call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (available 24 hours in English & Spanish)

1-800-273-8255

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2020 Medio Fire Success Story

Read the Medio Fire Factsheet and explore the Great Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition website to learn about how previous treatments and fire professionals successfully managed the 2020 Medio Fire to protect homes and vital resources in our community.

Wildfire Wednesdays #58: Coping with Smoke

Happy Wednesday FACNM Members!

We hope you are staying cool despite this hotter weather and staying alert to air quality warnings. Given the smoky conditions we’ve been experiencing the past few weeks we wanted to share with you some smoke-specific resources so you can be prepared and healthy this fire season!

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

• Smoke Preparedness Resources (including information on the HEPA loan filter program)

• DIY box fan air filter to improve home air quality

• Upcoming webinar of interest - Prescribed Fire Smoke and Community Health: Successes From Smoke Ready Communities

Liz

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Smoke Preparedness Resources

There is a lot of information available regarding smoke preparedness. Here we’re sharing some of our favorite resources (some of which you may have visited before) to help you learn about what you need to do in your home so you can be healthy despite the smoke.

• Recommended reading: The Fire Adapted New Mexico Learning Network has compiled relevant resources for learning about smoke preparedness, smoke impacts, and current air quality information. There is also information available on this website about the HEPA filter loan program which provides filters to sensitive individuals during periods of high smoke impact in some areas of Northern New Mexico.

  Click here to read more about Smoke from the Fire Adapted New Mexico Learning Network

• Recommended watch: This 1-hour video featuring Gabe Kohler (FACNM; Forest Stewards Guild) and Alison Lerch (Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network; Coalitions in Collaboratives) is an interview-style webinar addressing questions about smoke and community preparedness.

  Click here to watch this informative webinar

Smoke-filled skies in Albuquerque during the 2019 wildfire season (Photo credit: KRQE)

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DIY Box Fan Filter

Photo Credit: Cody Nelson

It’s those who are the most vulnerable in our communities that suffer disproportionate impacts from wildfires and smoke. During the Medio Fire, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, air filters were widely unavailable. A group of indigenous women (Three Sisters Collective) took it upon themselves to make their own box fan filters for at-risk community members, click here to read more about how this effort worked in their community. These inexpensive ($22-40) filters can reduce harmful materials in the air from wildfire smoke by up to 95% and are a good alternative when HEPA filters are unavailable or too expensive for a household.

Click on these resources below to learn how to build your own box fan filter:

Confederated Tribes of the Coolville Reservation Air Quality Program

Climate Smart Missoula

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Upcoming Webinar:

Join the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network on Wednesday June 23rd at 11am MDT for their upcoming interactive and informational webinar Prescribed Fire Smoke and Community Health: Successes from Smoke Ready Communities as part of their Living with Wildland Fire series. This webinar will feature four communities who are “directly addressing this impact through communication and messaging efforts that help communities, especially sensitive and vulnerable populations, prepare to receive and live through smoke events”.

Click here to register for this webinar!

Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round: Don’t Get Burned! Be Prepared

Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round: 

Don’t Get Burned, Be Prepared!! 

Santa Fe, NM — June 12, 2021 – National Get Outdoors Day, or “GO day,” is a fee-free day designed to attract new, diverse communities to outdoor activities and motivate kids to explore their national forests and other public lands. As the national forests welcome visitors to enjoy our public lands for GO day, we also remind people that the month of June comes with increased fire danger. The Forest Stewards Guild and the Fire Adapted New Mexico learning network, in cooperation with partners, is asking visitors to please recreate responsibly and be prepared for wildfire. Continuing our “wildfire preparedness is year-round” campaign, our message for June is don’t get burned, be prepared. Here are a few things to keep in mind when visiting public lands on GO day and beyond: 

• Always check for fire restrictions and closures in the area you plan to visit BEFORE you leave.

• In places where campfires are allowed:

  • Never leave a campfire unattended.

  • Keep a bucket of water and a shovel nearby.

  • When it's time to put the fire out, dump lots of water on it, stir it with a shovel, then dump more water.

  • Make sure it is COLD before leaving the campsite. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave!

  • Follow Smokey’s campfire rules!

A large part of our “wildfire preparedness is year-round” campaign has been to encourage homeowners, especially in the wildland-urban interface, to be prepared for wildfire. June is wildfire season in New Mexico and it’s an important time to remind homeowners to get prepared for wildfire before it strikes by following Ready, Set, Go! 

• Be Ready: Create and maintain defensible space and harden your home against flying embers.

• Get Set: Prepare your family and home ahead of time for the possibility of having to evacuate. Ensure you have a plan of what to take and where to go.

• Be Ready to GO!: When wildfire strikes, go early for your safety. Take the evacuation steps necessary to give your family and home the best chance of surviving a wildfire.

The Forest Stewards Guild and Fire Adapted NM, are working with the Cibola, Carson, and Santa Fe National Forests, New Mexico Forestry Division, and Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office to build a 2021 wildfire preparedness calendar and share the message across multiple platforms, including social media, webinars and community events. Bookmark the wildfire preparedness webpage to follow the campaign throughout the year.      

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The Forest Stewards Guild and Fire Adapted New Mexico are equal opportunity employers

Wildfire Wednesdays #57: Housing & Fire

Hello FACNM members!

We hope you’re all staying healthy and taking precautions while the air quality remains poor in parts of the state. In the past thirty years, more than 32 million homes have been built within the wildland-urban interface (WUI) in the USA. Whether you are a renter, have owned property for decades, are a new homeowner, or have a vacation home here in New Mexico, we all have responsibilities when it comes to preparing for wildfire season. We wanted to provide some information for different housing scenarios to help clarify what you are responsible for and what resources are available to help you prepare!

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

• Wildfire preparation resources for renters & homeowners

• Advice on how to help your neighbors prepare for wildfire season

• An upcoming webinar of interest

Liz

Renters

When renting property in the wildland-urban interface it can be difficult to know whether certain responsibilities fall to you or your landlord / property manager. While landlords are responsible for maintaining the area around the property to reduce risk of wildfire damage, there are steps that tenants should also take to be prepared.

Important steps for renters:

• Review your renter’s insurance to see if wildfire damage is included. The landlord’s property insurance does not cover your personal belongings within the building.

  • Take photos of your valuable possessions to support potential insurance claim

• Meet with your landlord to discuss wildfire risk and prevention

  • Walk through the property to discuss concerns

  • Make sure the fire extinguisher and smoke detectors are accessible and up-to-date.

  • Discuss evacuation plans

    • Who is responsible for turning off the gas and pilot lights?

    • What is expected of you as a tenant during an evacuation?

Image source: Avail

Click here for more resources on how to navigate tenant and landlord responsibilities in preparation for and during natural disasters.

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Homeowners & Landowners

This neighborhood which sustained damage from the 2007 Witch Fire shows how one house can be destroyed while the one adjacent remains intact (Photo credit: Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

Over the past 56 blog posts we’ve provided a lot of information to landowners/homeowners about how to prepare your property for wildfire season. Today we wanted to share with you some more specific resources about lesser-known ways to reduce wildfire risk on your property.

Click here to explore the variety of ways you can harden your home to wildfire.

Click here to learn about the combustibility of different types of landscape mulches.

Click here to read the Resources for Private Forest Landowners in New Mexico to learn about technical and financial assistance for landowners for forest health and wildfire risk reduction.

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Working Together

The social component of wildfire risk reduction in our WUI communities is critical. Research has shown that homeowners are more likely to improve their defensible space when they see their neighbors doing the same thing or when they have encouragement from their community. Here is some advice on how to talk to your neighbors about wildfire risk in your community amended from Nevada County’s Fire Safe Council “Talking to Your Neighbors About Defensible Space” Document:

1. Approach your neighbor in a friendly manner with the goal to educate them and open the dialogue about the fire danger in your area and the benefits of making their property more fire safe. Make an earnest expression of your concerns as they relate to your property.

2. Provide them with written information on the high fire danger in your neighborhood and what action steps can be taken to mitigate this danger (Stop by the Forest Stewards Guild office for written information handouts). Let them know the importance of working across property lines to reduce the fire hazard.

3. Give them information on local resources to help with the problem such as:

   • Fire Adapted NM learning network

   • New Mexico Forestry Division

   • National Fire Protection Association

4. Gauge their response. If you sense resistance or hostility don’t push the issue. Leave the information with them and let it go for now. Follow up with them in a week or two and see if they have had a chance to read the material and what their opinion is on it.

5. If you are able and willing, ask if you may assist them with the area you are concerned with. Focus on areas that are within 100’ of a structure or are affecting evacuation routes. If your neighbor agrees to allow you to assist them in resolving the problem, put in writing what the scope of work will be, who assumes the liability and who pays what costs, if any.

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Upcoming Webinar:

Tomorrow, June 10th at 10:00am The Nature Conservancy is hosting a virtual event, Revitalizing Cultural Burning Practices, New Mexico and Beyond moderated by Lindsey Quam, the Deputy Director of Forests/Forestry and Tribal Liason, NM Forestry Division and featuring Margo Robbins from the Indigenous Peoples Burning Network and Rene Romero from the Division of Natural Resources for Taos Pueblo.

“This event will highlight the longstanding relationship between American Indian cultures and fire, challenges related to fire faced by Indigenous communities and ways in which partners and TNC are supporting American Indian communities' efforts to revitalize their traditional cultures in today's context.”

Click here to register for this virtual event.

Wildfire Wednesdays #56: Families & Fire | National Firewood Workshop

Hello FACNM Members,

Hope you all had a nice holiday weekend! My name is Liz Bailey and I’m a new Southwest Project Coordinator at the Forest Stewards Guild, I’ll be helping Gabe out with some of our FACNM materials. I’m new to Santa Fe and excited to be here and learn more about how fire adapted communities are keeping informed and engaged across New Mexico. I’m particularly passionate about restoration ecology and am drawn to the diverse terrain and invaluable forests here in the Southwest. We’re eager to hear from you if there are topics you would like featured here on Wildfire Wednesdays, please email me at liz@forestguild.org if you have any suggestions or questions!

Preparing for fire season looks different from family to family and there are certain precautions you may want to consider depending on who your family members are. This Wildfire Wednesday features resources targeted towards your family members who might need additional considerations when preparing for wildfire season including:

• Household pets

• People with disabilities

• Elderly

• Pregnant women & new parents

We hope this information helps you and your family be more prepared for wildfire season! Check out the bottom of this post for information about an upcoming webinar.

Liz

Household Pets

Photo Credit: Klaus Vedfelt

Our pets are a part of our family and should be incorporated into our evacuation plans and go-kits! If there is threat of a wildfire, bring your pets inside your home in case an evacuation notice is issued and you need to move quickly. If you can, you should take your pet with you during an evacuation but know that many evacuation centers do not accept pets unless they are registered as service animals. You can use sources like Red Rover or Pet Finder Shelter Center to find temporary shelters to house your animal, or BringFido.com to find pet-friendly rentals.

To make sure your pet has the proper supplies and documentation they need in the case of an emergency or evacuation, check out the Wildfire Preparedness for Household Pets guide. They have great suggestions like including your pet’s medical files on a flash drive to keep in your kit!

Click here to download the pet evacuation kit from the National Fire Protection Association.

People with Disabilities

In the United States, more than 13% of people in our population have some type of disability. Although common, disabilities present themselves in different ways and may affect one’s ability to evacuate during an emergency.

Click here to explore the NFPA Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities that was developed by the Disabilities Access Review and Advisory Committee.

“The NFPA Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities has been developed with input from the disability community to provide general information on this important topic. In addition to providing information on the five general categories of disabilities (mobility impairments, visual impairments, hearing impairments, speech impairments, and cognitive impairments), the Guide outlines the four elements of evacuation information that occupants need: notification, way finding, use of the way, and assistance. Also included is a Personal Emergency Evacuation Planning Checklist that building services managers and people with disabilities can use to design a personalized evacuation plan.”

You can also visit nfpa.org/disabilities for more resources

Elderly

Photo Credit: US Fire Administration

Our elderly population is the most vulnerable demographic to wildfire mortality, those 85 and up are over 4 times more likely to die in a fire compared to the rest of the population. If you have an elderly family member you can help them develop a plan and disaster kit in case of an emergency. The American Red Cross has a Disaster Preparedness For Seniors By Seniors that covers the basics in preparing for an emergency, what to do during an emergency, and what to expect after.

Click here to download the Disaster Preparedness For Seniors By Seniors guide.

Pregnant Women & New Parents

Image: Biscotto Design

The threat of wildfire and smoke are concerning for anyone, but especially pregnant women and parents with babies. Pregnant women should take extra care to minimize smoke inhalation during wildfires. The Center for Disease Control has some great information for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers/infant feeding, new moms and postpartum women in the context of natural disasters and wildfires in particular.

Click here to read the CDC’s Safety Messages For Pregnant, Postpartum, and Breastfeeding Women During Natural Disasters and Severe Weather. (en Español)

Click here to read more about Wildfire Smoke and Pregnancy (en Español)

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Upcoming Webinar: National Firewood Workshop

Photo: A-Plus Tree Services

In addition to these family-based resources we’d also like to highlight an upcoming webinar, National Firewood Workshop hosted by NC State University Wood Products Extension. This online event on June 9th and 10th is a “free two-day workshop held on the Zoom online platform focuses on the business side of the split firewood industry. We invite everyone to come and dig deep into the business issues of operating a profitable firewood business and have the top professionals in the firewood industry discuss the issues of equipment, sourcing wood, insects and quarantines, marketing, sound business management, transportation, brokers buying for large stores, dry kilns, automation and employee issues… This is a great workshop for buyers and sellers of firewood as well as equipment vendors, arborists, foresters and government supporters of forestry.”

To register for this event click here and then select the orange button “Select a Date” to register with your information. There is no cost to attend and you can stay for as much or as little as you’d like!

Wildfire Wednesdays #55: Recreate Responsibly

Hi FACNM Members,  

We are excited to get outside and enjoy the outdoors this Memorial Day weekend and hope you are too. Although there has been rain recently, New Mexico is still in severe drought and the risk of wildfire remains high. With that in mind, please take precautions and recreate responsibly this weekend to keep families and firefighters safe.  

This Wildfire Wednesdays features:  

• An article on how to safely camp and recreate during fire restrictions. 

• A new mapping tool to check current fire restrictions across the state. 

• Fire prevention messages to share with your friends, family, and neighbors.  

Thanks & enjoy the holiday weekend!

Gabe 

How do I Stay Warm Without a Fire? How to Camp and Recreate Safely During Fire Restrictions 

Photo credit: Sarote Impheng/EyeEm/Getty Images

Having a campfire can feel like an integral part of the camping experience but with fire restrictions in place and increased interest in Leave No Trace ethics, there are times when it is necessary to forgo the fire. There are plenty of ways to stay warm (and even roast marshmallows!) without a campfire plus it can create some unique opportunities, like a better view for stargazing. In this REI blogpost an Outdoor School Instructor shares her tips and tricks for how to make the most of going fire-less.

Click here to read the REI blog post

Know Before You Go: Check Fire Restrictions Using this New Mapping Tool  

Map Credit: Esri, USGS | Esri, HERE, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, EPA | U.S. Bureau of Land Management - New Mexico State Office

Before you head out on your next adventure it is critical to know whether there are fire restrictions and how your plans may be affected. This interactive tool allows for you to click on your destination, see what fire restrictions are in place in that area, and learn about what the fire restrictions mean. For example, some of New Mexico’s forests are in Stage 1 fire restrictions (shown in yellow on the map) this means that you cannot have a dispersed campfire but you can have a campfire in a designated firepit at your Forest Service campsite when written notice allows.

Click here to explore fire restrictions

Fire Prevention Messages to Share with your Friends, Family, and Neighbors 

You can be an advocate for fire prevention by sharing these messages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email or platform of your choice! We learn best from those we trust so by sharing these messages on social media you make a big difference within our community.

Know before you go

Encourage your friends to check fire restrictions before your next adventure!

Click here to download "know before you go" image

Check your chains

Making sure your chains don’t drag is a simple way you can make sure not to contribute to the human-caused wildfires in New Mexico.

Click here to download "Check your chains" image

Do your part

Protect firefighters and forest communities by doing your part for wildfire prevention

Click here to download "Do your part" image

Wildfire Wednesdays #54: All Hands All Lands Pile Burn Squad - Managing Wildfire for Resource Benefits

Hi FACNM Members,

Wildfire season is underway. To find up-to-date information about wildfire incidents, be sure to follow https://nmfireinfo.com/ for new incidents and https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ for longer, sustained incident information.

This Wildfire Wednesdays features:

• A story map about the All Hands All Lands pile burn squad within the Rio Grande Waterfund area

• Information about the Cuervito wildfire and how it is being managed for resource benefit in New Mexico.

Best,

Gabe

All Hands All Lands Pile Burn Squad

In the Rio Grande Water Fund landscape, the All Hands All Lands Pile Burn Squad has been a successful pandemic adaptation of the All Hands All Lands burn team.

A new storymap describes how the squad was set up, and how it worked to keep good fire work on track in the landscape. For more about AHAL, see the Forest Stewards Guild website, or contact Sam Berry (sam@forestguild.org).

Cuervito Wildfire Managed for Resource Benefit

Location of the Cuervito managed wildfire.

Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) are taking advantage of a lightning strike that took place on Mother’s Day to achieve pre-determined resource objectives on about 1,500 acres on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District. Managing the Cuervito Fire will achieve significant benefits on the ground, including safer communities and a healthier forest.

Click here to read the whole press release.

This is a great time to learn a bit more about managing wildfire for resource benefit, and how this is an important component of current and future fire management strategies.

A briefing paper, titled “Managing Wildfire fore Resource Benefit: What is it and Is it Beneficial?” by Carrie Berger, Extension associate; Stephen Fitzgerald, silviculture Extension specialist and professor; Daniel Leavell, Extension agent, Klamath Basin Research & Extension Center and assistant professor (practice); shares the following about managing wildfire for resource benefit:

“In 2009, the Federal Wildland Fire Policy was implemented across agencies to ensure a consistent approach to managing wildfire. The policy allows wildfire to be managed for resource benefit on public land in one area of the fire while actively suppressing it in another area where people, homes, infrastructure, or other values at risk (e.g., ecologically important habitats, historically significant cultural sites) are potentially threatened. Local and state jurisdictions, however, are often bound by law to provide full wildfire suppression to protect private land and values at risk.

Managed wildfire requires extensive, advance land management planning that takes into account the risk of damage or loss from wildfire and the increased probability of positive outcomes. Location, available resources, predicted weather, topography, air quality, and predicted fire behavior are all factors that contribute to fire management decisions within the land management planning process.

So, the question remains: Are managed wildfires for resource benefit beneficial? Under certain circumstances, yes. Managed wildfire has the potential to consume built-up fuels and increase the health and resilience of forests. Reducing fuels may also make the landscape less susceptible to a larger and potentially more severe wildfire later. Additionally, managing naturally ignited wildfires allows fire managers to maintain the important role of fire, where fire is a natural and frequent disturbance component of the ecosystem (see the sidebar case examples). The Science Analysis of The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy concludes: “Managing wildfire for resource objectives and ecological purposes is a useful tool for managing fire-adapted ecosystems and achieving fire-resilient landscapes, but has limited potential for broad application throughout the nation because of its inherent risk and statutory constraints.”

To learn more about managing wildfire for resource benefit, click here to read the whole briefing paper.

Wildfire Wednesdays #53: Ready, Set, Go! NM - Collaboration to Prevent Wildfires

Hi FACNM Members,

Wildfire season is off to an early start this year. Are you prepared for wildfire season? If not, take some time this week and to make a couple small actions toward wildfire preparedness. The Ready, Set, Go! guide in this week’s newsletter can help guide you in this process. Remember, we can make a bigger impact toward a wildfire adapted future by working together and following the slogan “each one, teach one.”

This week’s Wildfire Wednesdays features

• The New Mexico Ready, Set, Go! guide

• A brief and informative news article about the need for collaboration to prevent mega fires and the Rio Grande Water Fund

Best,

Gabe

New Mexico Ready, Set, Go!

In New Mexico, fire season is now a year-round reality in many areas, requiring firefighters and residents to be on heightened alert for the threat of wildfires. The tips in this Ready, Set, Go! Guide are designed to help you plan and prepare for a wildfire emergency.

This is a great general resource to help you, your friends, family, and neighbors start to make progress toward wildfire preparedness. When doing work around your house or planning for wildfire, talk to those in your community about what you are doing and why.

To get started on the Ready, Set, Go! Guidebook, click here.

Experts Urge Community Collaboration to Prevent Catastrophic Fires

This article in the Santa Fe New Mexican shares the insight of an expert panel on the importance of collaborative efforts in community fire adaptation work across the state. In addition, the author, Victoria Traxler, shares an introduction to the Rio Grande Water Fund for those that may not be familiar with this innovative approach to forest and watershed health in New Mexico.

The panel was hosted by the Nature Conservancy last week and included representatives of the national Fire Adapted Communities learning network as well as many others.

Be sure to give this article a read and consider sharing this perspective with those in your communities that may not be familiar with these efforts.

To read the article, click here.

Wildfire Wednesdays #52: Tom Swetnam on Forests, Fire, and People - Fundraiser for the Friends of Jemez Springs Library

Here is your chance to support a rural library and learn more about the way fire and people worked together to shape the landscapes of the Jemez Mountains at the same time!

This talk on May 8th at 2:00 pm features the renowned fire ecologist Tom Swetnam and is a benefit for the Friends of the Jemez Springs Library. A donation to the Friends of the Library of at least $20 is required to attend. Visit the Jemez Springs Library Website or see the flyer below for more info.

Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round: Don't Call Mayday, Be Prepared!

Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round:

Don’t Call Mayday! Be Prepared! 

Santa Fe, NM – April 29, 2021 - National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 1, 2021, is a single day for organizations and individuals to work together to raise awareness about wildfire risks and promote preparedness. This year with extreme drought and critical fire conditions across New Mexico, wildfire preparedness is more important than ever to protect our communities.  

The Forest Stewards Guild and the [facnm.org]Fire Adapted New Mexico learning network continue to work with partners at national forests, state and federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations on a year-round wildfire preparedness campaign. Our May message for the 2021 wildfire preparedness campaign: Don't Call Mayday! Be Prepared! 

This May, continue working on the Home Ignition Zone by focusing on the extended zone around your property, the perimeter at least 30-100 feet out from your dwelling. The objective in the outer zone is not to eliminate the fire but to interrupt its path and keep flames smaller and on the ground by: 

• Disposing of heavy accumulations of ground litter/debris

• Removing dead plant and tree material

• Removing small conifers growing between mature trees

• Removing vegetation adjacent to storage sheds or other outbuildings within this area

• Making sure trees 30 to 60 feet from the home have at least 12 feet of space between canopy tops and trees 60 to 100 feet from the home have at least 6 feet between the canopy tops.

As you get further away from your house, you may begin to encounter neighboring properties. May is a great time to reach out to these neighbors about working together to reduce wildfire risk in your community. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides a list of projects homeowners can safely implement on their property this May 1 to avoid gatherings or group events during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

As fire activity increases in New Mexico, check weather.gov or monitor local weather reports to learn if there is a Red Flag Warning in effect indicating critical fire conditions. The New Mexico Fire Information website nmfireinfo.com is also an excellent resource for details on current fire restrictions and wildfire activity.   

The Forest Stewards Guild and Fire Adapted New Mexico learning network are working with the Cibola, Carson and Santa Fe National Forests, New Mexico Forestry Division, and Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office to build a 2021 wildfire preparedness calendar and share the message across multiple platforms, including social media, webinars and community events. Bookmark the wildfire preparedness webpage to follow the campaign throughout the year.

Wildfire Wednesdays #51: Fire Prevention through Social Media - Post-Fire Restoration Recommendations

Hi FACNM Members,

With severe drought conditions across the state of New Mexico, it is especially important for us to focus on reducing human-caused wildfire ignitions this year. Always check fire restrictions before you recreate, use spark arrestors on gas-powered equipment, and make sure to recreate responsibly this spring and summer.

This Wildfire Wednesdays features:

• Fire prevention messages to share on social media

• Post-fire Recovery through indigenous and western science-based knowledge systems

Best,

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 2021 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 

Post-fire Management Recommendations: The Western Klamath Restoration Partnership

Has your community or landscape collaborative discussed post-fire restoration? If not, learn from the Western Klamath Restoration Partnership’s (WKRP) recent work on post fire restoration. While some of these recommendations may be locally-specific, there is a lot to learn on this document.

To access the WKRP’s post-fire recommendations, click here.

The April 2021 post-fire restoration recommendations from the Western Klamath Restoration Partnership are a great model of how to develop a plan through collaboration. WKRP is a diverse group of partners including tribal, federal, non-governmental organizations and community members. The WKRP’s planning area is cross-jurisdictional, and includes the Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests, State Responsibility Areas, and spans the Karuk Tribe’s Aboriginal Territory, totaling approximately 1.2 million acres. These best management practices for post-fire restoration are informed by both western science and indigenous knowledge, practice, and belief systems.

The document provides recommendations on the collaborative process in general, post-fire tree felling, fuels and fire restoration, erosion and sediment control, forest heterogeneity, and monitoring. If you are interested in broaching these subjects in your community or landscape collaborative, feel free to reach out the Fire Adapted New Mexico learning network for support by contacting gabe@forestguild.org.

Wildfire Wednesdays #50: Montana Wildfire Insurance Panel - Soil Moisture and Wildfire Danger

Hi FACNM Members,  

Spring is windy in New Mexico. Be sure to check for red flag warnings before you burn debris or operate equipment that may create sparks. Red Flag warnings mean that warm temperatures, low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger. There are currently red flag warnings across most of New Mexico.  

This Wildfire Wednesdays features:  

• A webinar about insurance industry professionals and wildfire mitigation 

• Using Soil Moisture Information to Better Understand and Predict Wildfire Danger 

Best,  

Gabe 

Insurance Industry and Wildfire Mitigation 

This panel discussion, followed by a public Q&A, covers how we can better align the efforts of community leaders and insurance providers in promoting and expanding wildfire risk reduction efforts. 

Carole Walker of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association moderated the panel, which featured Nicole Mahrt-Ganley of American Property Casualty Insurance Association, Daniel Gorham of IBHS, and Jason Fehr of Chubb Insurance. The panel was hosted by Fire Adapted Montana Learning Network and Missoula County Office of Emergency Management, and was made possible with funding provided by the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network. 

For more information, and to view the recording, please click here. 

Using Soil Moisture Information to Better Understand and Predict Wildfire Danger: A Symposium for Researchers and Fire Managers 

This free online symposium will highlight the latest advances in using soil moisture information to better understand and predict wildfire danger. These recent discoveries are revealing the potential for soil moisture estimates from in situ monitoring stations, remote sensing, and models to improve fire danger predictions and to advance our understanding of fire behavior. 

This interactive symposium will provide researchers and fire managers a unique opportunity to connect with others, to learn about ongoing research in this area, and to discuss ways to move forward with new research and end uses. 

The symposium will run from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. CDT and from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. CDT on May 6, 2021. The event agenda, which will be posted shortly on Drought.gov, will feature invited talks, interactive breakout groups, and panel discussions.  

Registration is free. To register by April 30, 2021, click here.

Invited Speakers: 

• John Bolten, Hydrological Sciences Branch, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 

• J. D. Carlson, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University 

• Nicholas Coops, Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia 

• W. Matt Jolly, Rocky Mountain Research Station Fire Sciences Laboratory, U.S. Forest Service 

• Brian Magi, Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte 

• Brad Quayle, Geospatial Technology and Applications Center, U.S. Forest Service 

• J. T. Reager, Terrestrial Hydrology Group, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 

• Angela Rigden, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University 

Sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, with additional programmatic support provided by the U.S. Forest Service, the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network, and NIDIS. 

Organizing Committee: 

• Matthew Levi, Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia (co-chair) 

• Tyson Ochsner, Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University (co-chair) 

• Stephanie Connolly, U.S. Forest Service, Office of Sustainability and Climate 

• Marina Skumanich, NOAA/NIDIS, National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network 

For more information, please contact Matthew Levi (matthew.levi@uga.edu) or Tyson Ochsner (tyson.ochsner@okstate.edu). 

Wildfire Wednesdays #49: Land Use Planning - Reduce Home Risk - Smoke Preparedness

Hi FACNM Members,

Spring is an important time for forest and fire managers to complete much-needed prescribed fire projects while weather conditions are favorable for low-severity fire. If you need information on a prescribed fire near you, or are interested in current fire restrictions, be sure to visit nmfireinfo.com.

This Wildfire Wednesdays features:

• Land Use Planning: Expanding the Wildfire Risk Reduction Toolkit

• Steps to reduce Wildfire Risk to your Home

• Smoke Preparedness Resources

Best,

Gabe

Land Use Planning Toolkit

Authors

Molly Mowery, AICP (Executive Director, CWPC)

Darrin Punchard, AICP, CFM (Principal, Punchard Consulting LLC)

The findings of a recent report illustrate that there are many opportunities within each state and across all four states to advance WUI risk reduction objectives through land use planning. Broad solutions synthesized from all four states focus primarily on state-level policy and funding activities:

• Adopt state legislation for minimum wildfire hazard planning requirements.

• Integrate the role of land use planning expertise in WUI initiatives.

• Promote learning opportunities to engage planners on WUI topics.

• Dedicate resources and funding to support risk reduction in the existing WUI.

• Identify and transfer land use planning practices from other hazards to wildfire.

It’s imperative to take action now on implementing these solutions. Western communities are increasingly facing trends and uncertainties that will continue to put pressure on the WUI—this includes accelerating impacts of climate change, population growth, and shifting land use patterns shaped by changing commuter patterns. Collectively, these factors could both expand the footprint of the WUI and increase the devastation of wildfires. Forward-thinking land use planning policies and regulations serve an important role in helping state and local governments address wildfire risk for communities today and those in the future.

To learn more about this research and access the Land Use Planning Toolkit by Molly Mowery, click here.

Steps to Reduce Wildfire Risk to your Home

No one thing reduces risk completely―the solution requires a system. Follow this series of steps to reduce your home’s risk.

Research has shown there are clear steps you can take to give your home a much better chance of surviving an encounter with wildfire. This guide produced by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) provides four sets of steps that are grouped to provide the most impact for the time and cost involved. Get started today and be Wildfire Ready.

To see the steps that will give your home the best chance of survival, click here.

Smoke Preparedness Resources

If you were not able to join the Smoke Preparedness webinar with Ali Lerch last night, click here to see the recording. Through the 1-hour webinar we discussed the health effects of smoke exposure, differences between smoke from wildfire and prescribed fire, and some resources that you can use to prepare your home and family for wildfire smoke.

Some great resources for smoke preparedness including:

FACNM Smoke Resources Page: https://facnm.org/smoke

• Interactive smoke map

• General Smoke Information

• HEPA filter loan program

WAFAC Smoke Ready Page: https://www.fireadaptedwashington.org/toolkit/#Smoke-Ready-Toolkit

• Presentations in English and Spanish for communicating smoke readiness to others.

• Videos in English and Spanish for communicating smoke readiness to others.

Greater Flagstaff Forest Partners Smoke Resources: https://gffp.org/smoke/

• Resources to check air quality

• Information about the health risks and improving your health during wildfire smoke
  

Smoke Preparedness Webinar: Join us Tonight at 6pm!

Please join us tonight, April 13th at 6pm MT for a Smoke Preparedness Webinar with guest speaker Ali Lerch. Through this interview-style, 1-hour webinar we will open up a conversation with our speaker about the health effects of smoke, differences between prescribed fire and wildfire smoke, and some resources to prepare you and your family for wildfire smoke during the upcoming fire season. The webinar will take place on Facebook live and will be streaming from the FACNM Facebook as well as partner Facebook pages.  

Our guest speaker, Ali Lerch, has diverse experience as a wildfire mitigation specialist, community outreach coordinator, wildfire mitigation program manager, and the host of the Fire Adapted Communities smoke learning group. Currently, Ali works as a wildfire program manager with the non-profit organization Coalitions in Collaboratives and resides in Salida, Colorado.   

This event is part of a broader interagency campaign to promote wildfire preparedness in 2021, centering around the theme “Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round."

Wildfire Wednesdays #48: Smoke Preparedness Webinar - Fire Restrictions Tool - The West is Burning Documentary

Hi FACNM Members,

With the drought, warmer spring weather, and wind we are already beginning to see Red Flag days across the state. Fire season comes early in the Southwest, so be prepared. While taking precautions to protect your home from flames and embers, be sure to prevent the start of a wildfire through debris burning, sparks from gas-powered equipment, or anything else.

This Wildfire Wednesdays features:

• Smoke Preparedness Webinar hosted by FACNM

• New Tool for Fire Restrictions Information

• The West is Burning: A Documentary about Increasing Wildfire

Best,

Gabe

Smoke Preparedness Webinar Tuesday, April 13th at 6pm

Click to zoom

Please join us on Tuesday, April 13th at 6pm mst for a Smoke Preparedness Webinar with guest speaker Ali Lerch. Through this interview-style, 1-hour webinar we will open up a conversation with our speaker about the health effects of smoke, differences between prescribed fire and wildfire smoke, and some resources to prepare you and your family for wildfire smoke during the 2021 wildfire season. The webinar will take place on Facebook live and will be streaming from the FACNM Facebook as well as partner Facebook pages.  

Click to zoom

Our guest speaker, Ali Lerch, has over 14 years of experience working with local, state, and tribal natural resource agencies in community wildfire facilitation, public speaking, planning, grant writing, coalition building, and risk assessments in high risk areas throughout the United States with a focus in North Carolina, Utah, Oregon, and Colorado. Ali provides expertise and support to organizations on wildfire smoke adaptation through the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network’s (FAC Net) Smoke Learning Group.

This webinar is part of an interagency campaign to promote wildfire preparedness in 2021, centering around the theme “Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round," Fire Adapted New Mexico and will be hosting a monthly webinar series for March, April, and May.  

New Tool for Fire Restrictions Information

Interagency public land management partners from Arizona and New Mexico have worked to develop a map-based tool to inform the public about fire restrictions on public lands. Partner agencies, under the Southwest Coordinating Group, have worked to develop a new informational web tool that went live Monday, April 5, 2021. The new web tool is designed to provide the public with fire restrictions information for public lands that is easy to find and understand, as well as linking the users to the agencies managing those public lands for more detailed information for trip planning.

Fire restrictions can be found by visiting the following locations: · In Arizona, the fire restriction information web-tool can be found by visiting: Wildlandfire.az.gov

In New Mexico, the fire restriction information web-tool can be found by visiting: NMFireInfo.com and selecting the Restrictions tab on top menu.

Fire restrictions are implemented in an effort to help decrease human-caused fires during periods of high fire potential by restricting activities which are the most common causes of wildfires. By providing a resource with accurate and timely information, the goal is to educate and increase compliance, therefore reducing preventable human-caused fires.

To read the full release, click here.

The West is Burning

THE WEST IS BURNING raises awareness about the conditions of forests in the western U.S. Told through a full-feature documentary, we examine the history of forest management and litigation that led to the current conditions which are causing catastrophic fire nearly year-round. The film explores the urgent need to act now, and the potential to generate positive change in our forests, watersheds, and communities, both rural and urban.

The documentary airs on PBS in New Mexico at 2pm tomorrow for the first time. To see the full list of showings on PBS in New Mexico, click here.

An app accompanies the documentary as a way for you to create short films with a narrow focus. Discover these short films on our story map.

Find community hosted screenings followed by engaging dialogue. Or host your own screening! We’ll provide a guide to help you facilitate it.

You have an important role in this conversation and we want you to be informed and involved.

For more information about the documentary on their website, click here.